Texas Rangers converge on Taylorsville
Texas Rangers converge on Taylorsville
By Tom Watson
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
The official Rebellion Records from the National Archives last week left us wondering about a few things. For instance, were any of the Confederate soldiers who were in Taylorsville or who passed through natives of the county? Thanks to the following from Uley Washburn, we know a lot more about local boys who became Rebels, when they passed through their home county and what happened to them during the war.
We're going to offer "Taylorsville Overrun by Texas Rangers," which is courtesy of Uley. He even gives us microfilm reference numbers in case any of you want to write to the National Archives, Old Military Records Division and get printouts or additional information. "The Fall of 1862 saw the invasion of Kentucky by the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, under Gen. Braxton Bragg. By late September, the Confederates were as close to Louisville as they would ever get. On Sept. 27, 1862, Gen. Bragg ordered Colonel Wharton, First Cavalry Brigade, attached to the Right Wing of the Confederate Army of the Mississippi, to station a regiment at Taylorsville. In response to that order, Col. Wharton's 200 Texas Rangers were sent to Taylorsville, later followed by another cavalry company. These troops were to guard the roads from Shelbyville and Louisville.
On Oct. 2, 1862 Union forces under Gen. Don Carlos Buell began to advance from Louisville. By 10 a.m. that day, Col. Wharton had reported to higher headquarters that the Rangers had been attacked in force at Wilsonville. The Confederate troops were forced back to Taylorsville. Concentrating his cavalry force at Mount Washington, due to a more serious threat, Col. Wharton pulled all but a picket force out of Taylorsville.
That small picket force was soon pushed out of Taylorsville. As early as 2:30 a.m., Oct. 3, 1862, reports were sent to Confederate headquarters that Union troops had taken Taylorsville. By 4:30 p.m. Union forces had complete control of the town.
At least one story bears telling of this short period of Taylorsville being under Texas control. One of these Rangers was of Spencer County stock. A member of the 8th Texas Cavalry (better known as "Terry's Rangers"), "Little Phil" Crume was the son of Philip D. Crume and Christianna Forman (Foreman). Though they owned over 400 acres in Spencer County, the Crumes were early Texas settlers, and Phil was born there in 1840. After his parents died on the Red River in Texas in July, 1844 during a cholera epidemic, Little Phil was sent back to Kentucky along with his parents' bodies in 1845.
Little Phil lived with his grandfather William Forman (Foreman) in 1850, returning to Texas some time before the war. Since he had knowledge of the area, Little Phil probably was in the lead unit of Rangers that entered Taylorsville. Regardless of his part in Bragg's "Invasion," Little Phil Crume took some time to visit relatives and conduct some business. He sold part of the land he'd inherited to his great-uncle, Jesse Crume, to build a road to his mill, probably one of the "hominy" mills the Rangers were protecting. While he was with Jesse, Little Phil said the Rangers were going up to Louisville and clean out the Yankees.
Jesse just laughed it off and dared them to go try. The remainder of the land (414 acres) Little Phil sold to his second cousin, James Montgomery Crume. Apparently Confederate money was pretty common in the county at the time, as James made a large portion of the land payment with it."
Now, a look at some truly fantastic work by Uley. Be sure to save this column for your family free research.
1st Kentucky Cavalry C.S.A (Butler s) Staff
Elder, Guy: Sgt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Sgt.; Rank Out: Sgt.; Alt. Name: Gray/Elder;
Film Number: M377 roll 4]
Company "C"
Thomas, Benjamin W.: 2nd Lt.; res. Spencer County; prom. 1st Lt.; NFR; [Rank In: 2nd Lt.; Rank / Out: 1st Lt.; Film Number: M377 roll 13]
Company "D"
Alloway, Henry M.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; (No listing in S. & S. Index)
Alloway, Merit (Merrit) C.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; born February 23, 1837, in Nelson County; son of Joel Alloway and Elizabeth Grigsby; married June 7, 1866, Isona Collings (June 2, 1839 - July 31, 1908) of Spencer County, daughter of Reuben Collings and Mary Johnson; marriage produced the following children: Altha A., Nannie B., Samuel C., and Virginia Alloway, plus two deceased before 1887; died March 28, 1921; buried Valley Cemetery, Spencer Co., Ky.; was a farmer and livestock trader; owned 420 acres. [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 1]
Castan, W. T.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Private; Rank Out: Private; Alt. Name: W.T./Coston; Film Number: M377 roll 3]
Collings, Benjamin F.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: Benjamin/Collings; Film Number: M377 roll 3]
Collins, Isaac: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; (No listing in S. & S. Index)
Foreman, John M.: Pvt.; m.i. October 1861; age 21; res. Spencer County; NFR: born Aug. 10, 1840; married Laura A. Unnamed (born Nov. 20, 1850, died Aug. 31, 1925); marriage produced at least one child: John W. Foreman (1873 -1914); died Aug. 1, 1903; buried Valley Cemetery, Taylorsville, Spencer County, Ky.; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 5]
Forman, Jack W.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 5]
Garr, Thomas B.: 1st. Sgt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: 1 Sgt.; Alt. Name: T. B./Garr; Film Number: M377 roll 5]
Heady, R. B.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; pension applied for November 21, 1925; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: B. H./Heady; Film Number: M377 roll 6]
Montgomery, James R.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; born Sept. 29, 1832; died Oct. 1901; buried Valley Cemetery, Taylorsville, Spencer County, Ky. [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 9]
Company "E"
Davis, Joseph L.: 2nd. Lt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: 2 Lt.; Rank Out: 2 Lt.; Film Number: M377 roll 4]
King, James B.: Brevet 2nd Lt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; born 1833, died 1903, buried Elk Creek Baptist Cemetery, Spencer County, Ky. [Rank In: Bvt. 2 Lt.; Rank Out: Bvt. 2 Lt.; Alt. Name: J. B./King; Film Number: M377 roll 7]
Thurman, John T.: 2nd. Sgt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Sgt.; Rank Out: Sgt.; Alt. Name: J.T/Thurman; Film Number: M377 roll 13]
May, C. H.: 1st. Corp.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Corp.; Rank Out: Corp.; Alt. Name: C. H./May; Film Number: M377 roll 8]
Beauchamp, James W.: 2nd Corp.; res. Spencer Co.; NFR; prior service: 3rd Lt.; Howard Guards, Ky. State Guard; NFR; born December 8, 1839; married Anna Louise ____; died June 14, 1895; buried at Valley Cemetery, Spencer County, Ky. [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: J.W./Beauchamp; Film Number: M377 roll 1]
Beauchamp, Joseph W.: Pvt.; res. Spencer Co.; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: J.W./Beauchamp; Film Number: M377 roll 1]
Beem, Isaac: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 1]
Beem, John: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 1]
Bennett, Quent: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; (poss. s/a: Bennett, Quinton: 2nd Lt.; Howard Guards, Ky. State Guard) [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 1]
Carlin, William P.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: W.P./Carlin; Film Number: M377 roll 2]
Cochran, D. F.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Private; Rank Out: Private; Film Number: M377 roll 3]
Cox, James L.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; born February 15, 1840; died June 1, 1872; buried Old (Pioneer) Cemetery, Taylorsville, Spencer County. [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: James/Cox; Film Number: M377 roll 3]
Heady, Mike: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 6]
Heady, Thomas Walter: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: T. W./Heady; Film Number: M377 roll 6]
McCrocklin, James W.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; born May 23, 1837; son of John M. McCrocklin and A. Elizabeth Wakefield; died September 10, 1864; buried Elk Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Spencer County, Ky. [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 8]
McKinley, Edward: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: E./McKinley; Edmond/McKinley; Film Number: M377 roll 9]
Rice, William 'Rough': Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Film Number: M377 roll 11]
Parris, J. H.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: Joseph/Paris; Film Number: M377 roll 10]
Wells, Frank W.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: W./Wells; Film Number: M377 roll 14]
Wyatt, George C.: Pvt.; res. Spencer County; NFR; [Rank In: Pvt.; Rank Out: Pvt.; Alt. Name: G./Wyatt; Film Number: M377 roll 14]
Next week, more Spencer County Confederate soldiers.
In answer to your questions Uley, yes, I know all about the Edward Massie murder at Little Mount and very little about the 119th U.S. Colored Regiment skirmish. Future columns will cover those issues.
Remember, when you have historical information, pictures, scrapbooks or hand-me-down stories, write to: Tom Watson, 5225 Little Union Road, Taylorsville, KY 40071, or call 252-9991 or email Watson at apwriternews@yahoo.com.
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