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Summer 2018 Tennessee Patriot Tennessee Sons of the American Revoluon
Summer 2018
Tennessee PatriotTennessee Sons of the American Revolution
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The Cover(L to R) Don Hills (State of Franklin Chapter), James Briddell (Kings Mountain Chapter), Gideon Daniels
(Watauga Chapter CAR) Photographer - Duane Mead (Kings Moutain Chapter)
Tennessee PatriotThe Official Publication of the The Tennessee Sons of the American Revolution
© 2018 Tennessee Sons of the American Revolution
xorn1xJean Marie Dillon, Graphic Designer [email protected]
Designer’s Note: Special thanks goes to Brian Willson at Three Islands Press, www.3ip.com, for granting the Tennessee SAR permission to use his font in this publication. Mr. Willson’s detailed, historical fonts include
“Broadsheet,” a digitized rendering of printed type used during Colonial American Period.
Tennessee Sons of the American Revolution
President John (Johnny) Head, Jr.
President-Elect John (Johnny) Head, Jr.
Vice PresidentDavid Carr
TreasurerDr. Joe A. Chambers
Membership Secretary Steven Allen Gaines
Recording Secretary Roger A. Tenney
Registrar Dr, Jim L. Wilson, MD
Genealogist
James (Jim) J. Thweatt
Chancellor Capt. Cleo G. Hogan, USAFR
Genealogist Emeritus Richard (Dick) T. Spencer, Jr.
Historian Duncan Ing
Chaplain Rev. Dr. V.P. (Brett) Travis, Jr.
Surgeon Dr. Mark R. Russell
Webmaster O. Lee Johnson
National Trustee David E. Johnston
District Directors
District - 1Don Hill
District - 2 Walter Joseph Timoschuk, III
District - 3 Randall Higgins
District - 4 William (Bill) H. Comer
District - 5 Sanford Payton
District - 6
Randall H. Chandler
TNSSAR PresidentJohnny C. Head
Welcome to the Tennessee SAR Newsletter.
The Tennessee Sons of the American Revolution currently has 22 Chapters and over 1,300 members. We support and work closely with the Children of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution promoting our American Heritage. Our youth programs; the Eagle Scout, ROTC/JROTC/Sea Cadet, Knight Essay, Rumbaugh Orations, and the C.A.R. Essay contests, among others, are outstanding programs, and we suggest you contact our local Chapters for complete details.
This newsletter is the first hardcopy newsletter since 2015. I wish to thank Newsletter Editor, David Carr and Publisher, Jean Marie Dillon, for resurrecting the newsletter in order to reach all members of our State Society to keep everyone informed and perhaps persuade each one to become more involved in our worthwhile organization. Each year we give thousands of dollars in scholarships and awards to deserving youth and teachers. Each year we spend thousands on preserving our Revolutionary War history and heritage, not only in our great state of Tennessee, but all across the country.
I invite each of you to attend your local chapter meetings and participate in the worthwhile projects and events our organization is so well known for.
Yours in Patriotic Service,
Johnny C. Head
The Tennessee Patriot is intended for the use and enjoyment of the mem-bers of the Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution. Articles
may be submitted to the Editor, David Carr, by email to [email protected]. We solicit input from each chapter of their news-
worthy activities and look forward to publishing them.
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Compatriot Steve Gaines receiving David Miles Vaughn Award from President David Johnston and CG Commander John Clines.
Tennessee Color Guard CommanderIt has been my honor to serve as the State Color Guard Commander for the past year. As you know, I was the acting commander for the year preceding my official installation as Commander at the 2017 State Meeting. At that time, in an emotional ceremony, our beloved Commander David Miles Vaughn passed the sword of command to me. David had not been able to fulfill his duties as Commander for that last year as the cancer took his strength and vitality away. David passed away on June 26, 2017.
Since David is missed so much by his compatriots, we have designed the David Miles Vaughn Award for Outstanding Color Guardsman. This award will be presented at the Annual State Meeting to the most deserving Color Guardsman in honor of Commander Vaughn.
The recipient of the first annual David Miles Vaughn Award for Color Guardsman is Stephan Allen Gaines. Congratulations to Steve, and thank you to all of our Color Guardsmen across the state. We are the image of the SAR and I appreciate each of you for the dignity you exhibit in carrying out your duties. Huzzah!
John Clines
State MeetingThe TNSSAR held its annual business meeting and President’s banquet on March 24 in Knoxville.
The Board of Governors met on Saturday morning to conduct all the necessary business with a Youth Awards luncheon to honor Tennessee youth that have demonstrated exceptional abilities and talent to present and preserve our history.
Samuel Corker, winner of CAR Essay Award under 12, congratulated by President David Johnston and Lee Johnson of thesponsering Stephan
Holston Chapter of Knoxville.
Thomas Grubb, winner of CAR Essay Award over 12, congratulated by TNSSAR President David Johnston. Thomas was sponsored by
the Valentine Sevier Chapter of Clarksville.
Sandy Chen, winner of the JROTC Award, congratulated by Pres-ident David Johnston and Jim McKinney of the sponsoring John
Sevier Chapter of Chattanooga.
Griffin Taylor, winner of the Eagle Scout Award, congratulated by President David Johnston and John McCutcheon of the sponsoring
Issac Shelby Chapter of Memphis.
Gable Willis, winner of the Rumbaugh Oration Award, congratulated by President David Johnston and Rumbaugh Oration Chairman, Charles
Dammann.
Zeena Whayeb, winner of the Knight Essay Award, congratulated by President David Johnston and Dr. George Pesley of the sponsor-
ing John Sevier Chapter of Chattanooga.
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State MeetingThe President’s banquet was held on Saturday evening to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and install new officers. Honored guests included NSSAR President General Larry Guzy, Southern District Vice President General Tony Vets and state presidents from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, Georgia and West Virginia.
President General Larry Guzy passing the gavel from outgoing President David Johnston to incoming President Bill Hickerson.
President General Larry Guzy installing the new state officers for 2018-2019.
Group photo of GWEF Fellows with Chairman Bobby Joe Seales on extreme left.
New State Officers with President General Larry Guzy.
Special Guest, Bobby Joe Seales, Chairman of the George Washington Endowment Fund, pinned eight new members from Tennessee.
Grave Marking Five Patriots at Eusebia Presbyterian Cemetery
March 23, the Tennessee SAR honored five patriots buried at Eusbia Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Seymour, TN. This event was scheduled in conjunction with the Annual State SAR meeting in Knoxville.
State President David Johnston and members of the Stephan Holston Chapter hosted the event. SAR, DAR, CAR and guests from across the south were in attendance, including NSSAR President General Larry Guzy and his wife Karen.
The patriots honored were:
1. Andrew Bogle (1753-1813) Served under Capt. Robert McTeer and Col. Benjamin Harrison.2. Joseph Bogle, Sr. (1730-1790) Joined at Valley Forge, fought at Trenton and Yorktown.3. Joseph Bogle, Jr. (1759-1811) Served in Capt. Gibson’s Company, Pennsylvania Regiment.4. Joseph Black, Sr. (1747-1825) Served as Captain in the Virginia Militia.5. John Boyd, Sr. (1745-1838) Served in the Pennsylvania Continental Line.
The dedication ceremony included the invocation and benediction by Rev. Dr. Brent Travis, TNSSAR chaplain. Opening remarks were made by President General Larry Guzy and the moderator was State President David Johnston. TNSSAR Color Guard Commander John Clines led the combined TNSSAR Color Guard in presentation of colors and musket volleys and cannon round. Wreaths were presented by SAR, DAR and CAR attendees.
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Ladies of the SARThe Molly Pitcher Medal is presented to women who support their husbands, brothers, boyfriends or relatives at the events that qualify the color guardsman for the Silver Color Guard Medal. The lady may accumulate points for their appearance at events as the color guardsman accumulates his points.
Two ladies of the SAR have received the Molly Pitcher Award this year.
Mary Addington pictured with her husband, Dr. Darryl Addington receives the Molly Pitcher Medal from TNSSAR President David
Johnston at the Annual Meeting.
Jan McKinney, wife of Compatriot Jim McKinney, pic-tured with Dr. Darryl Addington, past state president and TNSSAR Color Guard Commander John Clines receives
her Molly Pitcher Medal at the Martins Station event.
SAR, DAR and CAR ladies on tour of the Bleak House in Knoxville during the State Meeting.
Tonya Strunk and Melodie Daniels at Martin’s Station
Honoring Our Outstanding Tennessee Youth
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Across the State
Col. Benjamin Cleveland ChapterThe Col. Benjamin Cleveland and Hiwassee Chapters dedicated a marker to Nanyehi, better known as Nancy Ward, the “Beloved Woman” of the Cherokee. She sat on the Council of Chiefs and helped bring peace to the Cherokees and Europeans-Americans. She brought substantial changes to Cherokee society by introducing farming and dairy production techniques.
The ceremony was held at her gravesite near Benton in Polk County. The John Sevier Chapter, Col. Benjamin Cleveland Chapter and DAR Chapters from the Cherokee District were recognized for participation in landscaping the gravesite and surrounding area.
The Colonel Benjamin Cleveland Chapter and Hiwassee Chapter formed the color guard to post the colors and fire a three volley salute. The color guard was under the command of Dustin Clines, of the Col. Benjamin Cleveland Chapter.
Over 100 people attended including Nancy Ward descendants who came from several states for the ceremony, and a busload from the Western Band of Cherokees in Oklahoma.
xorn2x Members of The Association Of The Descendants Of Nancy Ward unveiled a tear drop shaped marker honoring Nancy Ward and her son Five Killer who is also buried at the gravesite.
The Col. Benjamin Cleveland and Hiwassee Chapters Color Guard in front of the grave of Nancy Ward.
Across the State
John Sevier Chapter (Chattanooga)The 69th consecutive year Armed Forces Day Parade was celebrated in Chattanooga, TN May 4, 2018. Chattanooga is one of only a small group of cities in the nation to honor the defenders of our freedom with an Armed Forces Day Parade. John Sevier Chapter members Charles Dammann, Tim Adams, and Larry Underwood participated in the parade, along with TNSSAR color guardsmen led by TNSSAR Color Guard Commander, John Clines.
John Sevier Chapter members Brett Hale, Charles Dammann, Tim Adams, Larry Underwood, Terry Siler, Alan Sylar, Matt Lea, Tony Mines, Hugh Enicks, and Noah Long represented the Sons of the American Revolution at the Armed Forces Luncheon in the Convention Center following the parade.
Each year a different branch of the military is honored at the parade and luncheon. This year the United States Coast Guard was the honored branch. The speaker was Vice Admiral Charles W Ray, Deputy Commandant for Operations, US Coast
Guard.
Among the distinguished guests were US Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Chattanooga Mayor, Andy Burke, and Hamilton County Mayor, Jim Coppinger.
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Raid on Martins StationThe Tennessee State Color Guard combined with the Virginia State Color Guard, paid tribute to the defenders of the Martins Station Fort on May 12 at the Wilderness Road State Park in Ewing, VA, near the Cumberland Gap National Park. SAR groups, DAR groups, CAR groups along with many reenactors, sutlers and visitors came to Martins Station to honor not only the defenders of the stations along the Wilderness Road, but to also honor the travelers along this road who opened up the Kentucky/ Ohio area for westward expansion. TNSSAR Color Guard Commander John Clines marched with Virginia Color Guard Commander Bill Schwetke as well as the JROTC Color Guard from Thomas Walker High School and drum and fife from the Watauga Fife and Drum Corp.
Martins Station Chapter VASSAR vice president Bill Cheak served as host for the memorial program. NSSAR Chaplain General Dr. John C. Wakefield delivered the Invocation and Benediction for the service.
Dr. Wakefield also commented on his ancestors that traveled the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap to settle in the mid-west. VASSAR Patrick Kelly brought greetings and told the story of the stations along the Wilderness Road that offered refuge to the travelers who ventured westward.
VASSAR president Patrick Kelly brought greetings and welcome on behalf of the Virginia State SAR. TNSSAR past president Dr. Darryl Addington brought greetings for the Tennessee State SAR.
A reenactment of the Raid on the fort was presented in the afternoon and at night in dramatic fashion. The wonderful sutler’s trade faire was equally wonderful and educational. Hundreds attended the event over the three day period it went on.
Color Guard saluting the flag
Combined Color Guard forming up with JROTC unit and CAR fife and drum.
Commander Clines with District 1 participants
DAR ladies in attendance
Across the State
Valentine Sevier Chapter The Chapter presented Bronze JROTC medals at 7 Senior High Schools in the Clarksville/Montgomery County School District and the Silver ROTC Medal at Austin Peay University.
Donald Horton presents Silver ROTC Medal to University of Austin Peay Cadet Connor Hayes
A Clarksville High school Cadet is presented the Bronze ROTC medal by Chapter President Rick Longton
State President-Elect Johnny Head presents James Thweatt with State Certificates of Appreciation for his work as Genealogist and as
chairman of the Audit Committee
Military Service Medals were presented at the February meeting to Robert Nichols, Don Horton, Randal Underhill and Herb Gould.
The Military Service Medal was presented to Tracy Jackson (right) by President Rick Longton at the March Meeting,
The Tennessee contingent at the Trigg County Kentucky Lost Patri-ots Headstone Dedication with Hon. Rick Hollis
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Dedication of Historic Marker for Patriot James Brigham
Friday, April 27, the District 1 TNSSAR Color Guard was invited to participate in the unveiling of a historic marker for Patriot James Brigham on the lawn of the Sullivan County Courthouse in Blountville.
The event was planned and coordinated by Sullivan County Director of Tourism and Archives Shelia Steele Hunt. Local county and state officials and a large audience attended the dedication, plus descendants of the patriot came from South Carolina and middle Tennessee.
James Brigham provided the land for the first Sullivan County Courthouse, where the present Courthouse still stands. He also provided the land that became the town of Blountville. He then moved to Montgomery County and is buried there. The TNSSAR has marked his grave in the past.
Wreaths were presented by all three chapters of TNSSAR District 1 in the ceremony along with three local DAR chapters and two DAR chapters from middle Tennessee. One Virginia and one South Carolina SAR chapter presented wreaths. CAR representatives also presented a wreath.
The Kingsport Times-News covered the event in both newspaper and e-news.
The Color Guard was led by Mountain Brigade Commander Ronnie Lail. Members from the Kings Mountain, State of
Franklin and Watauga Chapters and Watauga Chapter CAR made up the combined Color Guard.
The marker is unveiled by Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable and State Representative Timothy Hill as Sullivan Co. Director of Tourism and Archives Shelia Steele Hunt looks on.
xorn2xThe combined Color Guard is pictured with the DAR and CAR members plus Shelia Steele Hunt and descendants of the patriot.
CAR members Ivan and John Cohen Daniels provided the drum and fife for the event.
Robert Vicars Grave MarkingTennessee and Virginia SAR Chapters combined for a Grave Marking Ceremony at the Old Vicars Cemetery in Russell County, Virginia. The event was sponsored by the John Sevier Chapter TNSSAR and was hosted by Chapter President Larry Underwood, fourth great-grandson of Patriot Robert Vicars.
Despite inclement weather of rain, sleet and snow, over 120 descendants, SAR and DAR members from Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky and Georgia paid homage to Robert Vicars, who served under Captain William Russell in Lord Dunmore’s War and in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War.
State Presidents David Johnston, TNSSAR and Patrick Kelly, VASSAR brought greetings to the crowd. NSSAR Chaplain General Dr. John Wakefield offered a prayer and VASSAR Patrick Kelley inducted the new member, Vicars descendant Robert Cory Vicars of Richlands, VA into the SAR.
The Colors were presented by the combined Tennessee and Virginia Color Guards, with TNSSAR Color Guard Commander John Clines and VASSAR Color Guard Commander Bill Schwetke. Drum Sgt. Major Mike Henningsen provided cadence and music.
Following the ceremony, a reception was hosted by the Tabitha Adams Russell Chapter, VSDAR at the Russell County Historical Society Old Courthouse complex.
The event was covered by the Lebanon, VA newspaper with a pictorial article. No e-edition is available for that newspaper.
Robert Vicars Grave
Combined TN & VA Color Guard presenting the colors
Attendance was great for this event.
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LT Andrew Crockett – Samuel Crockett (Andrew’s father) immigrated to America and settled in Lancaster, PA. where he worked as an indentured blacksmith and learned to make Long Rifles. He moved his family to the frontier near Fort Chiswell, VA. After Samuel’s death, Andrew and his brothers expanded the iron operation and special-ized in making Long Rifles, selling them to the settlers coming down “Wilderness Road” to settle on the frontier in NC, KY and TN. As the Colony of VA became increas-ingly involved in the American Revolution, Andrew joined the local Militia about 1775 and was commissioned Lieu-tenant in Captain Edward’s Company of the Montgomery Co. VA Militia in 1777. Although it has not been docu-mented that Andrew Crockett was the first settler in what is now Brentwood, TN, neither has it been documented that there were any others who were here earlier. Andrew and his brother James Crockett were the only ones of those ten “first settlers” in what is now Brentwood who were also among the 249 signers of the Cumberland Compact (May 1, 1780 at Ft. Nashborough).
Andrew Jackson - Born in poverty, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) had become a wealthy Tennessee lawyer and rising young politician by 1812, when war broke out be-tween the United States and Britain. His leadership in that conflict earned Jackson national fame as a military hero, and he would become America’s most influential–and po-larizing–political figure during the 1820s and 1830s. After narrowly losing to John Quincy Adams in the contentious 1824 presidential election, Jackson returned four years later to win redemption, soundly defeating Adams and becoming the nation’s seventh president (1829-1837). As America’s political party system developed, Jackson be-came the leader of the new Democratic Party. A supporter of states’ rights and slavery’s extension into the new west-ern territories, he opposed the Whig Party and Congress on polarizing issues such as the Bank of the United States.
Col. Anthony Bledsoe - Anthony Bledsoe was born in 1733 in Culpepper County Virginia. He served in the French and Indian War from 1754-1763 in the Virginia Militia. He also served on the Fincastle Committee of Safety from 1775 to 1776. In 1776, he commanded Fort Patrick Henry on Long Island of the Holston in present day Kingsport. In 1780, he became a justice of the peace for the newly created county of Sullivan County, North Carolina, and served as its state Senator. In 1783, he was
The Tennessee Sons of the American Revolution is made up of 22 chapters statewide. Some chapters take their name from a hero of the Revolutionary War, while others take their name from a location that was
important in the Revolution. Here is a short study of each chapter name. Some of the heroes named had a large impact on the community where the chapter is located as well as location names. At the least, this is an
interesting study into our chapter names.
one of the surveyors of the North Carolina military land grant reservation. That same year, he became a justice of the peace for new Davidson County, (Tennessee) named after North Carolina General William Lee Davidson who died at the Battle of Cowan’s Ford in 1781.
Col. Benjamin Cleveland – Benjamin Cleveland, in his youth, was a hunting companion of Daniel Boone and an expert backwoodsman. Born in 1738 in Orange County Virginia, Benjamin was a large man of over six feet tall and girth nearing 300 lbs. In 1769, he moved his family to present day Wilkes County NC which was on the frontier at that time. When the Revolution started, Cleveland was one of the first to sign onto a role in the militia of NC. In 1774, Cleveland was part of the first militia unit formed in Surrey County, NC and held the rank of Lieutenant in this first unit. In 1776 when the British had stirred up the Cher-okees to fight against the settlers on the frontier, Benjamin took his company of militia to Fort Watauga in a show of force against the Indians. Soon afterward, the Cherokee petitioned the settlers for a treaty and halted the attacks. In the fall of 1780, Cleveland led his men to meet up with the Overmountain Men on their way to confront Maj. Pat-rick Ferguson and his army of Tories camped atop Kings Mountain. Before the battle, Col. Cleveland addressed his troops with his famous speech: “My brave fellows! We have beat the Tories and we can beat them again. They are all cowardly. If they had the spirit of men, they would join with their fellow citizens in supporting the independence of their country. When engaged you are not to wait for the word of command from me. I will show you by my exam-ple how to fight. I can undertake no more. Every man must consider himself an officer and act from his own judgment. Fire as quick as you can and stand as long as you can. When you can do no better, get behind trees, or retreat; but I beg of you not to run quite off. If we be repulsed, let us make a point to return and renew the fight. Perhaps we may have better luck in the second attempt than in the first. If any of you be scared, such have leave to retire; and they are requested immediately to take themselves off.” His men followed him into battle and the Tories were defeated in what would become the turning point of the Revolution. At the end of the battle, Cleveland was given the horse of the slain Maj. Patrick Ferguson to replace his own horse which was shot out from under him in the battle.
Christopher Strong – Christopher Strong, who moved to Dickson County TN after the Revolutionary War, declared in his pension deposition that he had participated in many skirmishes and battles in the service of different officers. Having come to South Carolina as a young man, he was a wagoner in 1779 delivering supplies to Gen. Lincoln’s army near Charleston, SC. He later joined the Chester County, SC regiment under Col. Edward Lacey and was assigned to Gen. Andrew Williamson’s army in Augusta, GA. From there they marched south to Florida and round-ed up parties of Indians and Tories. In 1780, he once again joined the army in Charlotte, NC under the command of Gen. Thomas Sumpter and participated in a battle at Rocky Mount, SC and defeated the British. He also saw action in South Carolina at Fort Granby where the British surrendered without a fight. They then captured wagons, stores, baggage and powder belonging to the British on the road to Camden. He was in the company overtaken by British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton but escaped and returned home. He again joined a unit that marched to Fishdam Ford in Chester County and they were attacked by the British at night, but they held their ground and the British withdrew. They then marched to Blackstock’s Plantation on the Tyger River where after being pursued by the Brit-ish, were attacked and Gen. Sumpter was wounded, but they stood their ground. Although his name did not appear on muster roles, Christopher Strong was one of thousands of the unsung heroes of the Revolution. His recollections were vivid even if his memory was foggy from age and time removed from the war. Cumberland Gap – Not all chapters are named for heroes, but some are named for important places that bring to mind the drama that occurred there that had great con-sequence on the formation of our country. The passage created by Cumberland Gap was well traveled by Native Americans long before the arrival of European-American settlers. The earliest written account of Cumberland Gap dates to the 1670s, by Abraham Wood of Virginia. The gap was named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, son of King George II of Great Britain, who had many places named for him in the American colonies after the Battle of Culloden. The explorer Thomas Walker gave the name to the Cumberland River in 1750, and the name soon spread to many other features in the region, such as the Cum-berland Gap. In 1769 Joseph Martin built a fort nearby at present-day Rose Hill, Virginia, on behalf of Walker’s land claimants. But Martin and his men were chased out of the area by Native Americans, and Martin himself did not return until 1775. In 1775 Daniel Boone, hired by the Transylvania Company, arrived in the region leading a company of men to widen the path through the gap to make settlement of Kentucky and Tennessee easier. On his arrival Boone discovered that Martin had beaten him
to Powell Valley, where Martin and his men were clearing land for their own settlement – the westernmost settlement in English colonial America at the time. By the 1790s the trail that Boone and his men built had been widened to accommodate wagon traffic and became known as the Wilderness Road.
Forked Deer - The Forked Deer River consists of various streams designated “Forked Deer” and their tributaries. Much of the Forked Deer drainage basin was initially wetlands; however much of this area has been drained and most Forked Deer tributaries have been channelized for agricultural purposes. Historians record that barges and small riverboats plied the Forked Deer in the early 19th century as far up river as the present location of the city of Jackson.
Hiwassee - The Hiwassee River has its headwaters on the north slope of Rocky Mountain in Towns County in northern Georgia and flows northward into North Caroli-na before turning westward into Tennessee, flowing into the Tennessee River a few miles west of State Route 58 in Meigs County, Tennessee. The river is about 147 miles (237 km) long. Hiawassee is a Cherokee word meaning “meadow”. The Hiwassee Chapter is located in Athens, TN which before the Revolutionary War laid about half-way between the Cherokee towns of the Great Tellico to the north and the Great Hiwassee to the south. In 1819, the Cherokee signed the Calhoun Treaty, selling the land north of the Hiwassee (including all of modern McMinn Coun-ty) to the United States.
Isaac Shelby -Isaac Shelby’s military service began, when he served as second-in-command to his father at the Battle of Point Pleasant, the only major battle of Lord Dunmore’s War. He gained the reputation of an expert woodsman and surveyor and spent the early part of the Revolutionary War gathering supplies for the Continental Army. Later in the war he and John Sevier led the Overmountain Men against the British forces in North Carolina. He played a pivotal role in the British defeat at the Battle of King’s Mountain. For his service, Shelby was presented with a ceremonial sword and a pair of pistols, by the North Carolina legisla-ture and the nickname “Old King’s Mountain”, followed him the rest of his life. Following the war, Isaac Shelby relocated to Kentucky, on lands awarded to him for his military service, and became involved in Kentucky’s transition from a county of Virginia, to a separate state. His heroism made him popular with the state’s citizens and the Kentucky electoral college unanimously elected him governor in 1792. He secured Kentucky from Indian attacks and organized its first government. Shelby retired from public life but he was called back into politics by the impending War of 1812. Kentuckians urged Shelby to
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run for governor again and lead them through the antic-ipated conflict. He was elected easily, and at the request of General William Henry Harrison, commanded troops from Kentucky at the Battle of the Thames. After the war, he declined President James Monroe’s offer to become Secretary of War.
Jackson Purchase - The Jackson Purchase is a region in the state of Kentucky bounded by the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and Tennessee River to the east. Although officially part of Kentucky at its statehood in 1792, the land did not come under definitive U.S. control until 1818 when Andrew Jackson purchased it from the Chickasaw Indians. The land was ceded after prolonged negotiations in which the United States was rep-resented by Andrew Jackson and Isaac Shelby, while the Chickasaws were represented by their chiefs, head men, and warriors including: Levi and George Colbert, Chinub-by, and Tishomingo. On October 19, 1818, the two sides agreed to the transfer by signing the Treaty of Tuscaloosa. The United States agreed to pay the Chickasaws $300,000, at the rate of $20,000 annually for 15 years, in return for the right to all Chickasaw land east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mississippi state line. The treaty was ratified by the United States Senate and confirmed by President James Monroe on January 7, 1819.
James Madison – Born on March 16, 1751, in Port Con-way, Virginia, James Madison wrote the first drafts of the U.S. Constitution, co-wrote the Federalist Papers and sponsored the Bill of Rights. He established the Demo-crat-Republican Party with President Thomas Jefferson, and became president himself in 1808. In later years, when he was referred to as the “Father of the Constitu-tion,” Madison protested that the document was not “the off-spring of a single brain,” but “the work of many heads and many hands.” In Congress, he helped frame the Bill of Rights and enact the first revenue legislation. Out of his leadership in opposition to Hamilton’s financial propos-als, which he felt would unduly bestow wealth and power upon northern financiers came the development of the Republican, or Jeffersonian, Party. As President Jefferson’s Secretary of State, Madison protested to warring France and Britain that their seizure of American ships was con-trary to international law. During the first year of Madi-son’s Administration, the United States prohibited trade with both Britain and France; then in May, 1810, Congress authorized trade with both, directing the President, if either would accept America’s view of neutral rights, to forbid trade with the other nation. The British impressment of American seamen and the seizure of cargoes compelled Madison to give in and on June 1, 1812, he asked Con-gress to declare war. The young Nation was not prepared to fight; its forces took a severe trouncing. The British
entered Washington and set fire to the White House and the Capitol. But a few notable naval and military victo-ries, climaxed by Gen. Andrew Jackson’s triumph at New Orleans, convinced Americans that the War of 1812 had been gloriously successful. An upsurge of nationalism re-sulted. The New England Federalists who had opposed the war and who had even talked secession were so thorough-ly repudiated that Federalism disappeared as a national party. In retirement at Montpelier, his estate in Orange County, Virginia, Madison spoke out against the disruptive states’ rights influences that by the 1830’s threatened to shatter the Federal Union. In a note opened after his death in 1836, he stated, “The advice nearest to my heart and deepest in my convictions is that the Union of the States be cherished and perpetuated.”
John Sevier - John Sevier, Indian fighter, land speculator, Revolutionary soldier, and statesman, was born near the present town of New Market, Va. in 1745. By 1773 he had received a commission in the Virginia militia, but in that year he moved with his immediate family to the Watauga region of North Carolina (then the western frontier of the state but now in Tennessee) and settled on the Holston River. When officials created the Washington District (soon to become Washington County) from the Watauga settlement, Sevier was a delegate to the Provincial Con-gress in Halifax. Soon appointed a lieutenant colonel in the state militia, he became known for his prowess as an Indian fighter. He was known “as a scourge of the Cher-okees” as he drove the natives from the Watauga area. Sevier’s reputation as a leader and a soldier was greatly enhanced in 1780, when the Revolutionary War reached into the frontier and he, with other colonials, repelled the British at King’s Mountain. Major Patrick Ferguson, the British officer assigned to protect the left flank of Lord Cornwallis’s troops, had been annoyed by the presence of armed frontiersmen and determined to “march over the mountains” and “lay their country waste with fire and sword.” Sevier and others got together a group of fron-tiersmen and, armed with rifles, went to meet him. They encountered Ferguson’s army of more than one thousand men at King’s Mountain just over the border in South Carolina. Effectively camouflaged, they killed and wound-ed more than one-third of the troops and made prisoners of the others. The victory, a turning point in the Revolution in the South, brought widespread recognition to Sevier and gave great impetus to his political and military career, which would continue for thirty-five years. Sevier served as the only governor of the State of Franklin, and then was elected the first governor of Tennessee, serving six succes-sive terms.
Joseph Greer – Known as “The Messenger of King’s Mountain” his dangerous six hundred mile trip from South
Carolina to Philadelphia to report that the Patriots had won a surprising victory at Kings Mountain recharged a discouraged Continental Congress and has been rec-ognized as the turning point in America’s bid for inde-pendence. Born in Philadelphia he moved south with his family eventually settling in the Watauga Settlement that was located in what is now Eastern Tennessee. When the colonies began their fight for independence he quickly joined the militia led by John Sevier. On October 7, 1780, the Patriots won a decisive victory at The Battle of Kings Mountain and Greer was chosen to make the journey north to report the good news. It took him thirty days to travel through hostile Indian Territory and across enemy lines while battling tough wintry conditions. He carried nothing but a compass and his musket. Legend says that his horse was shot out from under him on more than one occasion and that he hid in a hollow log while enemy forces rested on it. He arrived in Philadelphia on November 7, 1780 only to be denied entry into Congress. However being a big man, he was six feet seven inches tall, the frontiersman forced his way into the meeting and shared the much need-ed good report to a Congress that was disheartened over an earlier defeat at Camden, New Jersey. His good report reenergized the discouraged leaders. After the war the now famous “messenger” returned to North Carolina and explored much of what became Tennessee. In 1804 he was rewarded for his service when the government gave him three thousand acres of land in Lincoln County, Tennessee. He remained in that area the rest of his life finding success as a farmer and land speculator.
Kings Mountain - Kings Mountain is unique in Ameri-ca’s history: This battle, fought by 1,000 plus militiamen without orders, formal military training, uniforms or provi-sions, and with no promise of pay, against the supposedly “superior forces” of the famous British Col. Patrick Fer-guson, is credited by most with having changed the course of the Revolution in the South, and may have even insured that the original number of colonies in these United States of America would be thirteen, not ten. In only one hour and five minutes, the American Patriots totally decimated Ferguson’s American Tories (Loyalists) with every last man of them either dead or taken prisoner, and the Colonel himself left dead on the battlefield, having signed his own death warrant less than a month earlier when he sent a message from his camp in Gilbert Town, Rutherford Coun-ty, North Carolina, to the “officers on the Western waters” (west of the Blue Ridge) that if they did not “desist from their opposition to the British army, and take protection under his standard, he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country waste with fire and sword.” The message was delivered to Sullivan County, North Carolina (now Tennessee) Militia Colonel Isaac Shelby of Sapling Grove (present-day Bris-
tol), who immediately rode out to confer with neighboring Washington County, North Carolina (now Tennessee) Mi-litia Colonel John Sevier. The two men agreed that the best solution was to “march with all the men we could raise, and attempt to surprise Ferguson, by attacking him in his camp, or at any rate before he was prepared. Col. Shelby also convinced Col. William Campbell, commander of the county militia in neighboring Washington County, Virgin-ia, to join him and Sevier on Sept 25 1780 at Watauga, the time and place they had appointed for their rendezvous. Also “overmountain” at the time were Cols. Charles Mc-Dowell and Andrew Hampton and their militiamen (from Burke and Rutherford Counties, North Carolina, respec-tively), and when the five county militias assembled on the 25th, they were over 1,000 strong. The following day they began their march across the mountains, and on September 30th met up with Cols. Benjamin Cleveland and Joseph Winston and their 350 militiamen from Wilkes and Surry Counties, North Carolina (respectively), bringing their total to almost 1,400. The seven officers were well aware that they and their men were “amateurs” on a regular field of battle (although the Overmountain men were well-expe-rienced in Indian-fighting), and also that they did not have the proper authority to take the action they contemplated. On October 4th, they dispatched by Col. McDowell (who left his brother, Joseph, in charge of his troops) a Request to General Gates for a general officer to command them, but in the meantime elected Col. Campbell temporary commander, and continued to march toward Gilbert Town. The next day they learned that Ferguson had been in-formed of their approach, and had left Gilbert Town. The council of officers met that night and determined to pursue him no matter to what ends. Leaving behind their foot soldiers and weaker horses to catch up when they could, the men continued forward, and on the 6th of September, at Cowpens, South Carolina, were joined by Col. James Williams of Granville County, North Carolina, who was accompanied by about 400 men (largely from Sumter’s South Carolina troops under Colonels Hill, Lacey and Graham), but also including 60 militiamen from Lincoln County, North Carolina under Col. Andrew Hambright, and another 60 South Carolina militiamen under Major William Chronicle. Colonel Williams, also in pursuit of Ferguson, was able to advise them of Ferguson’s location: He was atop Kings Mountain. After an all-night forced march in pouring rains, at three o’clock the afternoon of the following day, on the 7th of October, the men circled the mountain and charged. Only one hour and five min-utes later, Ferguson and scores of his troops were dead, and the remainder, many wounded, taken prisoner. The rest is history...
*Due to space limitations, we will continue our study of chapter names with the remaining eight chapters in our next newsletter.
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