From: KyArchives [archives@genrecords.org] Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 9:37 PM To: Ky-Footsteps Subject: Chapter.Xx.The.War.Clouds.1887.Henderson.HISTORY-Books Chapter Xx The War Clouds 1887 Henderson County KyArchives History Books Book Title: History Of Henderson County, KY CHAPTER XX. THE WAR CLOUDS-TROUBLOUS TIMES WITH THE SLAVE PROPERTY-INTERESTING STATISTICS-THE GREAT DAY FOR TRAFFICING IN NEGROES-PUBLIC MEETINGS CONCERNING THE WAR-ORGANIZATION OF MILITIA COMPANIES, ETC., ETC., ETC.-1860. THE population of Henderson County, by official count, was reported this year, to be fourteen thousand two hundred and sixty-two, an increase of two thousand and ninety-one since the census of 1850. Of this number, eight thousand four hundred and five were whites, five thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven were slaves, ninety-five free colored, and fourteen hundred and forty-two foreigners. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, was this year elected President of the United States, and upon a platform whose cause of difference between the two great sections of the country was irreconcilable. It was evident that a struggle, destined to rend the country in pieces amid carnage, desolation and blood, was now dawning, and would soon result in war more terrible than had ever before been known. Slavery was now to be abolished in toto, or the right to hold slaves settled for-ever. The question had agitated the country for several years, and the election of Mr. Lincoln was taken by the extreme Southern States to mean freedom of the negro. Kentucky lay topographically in the center of the grouping States, in fact she occupied the identical political and social ground between the contending parties, she had held in her earliest settlement between the Northern and Southern tribes of Indians. She was then the "dark and bloody ground," and upon her soil was fought great battles by contending forces from the North and South. Again she was to become the battlefield for the mighty hosts of the North and South, in martial form, a thousand times more terrible and destructive than in early times. How to avert this direful calamity, was a question patriots and statesmen labored hard and unceasingly to solve. Kentucky declined to secede from the Union, preferring to remain neutral. Her natural and geographical sympathies were with the South, yet there was a sentiment of devotion to the Union, nearly akin to the religious faith, which is born in childhood, and which never falters during the excitement of the longest life, and which at last enables "the cradle to triumph over the grave." At this time Henderson county was strong Union, for the mass of her people had never reasoned about it. "The suggestion of its dissolution was esteemed akin to blasphemy." Aside from this, the great bulk of her people were better soldiers in peace, than in war, and felt none of those patriotic emotions which rush into absolute and uncontrolable impetuosity at the tap of a drum or the shrill sound of a fife. Outside of two hundred or more enthusiastic young men of the county, the others were content with letting alone and being let alone. There seemed to be a greater disposition to make money at this time than ever before, and notwithstanding war was inevitable, and as a culminating consequence slavery would be abolished, very many of the leading planters of the county purchased large numbers of negroes, and extended the magnitude of their crops. Negroes were purchased up to the time of, and even before the first proclamation of Mr. Lincoln, and when all doubt as to the real and true intent of the party in power was settled beyond question, emissaries from the North were cautiously circulating among the negro population, and many bits of Abolition literature had been discovered. There were secret movements of the blacks, and evident dissatisfaction. There was hardly a day or night, but one or more of them did not find safe passage to Indiana. Insurrections became talked of, and for a time great uneasiness was manifestly apparent. Patrols and guards were kept along the entire river front, and yet with all these expensive precautions, many slaves effected a safe and farewell escape. In the latter part of 1859 a fellow named George A. Boyle, who had lived in Henderson for a year or more, and had oftentimes expressed himself in sympathy with Old John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, declared that he had a "big Republican heart," and was suspected and accused of having circulated a large number of abolition pamphlets amongst the slaves of the city and county. He was watched and detected in holding Republican council with several negroes, and the City Council, upon learning this fact, voted that he should vacate the town. To this end a committee waited upon the gentleman of Abolition faith, and warned him if he did not depart, and that immediately, he would be furnished a free ride, and a tar suit profusely ornamented with varigated feathers. Boyle guided by the advice of the committee, took to his heels, and was never again seen in Henderson. He was a blacksmith by trade. There were many more such men as Boyle, but so secret were their movements, and so carefully and judiciously laid were all their plans, they escaped discovery, and continued to do their work unmolested. In February an act of the Legislature was approved, authorizing the Judge of the County Court to change the boundary or voting places in any precinct. March 2, that portion of the county lying north of Green River, and running from James Jones' lower corner, and then on a straight line to Ben. Allin's lower corner on Green River, was taken from Henderson and Added to Daviess County. November of this year, Thomas J. Lockett, who had been commissioned to take the census of the county, made the following report. Population of the county and city, 14,753; population of the city, 4,011; wealth of the county, $14,594,251; wealthiest man in the county, A. B. Barrett, $1,850,000; oldest male, James Bell, ninety-three years; oldest person, "Milly," property of the estate of Colonel Robert Smith, one hundred and five years. December 6, under the military law, William P. Grayson, Colonel of the Henderson County Militia, divided the county into military districts, and ordered an election to be held in each district on the eighteenth day of December, for the purpose of electing captains and lieutenants. The farce was never carried out. The following advertisement, which to many at this day will sound rather queer, appeared in the "Reporter" for several issues: "B. W. Lucas advertises that he has and keeps constantly on hand a lot of likely negroes, which he will be pleased to sell at reasonable prices. Mr. Lucas is a gentleman who will do all that he says." About that time, and for some years prior to that time, negro traders made frequent visits to Henderson en route South, and would remain two or three weeks selling, exchanging, or buying negro slaves. The first day of January of each year, was a great day. Great crowds of men congregated in the town, knowing it to be the day for hiring and selling negroes. A block, or box, was usually placed at the most central point of the principal street, and from this block, or box, negroes-men, women and children-were hired for the ensuing year, or sold outright. Now that those horrid times have past and gone, many men, who at that time dealt in human life, look back and acknowledge the justice of universal freedom. Under the law, a slave could be sold under execution just the same as other property, and oftentimes, husband and wife, mother and child were separated, perhaps never to see each other again. Frequently, for the purpose of settling estates, the unity of a happy family of negroes was entirely broken up by sale. It was not an unfrequent occurrence for mother and father to be sold away down in Dixie, while their children were purchased by a resident, or some legatee of the estate. It was the universal custom to sell mean or worthless negroes, and most generally they were sent to the far South. Many a sad parting, a distressing separation has been witnessed on the streets of Henderson. Tears have flown, and distressed manifestations and exclamations have been seen and heard, and yet the great mass would pass on as unconcernedly as though it was the braying of so many dumb brutes. Negroes, who were faithful, and were owned by humane masters, were well treated, and as a general thing were as happy as mankind is ever permitted to be, yet there were instances, where the treatment of these people was cruel in the extreme. As a rule, Henderson County slave owners were good masters, and were solicitous for the welfare of their negroes, and while some of the stories told by the people of the North concerning the treatment of this race, bore the semblance of truth; in the main they were base fabrications, at least so far as those stories concerned Kentucky. November 6, the Presidential election was held. The National Democratic party, having split in the Charleston S. C, Convention, the two factions, each presented a candidate for the presidency, Stephen A. Douglas, representing one faction, John C. Breckenridge the other. Seeing this, the Republican party, then but a small factor in National politics, nominated Abraham Lincoln, while the old Whigs, opposition and Know Knothings, presented a candidate in the person of John Bell, of Tennessee. The contest on all sides was a bitter one, and in no county in the South did the excitement partake of a greater blaze than in Henderson. The county was stumped by able speakers, and the people thoroughly aroused to the importance of polling a full vote. The following is the official vote of the county: Bell. Breckenridge. Douglas. Lincoln. Henderson Precinct 338 144 103 1 Tillotson Precinct 98 78 31 0 Walnut Bottom 100 51 19 0 Hebardsvllle Precinct 117 70 2 0 Woodruff Precinct 57 19 6 1 Corydon Precinct 116 126 46 3 Point Precinct 20 10 2 0 ____ ___ ___ __ 846 498 211 5 Showing conclusively, that Henderson was unmistakably a strong opposition county. Mr. Lincoln was elected chief magistrate, and upon the reception of this news, the aspect of affairs became truly alarming. Never in the history of the Nation, did a severance of the ties which bound the States together in one confederated community, appear so inevitable. Of all the dark hours in the history of the Republic, since the darkest moment in the war of Independance, the darkest cloud yet visible, had cast its shadows athwart the political heavens. The South Carolina Legislature, in session at this time, had taken measures to set up an independent government, and information from several of the Southern States indicated a determination to withdraw from the Union, and to inaugurate the dismemberment of a confederacy, united by the most hallowed and inspiring recollections, and by a unity and magnificence of interests unparallelled in the history of Nations. The Government trembled under the strain caused by the war now waging between conflicting prejudices, interests and principles. Kentucky, most sensible to these grand and endearing memories, and inseparably involved in those common interests, claimed to be heard ere the torch was applied to the grand old temple, in which she was the oldest christened daughter of the constitution. Yes, Kentucky was deeply interested, for upon her soil, most likely, were the great contending forces to measure strong arms, and Henderson County was interested, for she was a border county. The State could not speak until the counties had spoken, and upon this depended the destiny of all. Henderson was among the first to speak. A meeting of the people of the city and county was called to meet at the Court House Saturday night November 10, 1860, circulars were issued, setting forth in strong language the importance of the meeting, and at the hour of meeting, a large and enthusiastic audience had assembled, On motion of F. H. Dallam, Hon. Archibald Dixon was called to the chair, and J. W. Rice, appointed Secretary. Governor Dixon, on taking the chair, explained the object of the meeting, and then made an eloquent appeal in favor of the Union. On motion of Mr. Dallam, a committee of five on resolutions was ordered, and the Chairman appointed F. H. Dallam, C. W. Hutchen, Colonel John W. Crockett, Harvey Yeaman and J. Cabell Allen. While the committee was out Hon. B. W. Hanna, of Terre Haute, Indiana, a distinguished lawyer and politician, being loudly called for, came forward and addressed the meeting in a most eloquent speech. Colonel John T. Bunch, Ira Delano and S. B Vance, were called for and responded in speeches of great power. At the close of Mr. Vance's speech the committee came in and made the following report. The resolutions were preceded by a long preamble only a portion of which it is deemed necessary to reproduce: "WHEREAS, It is apparent that certain misguided persons in the South would fain make the election of Mr, Lincoln the occasion, or pretext, of "precipitating the so-called slave States into secession or revolution, while certain persons in the North would fan the flame of discontent in their section, for the same purpose. AND, WHEREAS In view of this deplorable state of things, it is eminently right, and indeed indispensible, that the people take at once the management of this all-important and paramount question out of the hands of partisans, politicians, and office-seekers. Therefore, resolved. First. That we do now, and here, proclaim our determined love and fealty to the Union as it is. Second. That we do now, and here, on the altar of our country's peace, and for the furtherance of the purposes we have indicated, offer and yield up all of our heretofore mere personal preferances and prejudices. Third That in view of the dangers which imperil our common country, a mass meeting of all the citizens of the county, without distinction of party, be called, to be held in the Court House, on Saturday, the 17th inst., at 1 o'clock P M , for the purpose of consulting, and forming a suitable organization, by which to shape and regulate our action hereafter." F. H. Dallam then advocated the passage of the resolutions in a forcible speech. Col. John W. Crockett addressed the meeting, and then a motion was made, requesting all of the papers in the State to copy the proceedings, and the meeting adjourned. The object of the meeting on the 17th, was to get an earnest expression of the views of the people, upon the alarming issue between the triumph of sectionalism, and the threatened secession of the Southern States. The day of meeting came, and with it a multitude from every section of the county. The spacious court room was packed with citizens, who evinced a solicitude for the welfare of the country, while their manifested anxiety showed that they appreciated the impending danger. Gov. Dixon was again called to preside over the meeting, and explained the object of its call in an address of the deepest feeling. Col. John W. Crockett, chairman of the committee appointed on resolutions, made the report, which was for the preservation of the Union at all hazzards. To read the report at this time, .one would judge that the people of Henderson and Henderson County were pretty unanimously for the Union, but we find that on the twenty-fifth day of December (Christmas) the Henderson Artillery Organization, formed under the laws of Kentucky, turned out in full force, and fired fifteen rounds for the Southern Confederacy. There was no damage done, however, beyond the serious wounding of G. L. Pierman, the gunner, by a premature discharge of the gun, and the upsetting of W. W. Catlin, who was standing near by at the time. At the close of this year the political mercury had risen to blood heat, and early in 1861 it indicated a still greater degree of political warmth. 1861. January 10, in a column and a half editorial, the "Reporter" came out squarely for secession, and in the issue of the 17th, a red hot call was made for a mass meeting to be held at the Court House on Saturday, the 19th, "to let Henderson County express her sentiments." There had been a meeting held in the Court House on the 5th, inst., at which strong Union resolutions were adopted, and this meeting to be held on the 19th, it was understood, was to place Henderson right on the record. The copy of the call will explain itself: "WHEREAS, It is believed that the meeting at the Court House on the 5, inst., did not express the sense of the people of this county; many have united in calling a mass meeting of the people irrespective of party, at the Court House on Saturday, the 19th January, at 2 o'clock, P. M., to take into consideration the state of the country, and indicate the course Kentucky should pursue in the present emergency. The resolution offered by Judge Milton Young, at the meeting on the 5th, declares the Union paramount. Let us see if the people of Henderson County are willing to say to their Southern brethren, and their Northern enemies, that they are for the Union whether the South is equal under the Constitution or not People of Henderson County, read this bill, and see if you wih not come out on Saturday and rebuke the conduct of the men who have endeavored to place you in such a position." The foregoing was circulated in every section of the county, and at the appointed time, the Court House was crowded to its capacity. The meeting was organized by appointing Colonel John W. Crockett Chairman, and Robert T. Glass Secretary. It was soon evident that a great split was to occur; there were those who wanted to sympathize with the South, and so express it in writing, while the large majority were in favor of standing by the resolutions of the previous meeting. Peace and harmony had withdrawn, and every fellow who could speak, and many more who could not, were yelling at the top of their voices, Mr. Chairman! Mr. Chairman! while in this tumultous uproar, and broad field of disorder, an old grey haired patriot entered the crowded auditorium, waiving over his head a large flag, "The Stars and Stripes "-great heavens, what a scene! it could hardly be pictured: strong men wept like little children, the crowd arose seemingly en-masse, and fairly rent the building with screams for the Union. The excitement was beyond control, and not until Governor Dixon, whose magnificent presence electrified all around him, had mounted the rostrum, and waived his arm, could a composed looker-on, determine whether this wonderous crowd, was a convention of intelligent men, or an asylum of howling lunatics When comparative order had been restored, the flag was taken to the speaker's stand, and the announcement made that it had been presented by thirteen patriotic ladies of the city. This was the occasion for another outburst. To look upon the sea of humanity that surged within the walls of the Court House, it was but natural that Fancy should assert a temporary reign, and waving her jeweled sceptre, bid one's spirit back to the old Hall of Independence, where the representatives of the people, who writhed under the lash of oppression and the scorpion sting of wrong, were signing the declaration, pledging all, to conquer their oppressors or pour out their crimson life tide on the soil they had sworn to protect. In that throng -were all ages-the boy, young and thoughtless; the young, fired with patriotism and confident of strength, and the sire with the frosts of many winters silvering his aged locks, whose superannuated frame quivered with a strange strength, whose prescient eye beheld the storm clouds in the Northern and Southern horizons, conveying with the rapidity of the sweep of a sirocco. Resolutions were passed, but not the sort of resolutions wanted by those who had been instrumental in calling the convention. The meeting adjourned amid the wildest confusion, and until a late hour in the night, the stars and stripes were paraded over the town, followed by hundreds of men and boys; music was in the air, and every man who could speak and had a good word to say for the flag, was serenaded, and called to the front. An unusual crowd gathered in front of Governor Dixon's residence, and after listening to several pieces by the band, the Governor appeared, and for thirty minutes held them spell bound by his matchless eloquence. Late in the night the crowd dispersed, and in three weeks afterwards, many of them were yelling the loudest for the Southern Confederacy. RESULT OF THE WAR SPIRIT. During the month, the following editorial appeared in the Reporter: "We cannot remember when times were harder than at present, money is almost entirely withdrawn from circulation, and we are told is worth an almost fabulous percenture per month. Real estate can hardly be disposed of at any price. The question is not how much money a man is worth, but how much can he raise. Negroes sold on New Years day at ruinously low figures, and the best of servants hired at prices vastly below the usual standard. Confidence cannot be restored in commercial circles until the National difficulties are settled, and the sooner the odious union between North and South is severed the better Capitalists will not relax their purse strings before the establishment of the Southern Confederacy, which ue believe will be born about the fourth of March next." Contrary to the judgment of the "Reporter," money was never more plentiful, nor the wages of mechanics and laboring men so high, as during the war which followed. Expert stemmers of tobacco were known to hire for one hundred and fifty dollars per month, while the most ordinary hand could command seventy-five dollars. On the thirteenth day of January, Old Jack Shingler, one of the pioneers of the county, breathed his last. March 19, a terrible wind storm passed over the city, unroofing many houses. April 15, President Lincoln issued his proclamation, calling for seventy-five thousand militia to suppress the rebellion. A call was made upon Governor Beriah Magoffin for Kentucky's quota. The Governor sent the following dispatch: "I say, emphatically, that Kentucky will furnish no troops for subduing her sister Southern States." After this the war began in earnest. River towns were seized, and a regular system of searching steamboats established. On the twenty-third day of April a meeting was held at the Court House for the purpose of Organizing a Home Guard Company. Hon. John C. Atkinson presided, and Gawin I. Beatty performed the duties of Secretary. A large number enrolled their names, and in a few days a full company was organized and ready for service. An election of officers was held, and the following names chosen: E. L. Starling, Jr., Captain; First Lieutenant, Charles T. Starling; Second Lieutenant, Harvey Yeaman; O. S., W. S. Johnson. A few weeks subsequent to this time, to-wit: on the twenty-fourth of June, another company of home guards enlisted, and the following were chosen officers: Jas. H. Holloway, Captain; L. W. Danforth, First Lieutenant; William R. Lancaster, Second Lieutenant, Andy Rowdin, Third Lieutenant. Henderson, during the year, was well supplied with military. In addition to the two companies above named, there was the State Guard Company, organized November 7, 1859. This company was organized in the counting office of Kerr, Clark & Co., and had their first drill in the front room. W. P. Fisher, an old Mexican soldier, and then proprietor of the Hord House, was elected Captain; E. G. Hall, First Lieutenant; Leonard H. Lyne, Second Lieutenant, and Robert T. Glass, Third Lieutenant. On the twenty-fourth day of May, Colonel William S. Elam, of the State Militia, mustered the company into the State service. In the fall, Captain Fisher resigned, and the following officers were chosen; E. G. Hall, Captain; Robert T. Glass, First Lieutenant; James H. Holloway, Second Lieutenant, and Samuel W. Rankin, Third Lieutenant. In the winter and spring of 1860 and 1861, it was evident that war would result upon the inauguration of President Lincoln, and there was a great diversity of opinion among the men of the State Guards as to the right of the General Government, in calling upon the State of Kentucky for troops. This defection grew until most of those who held to the belief that the Government had the right, and that it was the duty of the militia to respond promptly, withdrew from the State Guard, as it was called, and enrolled with the "Home Guards" Captain Starling and Lieutenant Holloway among the number. The Legislature of 1860 and '61, had prescribed a new oath to be taken by the State Guard troops, and this created another breach, many members refusing to take it on account of its loyal tendency. By this time the State Military Board had been remodeled. Men of a more loyal turn of mind, to Kentucky, at least, if not to the Federal Government, had been appointed, and the General Simon Bolivar Buckner State Guard, as they were called, were generally looked upon with some degree of suspicion concerning their loyalty to Kentucky, therefore the organization of the Home Guards. These soldiers were not greatly admired by the Southern sympathizers, and "Home Guard" was an intentional sarcasm when applied by them, to any member of that command. Early in September an order was received from the Military Board at Frankfort, ordering fifty men of the Henderson Home Guards to Spottsville, for the purpose of guarding the lock and dam at that place. In obedience to that order, Captain Holloway, with a portion of his company and part of Company "A," under command of Lieutenant Charles T. Starling, left for the lock, marching overland through the mud and rain, and reaching that place at ten o'clock in the night. A few days afterwards, Captain Holloway was relieved for a short time by Captain Starling, with a reinforcement from Company "A." While the Home Guards were at Spottsville, a party of men seized the State Guard arms from the City Armory, consisting of a full compliment of Mississippi rifles and a six-pound canon, and left in the night for the South. A bond had been taken by the State for the safe keeping of these arms and their return, and this sudden procedure caused the securities on that bond, together with others, to pursue the fleeing captors. The flight was not so rapid as the chase, and as a consequence, the party were overtaken at Mrs. Ruby's, on the Madisonville Road, and persuaded to release the arms and permit their return to Henderson. They were brought back and returned to the armory in the brick store room now the Shelton Hotel, adjoining the house of A. S. Winstead's, on Second Street. The Military Board at Frankfort, soon heard of this, and in a few days thereafter the following resolution and order were received at Spottsville Headquarters: "MILITARY BOARD, FRANKFORT, September 20, 1861. "Resolved. That Captain W. P. Fisher, of Henderson County, deliver the arms drawn by him for his company, consisting of sixty rifles, sword, bayonets, sixty sets of accoutrements, one six pound brass cannon, equipments complete and seven artillery sabers and belts, to Captain E. L. Starling, Jr., of said county, who is hereby authorized to demand, receive, and receipt for the same, and the Secretary is directed to notify each of said Captains. "P. SWIGERT, Secy." "FRANKFORT, September 20, 1861. " Captain E. L. Starling, Jr.: "You are authorized and directed to demand and receive, from Captain W. P. Fisher, the arms drawn by him for his Company as contained in the foregoing resolutions of the Board. P. SWIGERT, Secretary." In obedience to this order, Captain Starling proceeded forthwith to Henderson, and made known his orders to Third Lieutenant Samuel W. Rankin, the only commissioned officer in the city at the time. Lieutenant Rankin, unhesitatingly turned over the key to the armory, and in a short time, the guns were being packed ready for shipment. This fact soon became known, and among a few of the old State Guards, there was a disposition to rebel. There were a sufficient number of men of Companies A and B. in the city to meet any trouble that might have been brought on, and they were summoned to the armory, and never did men respond more promptly. A guard was placed in the armory, and also in charge of the six pound brass cannon, then under the shed of the stable near the Hancock House. There was a great commotion upon the streets, and to this day the writer believes that the influence of Governors Powell and Dixon, prevented what otherwise might have been a serious affair in the city. While passing down Main Street from the armory to where the cannon was, Captain Starling was halted by a deputy sheriff, (who prior to that time, had been loud mouthed in his denunciation of the Frankfort order), and notified that he was a prisoner under a warrant issued by Judge L. W. Trafton. The following is a copy of the warrant: "The Commonwealth of Kentucky, to the Sheriff of Henderson County: You are commanded to arrest Captain E. L. Starling, and bring him before the Judge of the Henderson County Court, on the thirtieth day of September, 1861, at the Court House, in the City of Henderson, to show cause why he shall not give security to the County of Henderson, to indemnify said county from loss on account of the State arms, etc., now in possession of said Starling, and which arms, etc., were formerly in possession of a company of State guards in Henderson County, called the 'Hendeison Guards,' and make due return of this writ. "Witness my hand, as Judge of the Henderson County Court, this twenty- fifth day of September, 1861. L. W. TRAFTON, J. H. C. C " A graceful surrender was made to the overjoyed Deputy Sheriff, and a quiet walk with him into the august presence of his honor, the Judge, who was found in a brick office, located in the Turner block of one-story brick buildings on the east side of Main Street, writing at his table, aided by the flickering light of a tallow candle. "Here's your man," remarked the enraged deputy. "Well, sir," said he, "It is for you to see that he reports on the thirtieth." "Well, Judge," said the Captain, "What is it you wish me to do?" "Well, sir," said he, "You must give security to the county, for the arms you have seized, or else go to jail." " But, if your honor please, I have not seized the arms; I have received them by order of the State Military Board." "No matter by whose order you have received or taken them, you understand my ultimatum." "Certainly, I do; but permit me to make one single remark, Judge, and that is this: The arms are in my possession, as an officer and agent of the State, and by authority of the highest military power in the State. I intend to hold them without giving bond or going to jail; furthermore, a few more capers like this on your part, and that of your henchman, whom you denominate Deputy Sheriff, will insure your arrest, and a free passage up the placid Ohio. A word to the wise, etc. With this the Captain walked out, and has never heard from the Judge or deputy concerning the warrant from that night. It seems that the canon and its guards were closely watched, for about midnight, while the two guards had stepped away for a moment only, a lick was heard, and in hastily returning, a man was seen to retreat from the cannon; nothing was thought of it at the time, but upon close examination, it was found that the cannon had been spiked, but, not enough so to damage it, for next morning the piece of file broken off an inch above the touch-hole, was easily pulled out by Mr. V. M. Mayer, soldier and gun-smith. During the night and a part of the next day, the guns and accoutriments were all securely boxed up and they, with the cannon, taken to the wharfboat, where they were taken aboard of a steamer and a few hours afterwards safely stored away in Evansville, amidst the wildest excitement and congratulations of the young militia of that place. In addition to the Home Guard and State Guard companies spoken of, there was also a cavalry company of sixty-five men, organized on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1860. The officers of this command were John S. Norris, Captain; Samuel W. Elam, First Lieutenant; S. S. Hicks, Second Lieutenant; John R. White, Third Lieutenant, and George W. White, Orderly Sergeant. This company was completely equipped with cavalry outfit by the State, consisting of pistols, sabers, etc. Four days after the State Board had ordered in the arms of the State Guard company, Captain Starling, yet at Spottsville, received a second order, directing him to take possession of the arms of the State Guard cavalry company. In obedience to this order he came to Henderson and found the arms stored away in the building now owned by John Reichert, and with the assistance of Captain Norris-who readily consented to surrender them up-and several others, soon had the arms boxed up, and en-route to the wharfboat for shipment to Evansville. This, then, was the end of the two State Guard companies as State organizations. In October, the command at Spottsville, then under Captain Holloway, was relieved by federal soldiers, and then returned to Henderson where they were soon after disbanded. In the sketch of Colonel James H. Holloway's life, will be found a statement showing how companies "A and B," of the Home Guards, received their arms. The writer regrets that it is not in his power to give a full list of the soldiery at that time, among those remembered as doing faithful service are, Judge P. H. Hillyer, D. N. Walden, W. H. Lewis, W. S. Johnson, Jacob Held, Jr., Charlie Grieks, Harvey Yeaman, Charles T. Starling, John C. Stapp, Fred. Held, Lou. Zeller, Dr. R. A Armistead. David P. Lockett. On the second day of May of this year, Uncle Johnny Upp, one of the pioneers, and who was taken by the Indians opposite this city, marched to Chillicothe, Ohio, and heroically endured the privations and hardships of Indian captivity, departed this life. In the fall, General N. B. Forrest took possession of Hopkinsville, and such a skeedaddling of Union men had never been known up to that time. One hundred and fifty or two hundred of them gave up their homes, and, on foot, began the journey to Henderson, mostly through the woods and corn-fields of the intervening country. Among that number was general B. H. Bristow, who, in after life, "barely escaped" receiving the Republican nomination for the presidency of this great country. This hungry, hard looking army of Union refugees came into Henderson about five o'clock in the morning, and it has ever been an unsettled question which was the worst frightened-the women and children of Henderson, or the Hopkinsville braves. Captain Holloway ordered his company out for the purpose of giving them a warm reception, but finding they were refugees, fleeing from, and not seeking a scrimmage, extended them a hearty welcome. They were soon safely and comfortably quartered in the Elam & McClain factory, on Second Street. A story told by one of the party, will suffice to give an idea of the frightful ordeal the refugees underwent in making the trip from their homes to Henderson. It was a rule the Pilgrims adopted, never to camp at night near the road-side, but to find a place a good ways off, for an exposed position they argued would furnish too much fun for General Forrest, whom they believed had forsaken all else, and was directing his whole attention particularly to their capture. Upon a certain night they had selected the center of a large field of corn in Webster County, in which to camp, and about midnight, when all was quiet, the sentinels gave the alarm that Forrest was approaching. In the shortest possible time, the whole camp was up and fleeing in opposite directions, every fellow for himself, leaving their camp equipage, including extra coats and pants, to the mercy of the enemy. In a short time they were humilated to find that they had surrendered their camp to a flock of sheep, which had found a gap in the division fence, and were rushing pell mell through the dry corn. During the night they were gathered together again, but it was never known how many were missing. It is an actual fact, said the narrator, "We believed we heard the bugle call, and the rattle of sabers coming down through the corn, when really, it was nothing more than that flock of sheep." General James M. Shackelford, now a citizen of Evansville, was in Henderson at the time, perfecting his arrangements looking to the organization of a regiment of Union soldiers. He and General Bristow effected a union of forces, and next day the refugees were removed to the Indiana side of the river for a greater protection, where military headquarters were then and there established. On the tenth of October, the command having attained a safe strength, and having been furnished with arms, General Shackelford took possession of the fair grounds, near Henderson, at which place he established a recruiting camp. During this month and the month of November, Ashbyburg, in Webster County, on Green River, was strongly fortified by Shackelford's command, and frequent marches were made through the country, extending at times to Madisonville. The early part of October, the City of Henderson was occupied by the Thirty-second Indiana Regiment, Federal troops, under command of Colonel Charles Cruft, of Terre Haute, Indiana, and a German battery of six six-pounder brass pieces. Submitted by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY, BY EDMUND L. STARLING, COMPRISING HISTORY OF COUNTY AND CITY, PRECINCTS, EDUCATION, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, LEADING ENTERPRISES, SKETCHES AND RECOLLECTIONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THE LIVING AND DEAD. ILLUSTRATED. HENDERSON, KY, 1887. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/