Civil War Christmas [1863]

Many hospital wards were overcrowded and ill equipped.

During the Civil War, Lindsley Hall, part of the 

University of Nashville was used as a hospital.

Let’s follow the diary of a young nurse, Elvira J. Powers, who served as a nurse in military hospitals in the Louisville area and Nashville. Here are her thoughts just prior to Christmas in 1863.

Friday, Dec. 9.

The first snow of the season. Winter has really come to the Ohio valley.

Much public excitement in Louisville. Men are being conscripted, and horses impressed. Several thousand soldiers have just been sent there, as they anticipate a cavalry raid from the rebels. Hood is threatening Nashville. He says he "… is ordered either to go into Nashville, or to " a certain very warm place. Our boys [Union soldiers] think he will get into the latter place first.

Yesterday was at work most of the day and evening on evergreen wreaths to trim the ward. Christmas is coming I have plenty of help from the ward-master, chief nurse and convalescents. How kind they all are. I receive nothing in my ward from the surgeon down, but the greatest respect and consideration.

Friday, Dec.16.

The first death in my ward, since my coming, occurred last night. It was that of Robert Burnett, of Kentucky. On Sunday morning, over a week since, I found him lying in bed and that he had not been out to breakfast, as he had done the two days previous, since entering the ward.

Upon conversing with him he told me he was going to die. I saw that he was excited and thought he was nervous and tried to quiet him. But he was sure, he said, that he should die, " he understood why I did not think so, and appreciated what I said, but he knew he was going to die, " and asked if I would stay by him whenever I could, and he begged for a promise that I would be by him and " watch his face when he died." These were his exact words, and though I did not think he was dangerous and told him so, yet he would not be pacified till I promised if he died at any hour when we were allowed in the ward, or if at any other, and he was conscious and would send for me, I would be with him. He was also concerned for the future, for he was not a Christian, he said. I read for him from the Bible, sang for him, and the chaplain's orderly came and prayed with him. He professed afterward to think himself prepared to die, and he gradually grew worse each day until he died. I remained with him until late last evening, but he was unconscious else I should have remained until his death. He died about twelve. I had written to his wife the first day, but the mails are interrupted by guerillas. He has two brother-in-laws here, who have started home with his body. At the funeral service we sang the appropriate hymn,

" Oh! watch my dying face,

When I am called to die."

Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Transfers and furloughs are the order of the day. Some twenty-five hundred have been transferred from Nashville to this hospital, this month. From fifty to two, three or four hundred are transferred from here at one time, to hospitals farther north. As we hear that those are pretty well filled, it seems just the time to give as many sick furloughs as possible, thus clearing the hospitals for those unable to go home.

Saturday, Dec. 24.

The second death in the ward. It was that of a young, noble-looking man—Prevo, of the 40th Indiana. He died of a gunshot wound, the ball entering the lungs. He was battling with the grim monster all day yesterday, and thought himself at one time on a forced march through the country of an enemy, and at another in the heat of battle, when he would cheer on the soldiers. A lock of hair and a few words of condolence will go to one more mourning family in place of the dear, noble boy.

Great preparations are being made for Christmas tomorrow ; thus death and feasting go hand in hand in this strange world of ours.

Another died last Sunday in Ward 23, who had been for a long time in this ward. He shed tears when he was transferred, and I interceded to have him remain, but there are wards to which an order obliges patients to be removed when suffering from chronic diarrhea or lung diseases, and he was one of the former. But at his request I visited him, and after his death, which came suddenly, procured a lock of his hair from the dead-house and sent it to his father.

Christmas Evening.

Our dinner was truly a success. It was given by the Sanitary Commission principally, and a portion from the hospital fund. Much less stir was made about it, and one soldier expressed the general feeling, who said he " enjoyed the. Christmas dinner the most, for there wasn't so much style about it." Very excellent oyster soup for the light diet was given each time. Twenty-one hundred pies were issued for dinner, seventy-one cans of oysters, with eighteen hundred pounds of beef a la mode, also four barrels of pickles.

Friday, Dec. 30.

Most of the wards are now radiant with evergreen, tissue paper and pictures. I am content that mine should rank third or fourth in its adornings, rather than neglect the weightier matter of attending to the sick men—of whom I had quite a number last week requiring much care. The last death, mentioned under date of the 24th, was the second only in the ward since my entrance—a period of over two months, and the fifth since being in the charge of the present Burgeon, which is eight months. But the mortality in the hospital is increasing very much in consequence of war's grim visage .approaching nearer to us. A week ago last Sunday there were eleven dead bodies in the dead-house, and fourteen deaths occurred in three days.

Source: Hospital Pencillings, Powers, 1866.

The full diary is available at HathiTrust: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006784079

Summer School for Robertson County Tennessee in 1888

J. Mark Lowe 

Since we are in the midst of winter, it might be interesting to look back at a Summer Teacher Institute held in July of 1888. The students compiled the letter to report on their activities. The Robertson County Teachers Normal School was held on the grounds of the Cedar Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, South, under the oversight of the County Superintendent, J.E. Ruffin.

Report from Cedar Hill Normal School – Springfield Record, July 5, 1888

Knowing the great interest you feel in the young teachers of Robertson county, we offer you a few items from our Normal school now in session at Cedar Hill. And as all young folks like to see their name in the paper we will, in our jottings, insert the name of every member of the class.

The first two weeks of our term Prof. Hooker gave us a thorough drill in practical Arithmetic, introducing some work entirely new to some of us.

Prof. Willett gave us an exhaustive review of practical and analytical Grammar on a new method, which we like very much, and Prof. Clinard wrestled with our dull comprehension in the intricate analysis of intellectual Arithmetic.

This week Prof. Watson has critically ventilated all our pet authors and theories upon Phonic Elements, Reading and Elocution. His work has been intensely interesting both for its merit and novelty.

Prof. Empson has been laboring hard to impress upon our imaginations the graceful forms of his elegant penmanship. Miss Callie Johnson has been striving, with equal emphasis, to resurrect the little knowledge of Geography, which we obtained in our childhood days; and out Superintendent has set us to writing a History of the United States. We think of having it copyrighted and published under the firm name of Robertson County Teachers Normal School.

Our class is composed of twenty girls and five boys. A citizen of Cedar Hill said he thought the women would capture the school of Robertson County before many years, and Supt. Ruffin flattered us by rejoining, “they ought to.”

[1904 Elocution Class; Cedar Hill Institute]

Bud Moore, Nat Kernan, Charlie Payne and John Cook are domiciled at Rev. F.G. Cobb’s. When Bro. Cobb was asked if the boys had run him from home yet, he remarked, with a wise look, “I think I will hold the fort.”

Misses Lula and Lee Atkins are boarding at Mrs. Melvin’s; Attie Rosson and Maggie Morrow at J.F. Ruffin’s; Sudie and Mattie Chambers at J.C. Ruffin’s; Lattie Holland at Mrs. Wynn’s; Lula Jones and Ida Fry at Dr. Hawkins’; Prof. and Mrs. Walton and John T. White at W.R. Featherston’s and Prof. Empson and Clarance Nave at T.J. Ayers.

Our school is opened every morning with religious service. Misses Jessie Ruffin and Mattie Ayers are our organists. Misses Minnie Henry, Kittie Connell, Walton Ryan and Mollie Clinard, come regularly from Springfield. Bud Moore is the champion athlete of the class.

Nat Kernan is the bashful boy in school. He was seen one evening throwing stones (very softly, of course) at some girls who were leisurely taking a walk down the railroad. Misses Kittie Connell and Mollie Clinard could not be convinced that they are not the tallest in the school until Prof. Willett backed up the standard. Sudie Chambers and Carrie Ruffin are the baby girls of the class.

The girls have christened Prof. Hooker “Lightening Calculator.” Prof. Walton is known as “Old Chris,” and Prof. White “Little Chris.” We are hunting a nick name for Supt. Ruffin but we shan’t talk very loud till after examination.

Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Ayers entertained Prof. and Mrs. Walton and a number of students, Thursday night. The most delightful feature of the evening was Mrs. Walton’s rendition of some find music on the piano. Bro. Reams and Mr. Ben Mallory of Adams Station, spent one day with us.

We have had quite a number of visitors. The people of Cedar Hill have manifested some interest in our work and have treated us with marked courtesy and hospitality. The most delightful entertainment of the season, was given at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Bascom Batts, in honor of Misses Clardy and Carlyle, who are visiting there. We, poor, tired Normal students, were out en masse and all went away thinking our kind entertainers for turning our thoughts away from formulas and rlues event for an evening. We miss, this year, some familiar faces of last year’s class.” Virginia Cobb, Nora Richards, Gussie Owen, Addie Smith, Georgie Atkins and Nannie Atkins, Lucy Felts, Louis P. Pearson, C.P. Kernan, J.E. Empson, and others. Most of all we miss Prof. Borthick, one of our best teacher. One of them, Prof. Pearson, has died. A man whom we all admired – Miss Nannie Atkins has abandoned her profession to became a farmer.

This 1888 report mentioned Professor Louis P. Pearson.  His obituary appeared in the Springfield Record just two months before the school report was shared.

“On  Sunday night, April 29th, gloom was cast over the entire community by the death of Professor Louis P. Pearson. No grander, nobler man ever lived. Notwithstanding he had been sorely afflicted for years, he ever maintained a cheerful and amiable disposition. He was  a candidate for  County Court Clerk in the race of 1886. He leaves a devoted mother and twin sister, and other loving sisters and brothers.”

Sources: Springfield Record, 5 July & 10 May 1888. (JML published in Robertson County Times Mar 15, 2006)

Attention to the Feud: Hatfields & McCoys

by J. Mark Lowe

The History Channel's presentation of Hatfields and McCoys has certainly attracted our attention. Hearing these stories all of my life and realizing that the tales that have been told are often expanded beyond the actual events, I sought to understand the reality of these stories. Although I want to share more about what has been learned, lets begin with this 1900 Kentucky Court of Appeals Case regarding the murder of Alifair McCoy (daughter of Randolph McCoy)by Johnson 'Johnsy' McCoy, Cap. Hatfield, Robert Hatfield. Ellison Mounts, French Ellis, Elliot Hatfield, Charles Gillespie and Thomas Mitchell: "The facts attending the commission of this homicide were peculiarly cruel and revolting. After Randolph McCoy and his family had gone to bed, his little log house was surrounded, and he was summoned to come out and surrender, and, upon his failure to do so, his house was repeatedly fired into from both sides, and finally set on fire. When his family were finally driven out by the flames, one son, in an attempt to escape, was shot and killed, and his daughter, while begging for mercy and perfectly defenseless, was shot down. His wife was most cruelly beaten, and the escape of the father from death seems almost miraculous. He testifies that by the light of the moon and the flames of his burning dwelling he distinctly recognized appellant as one of the party which surrounded his house, and that as he came out he was shot in the shoulder with a shotgun, and that this diversion enabled him to escape. 1n addition to this positive identification of appellant, numerous witnesses have been introduced who testified to admissions made by him which unerringly point to his guilt. One of his accomplices before the fact has testified to the details of the conspiracy entered into by appellant and the other defendants in West Virginia to come to Kentucky and kill Randolph McCoy and his son George. After the burning of the house and the killing of the children of Randolph McCoy, appellant [Johnson 'Johnsy' Hatfield] admits that he fled from his home to the far-off state of Washington, and that for a number of years he made his home in that state, and in British Columbia and Canada, and that he procured information of his death to be sent back to Kentucky, with a view of allaying pursuit." [The original case information:] "The appellant,[Johnson 'Johnsy' Hatfield] in connection with other defendants, was indicted by the grand jury of Pike county on the 24th day of August, 1888, for the murder of Alifair McCoy. He was also charged in the same indictment with being present, and having aided, abetted, and encouraged his co-defendants to kill and murder her, and that they had previously conspired with each other to do so. He was arraigned for trial for the first time at the September term, 1898, more than 10 years after the finding of the indictment, and at the same term, upon his motion, a change of venue was granted from the Pike circuit court to the Floyd circuit court, and all of the witnesses were recognized to appear. In the Floyd circuit court on the first day of its next January term. During the interval between the adjournment of the Pike circuit court and the convening of the Floyd circuit court an order was entered, pursuant to section 153 of the Criminal Code, authorizing the defendant to take the depositions of a number of witnesses who resided in Mingo county. W. Va., to be read as testimony in his behalf. Pursuant to this order, on the 19th day of September, 1898, the depositions of Anderson Hatfield, the father of appellant, Bob Hatfield, Elias Hatfield, and Troy Hatfield, were taken, and each was read to the jury by the defendant, but defendant failed to procure the depositions of a number of other persons who were named in the order. When the case was called for trial, appellant asked a continuance on account of his failure to procure the depositions of the remaining Virginia witnesses, and also on account of the absence of his sisters Mrs. Nancy Bell Vance and Mary Simkins, by whom he expected to prove that he was more than nine miles away from the place where the killing occurred, suffering from a gunshot wound in his shoulder, which had been inflicted by his brother by the accidental discharge of a gun while rabbit hunting, 10 or 12 days before, and Samuel L. King, by whom he expected to prove that, after McCoy's house was burned and his daughter killed, he (McCoy) told him that he had shot Hence Chambers at his house on the night of the killing, and not the defendant. The motion for continuance was overruled, but the defendant was permitted to read his affidavit setting forth the facts as to the testimony of Mrs. Vance, Simkins, and King as their depositions, and this is the first error complained of. The only defense relied upon in this case is an alibi, and the only facts which the absent witnesses would have proved were cumulative of those testified to by the witnesses whose depositions were procured, and we think that appellant received the full benefit of all that could have been testified to by his absent witnesses who resided in this state by being permitted to read, as their depositions, his very elaborate affidavit filed upon his motion for a continuance, and it was properly overruled. After a number of the witnesses for the Commonwealth had been examined, appellant made another motion to set aside the swearings of the jury, and continue the case, upon the ground that two attorneys, whom he alleged he had employed to defend him, withdrew from the case, and refused to comply with their agreement to represent him, leaving him but one attorney to conduct his defense. The court had the withdrawing attorneys brought into court, and interrogated them as to their refusal to comply with their professional engagement made with defendant, and, in explanation of their conduct, they stated to the court that their employment was conditioned upon the payment to them of their fees in advance, which undertaking appellant had failed to comply with, and that they were therefore under no obligation to render the services contracted for. These statements of the attorneys were not denied, and appellant, therefore, had no right to rely upon their professional services in the trial. Besides, after their withdrawal, he had the benefit of the services of a thoroughly competent and experienced lawyer, who seems to have conducted the case and presented the defense as well as the law and facts permitted. And we are of the opinion that the court did not err in refusing to set aside the swearing of the jury, and continue the case on that ground." The Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the Circuit Court [Hatfield vs Commonwealth, Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 10 March 1900] Southwestern Report Vol 55, 679.

History Channel Information on the Families

Kentucky Death Certificate of Randolph McCoy

One Jubilee Singer - Georgia Gordon Taylor & her husband

J. Mark Lowe

It is certainly appropriate to recognize what the Fisk Jubilee Singers did for Fisk University and the City of Nashville. Today, I want to introduce one member of that famous group (briefly) and introduce her husband.
These sketches & photographs are taken from the Afro-American Encyclopaedia, or, The Thoughts, Doings, and Sayings of the Race compiled by James T. Haley in 1895. So let's meet the Taylors.

Mrs. Georgia Gordon Taylor was born in Nashville, Tenn. At an early age she left home with the "Original Fisk Jubilee Singers," traveling extensively in this country and abroad in the interest of Fisk University. Mrs. Taylor possesses a soprano voice of rare quality that is always pleasing and in demand. After retiring from public life she became the wife of Elder Preston Taylor, minister of the Lee Avenue Christian Church at Nashville, Tenn. In this capacity she has proven herself an efficient helpmete in church work, entering into it with all the zeal of an ardent Christian.

Elder Preston Taylor
Pastor of the Church of Disciples, Nashville, Tenn. - General Financial Agent of a College - Big Contractor and the Leading Undertaker.

Our subject is the leading minister of the Church of the Disciples. He was born in Shreveport, La., Nov. 7, 1819. He was born in slavery. His parents were Zed and Betty Taylor. He was carried to Kentucky when a year old; he was a promising boy and shed sunshine wherever he was. At the age of four years he heard his first sermon on the spot where the First Baptist Church now stands in the city of Lexington, Ky., and afterwards told his mother that he would be a preacher some day; so deep was the impression made on his young mind that years have not been able to eradicate it. He was affectionately cared for, and grew up as Samuel of old, ripe for the duties of his life. When the [Civil] war broke out he saw the soldiers marching and determined to join them at the first opportunity, and so he enlisted in Company G., One Hundred and Sixteenth United States Infantry, in 1864, as a drummer, and was at the Siege of Richmond, Petersburg and the surrender of Lee. His regiment also did garrison duty in Texas, then returned to New Orleans where they did garrison duty until mustered out of the service. He then learned the stone cutter's trade and became skillful in monument work, and also in engraving on marble. He went to Louisville, Ky., and in the leading marble yards found plenty of work, but the white men refused to work with him because of his color. He was offered a situation as train porter on the L. & C. Railroad, and for four years he was classed as one of the best railroad men in the service, and when he resigned he was requested to remain with a promotion to assistant baggage master; but as he could be no longer retained, the officers gave him a strong recommendation and a pass over all the roads for an extensive trip, which he took through the North. He accepted on his return a call to the pastorate of the Christian Church at Mt. Sterling, Ky. He remained there fifteen years, and the Lord prospered him in building up the largest congregation in the State among those of his faith, besides building them the finest brick edifice as a place for the worship of God in that section of the State. During these fifteen years he became known as the leading minister of his church in the United States. Not only in Kentucky has he been instrumental in organizing and building both congregations and meeting houses, but he was unanimously chosen the general evangelist of the United States, which position he held for a number of years besides assisting in the educational work of his race.
He very recently purchased the large spacious college property at New Castle, Ky., which originally cost $18,000, exclusive of the grounds, and at once began the task of paying for it. The school is in operation with a corps of teachers, and has a bright future before it. He is still one of the trustees, and the financial agent of what is now known as the "Christian Bible College," at New Castle. Some idea can be given of this man of push and iron nerve and bold undertakings by giving a passage in his life: When the Big Sandy Rail road was under contract to be completed from Mt. Sterling to Richmond, Va., the contractors refused to hire colored men to work on it, preferring Irish labor. He at once made a bid for sections 3 and 4 and was successful in his bid; he then erected a large commissary and quarters for his men, bought seventy-five head of mules and horses, carts, wagons, cans and all the necessary implements and tools, and with one hundred and fifty colored men he led the way. Jxl fourteen months he completed the two miles of the most difficult part of this great trunk line at a cost of about $75,000.
The President of the road, Mr. C. P. Huntington, said he had built thousands of miles of road, but he never saw a contractor who finished his contract in advance, and so he then was requested by the chief engineer of the works to move his force to another county and help out some of the white contractors. This he did not do. Afterwards he was offered other important contracts, but declined. A syndicate in Nebraska offered him the position of superintendent of their coal mines, but knowing it would take him away from his chosen calling, he declined the offer. For a number of years he was editor of "Our Colored Brethren," a department in the Christian Standard, a newspaper published as the organ of his denomination at Cincinnati, Ohio, with a circulation of 50,000 copies a week. He has written for many books and periodicals. He is a member of both Masonic and Oddfellow Lodges and was State Grand Chaplain of the former and State Grand Master of the latter and held these positions for three years and traveled all over the State, speaking and lecturing. Especially do the Oddfellows owe much to him for their rise and progress in the State of Kentucky, and the order conferred upon him as a mark of honor all the degrees of the ancient institution. He has represented his Lodge in many of the National Conventions of the B.M.C, preaching the annual sermons for a number of years.
I will give another incident that will show the character of this man, how he loves his race, and with what respect he treats them: While serving the church in Nashville in 1886, the choir of the church gained great reputation by taking a prize over every other church choir in the city in a musical contest. The Nashville American gave a very flattering account of the results which caused forty-two of the leading citizens of the white race to petition, through the pastor of the church, for a concert to be given in the Opera House for the special benefit of their friends.
When Mr. Taylor met this Committee they informed him that on the night of the concert the colored people would be expected to take gallery as usual. Mr. Taylor refused deliberately to have anything further to do with the matter, and publicly denounced the whole crowd in his church, which was very satisfactory to the colored citizens who urged him to give a concert nevertheless, and he consented. On the night of the concert there was scarcely standing room for the people, who said they desired to show their appreciation of this manly stand in resenting such overtures, and the result was an increase to the treasury of over two hundred dollars. He is one of the leading men in the community where he lives, commanding the respect of all who know him. A slight idea may be given of his popularity by stating that once when a gold cane was voted for in some entertainment in the city of Nashville his name was submitted by his friends to be voted for, he opposed the suggestion, but nevertheless, when the votes were counted out of the three thousand votes in that large city, he got over two thirds of the number. A quotation from the Christian Standard, Cincinnati, Ohio, March 3, 1886, will give some estimate of how he is held by the editor of that paper. A grand party was given for his benefit, and the editor used these words in reference to his absence:
"We have just received an invitation to a tea party at Nashville, Tennessee to be given in honor of Elder Preston Taylor. We would go all that distance, were it possible, to.show our respect for the zeal, ability and untiring energy of Preston Taylor. As we cannot go, we take this method of atoning for our absence."
Mr. Taylor is a man who will impress you when you meet him as thoroughly in earnest. He is never idle, always with new plans, warm hearted, generous, sympathetic and a true brother to all men who deserve the cognizance of earnest, faithful workers for Christ.

Look for more about the Taylors in the next blog.

Sam Houston’s Political Turmoil in 1834 Pt 2

After the divorce from Houston, Eliza Allen married Dr. Elmore Douglas of Gallatin. Here is a copy of the original marriage bond.


J. Mark Lowe
We are beginning the election cycle for the 2012 Presidential Race. Looking back at history makes us realize that life in the political fishbowl has been tough at best. We join this series of article discussing the separation of former Governor Sam Houston and his wife, Eliza Allen.
Committee members: General William Hall; William L. Alexander, Esq; General Eastin Morris; Colonel Joseph C. Guild; Elijah Boddie, Esq.; Colonel Daniel Montgomery; Thomas Anderson, Esq.; Captain Alfred H. Douglass; Isaac Baker, Esq.; Mr. Robert M. Boyers; Major Charles Watkins; Joseph W. Baldridge, Esq.; George Crockett, Chairman.; Thos. Anderson, Secretary.
The committee have had placed in their hands, a letter from Governor Houston to Mr. Allen, written shortly after the separation, a copy of which they subjoin without comment
Mr. Allen, The most unpleasant and unhappy circumstance has just taken place in the family, and one that was entirely unnecessary at this time. Whatever had been my feelings or opinions in relation to Eliza at one time, I have been satisfied, and it is now ‘unfit’ that any thing should be adverted to.
Eliza will do me the justice to say that she believes I was really unhappy. That I was satisfied and believed her virtuous, I had assured her on last night and this morning. This however should have prevented the facts ever coming to your knowledge and that of Mrs. Allen. I would not for millions that it had ever been known to you. But one human being knew any thing of it from me, and that was by Eliza’s consent and wish. I would have perished first; and if mortal man had dared to charge my wife or say aught against her virtue, I would have slain him. That I have and do love Eliza none can doubt, that I have ever treated her with affection, she will admit – that she is the only early object dear to me, God will bear witness.
The only way this matter can now be overcome will be for us all to meet as though it had never occured, and this will keep the world, as it should ever be, ignorant that such thoughts ever were.
Eliza stands acquitted by me – I have received her as a virtuous and chaste wife, and as such I pray God I may ever regard her, and trust I ever shall.
She was cold to me; and I thought did not love me; she owns that such was one cause of my unhappiness. You can judge how unhappy I was to think that I was united to a woman who did not love me. That time is now past, and my future happiness can only exist in the assurance that Eliza and myself can be happy, and that Mrs. Allen and you will forget the past, forgive all, and find your lost peace – and you may rest assured that nothing on my past shall be wanting to restore it. Let me know what is to be done,
Your most obedient (9th April, 1829) Sam. Houston.
The report was unanimously accepted, and it was...
Resolved, That the editors of the Gallatin Journal, Nashville Republican, National Banner, and all other editors who feel any interest for the character of an injured female, be requested to give the foregoing report and proceedings an insertion in their respective papers.
And the meeting adjourned. Geo. Crockett, Chairman; Thos. Anderson, Secretary.
Let’s look at some other related correspondence.
Letter from Willoughby Williams titled - Refutation of wanton slander.
Nashville, April 22, 1878. To Col. Samuel D. Morgan, Hon. J. C. Guild, Gen. Samuel R. Anderson and Maj. John L. Brown—Dear Sirs: Referring to the recent communication in the American, over my signature, addressed to Hon. Jo. C. Guild, touching certain events in the life of Gen. Sam. Houston, I related, among other incidents, his marriage to Miss Allen, of Sumner county, and his separation from that lady. I was handed to-day a copy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, of a recent date, containing a biographical sketch of Gen. Sam. Houston, extracted from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and written by a Mr. Asa Jarman, of Houston, Texas. Mr. Jarman makes mention of having seen Houston, when a youth, at Nashville, in the company of Indians; that he was very expert in the use of the bow and arrow, and afforded amusement to the citizens here by shooting six pences from the end of a pole placed there to test his skill. In all this Mr. Jarman is wholly mistaken, for Houston never visited Nashville until after the close of the war with Great Britain, a fact well known by all of his friends in this country familiar with his early career. Mr. Jarman further says that Gen. Houston married "Miss Lucy Dickerson, the belle of Nashville;" that Gen. Houston, enraged with jealousy of a Mr. Nickerson, caused an abrupt separation, charging his wife with infidelity to him. I have addressed my letter to you for the reason that you have known Gen. Houston personally well from his youth to the time he became a voluntary exile from Tennessee, Col. Morgan's friendship with him dating back to 1810. You are all familiar with this remarkable man's career from youth to the grave. Above all, you are familiar with the sad story of this separation from his wife. You all know that he married Miss Allen, of Sumner, a most estimable lady, whose name has ever been without reproach in the land that gave her birth. You know that after her separation from Gen. Houston, she married a gentleman of the highest repute, Dr. Douglas, of Sumner county. I call upon you, then, to remove any false impressions this letter of Mr. Jarman may have made upon the public mind. I hand you herewith enclosed the article alluded to in the Cincinnati Enquirer and copied from the Globe-Democrat, of St. Louis. Respectfully yours, Willoughby Williams.
Sources: Nashville National Banner, 7 June 1834; Old Times in Tennessee (Guild)

Sam Houston’s Political Turmoil in 1834

Part One

[Photo: Sam Houston]

J. Mark Lowe


We are beginning the election cycle for the 2012 Presidential Race. Looking back at history makes us realize that life in the political fishbowl has been tough at best. We join this series of article [Nashville Banner, 7 June 1834] discussing the separation of former Governor Sam Houston and his wife, Eliza Allen.
On 22 January 1829 Houston (age 35) married Eliza Allen (age 19). It is believed he was deeply in love with the girl, but Eliza left him shortly after the marriage for unknown reasons. She returned to her father’s home and the couple never reconciled. In April of 1829, Houston resigned as governor of Tennessee and went west with the Cherokee nation to Arkansas Territory.
The article as printed in the Nashville paper in June of 1834.
The Wife of Governor Houston. The Nashville Banner of the 7th instant, contains the annexed articles, introduced with these remarks:
“We regret the necessity of giv8ing publicity to the following documents. We fear that on the whole, no benefit will accrue to any party from the measure. But, the number and high respectability of those who have promoted, aided and sanctioned it, the prominent standing of the individual principally referred to, and the anxious expectations of the public, who are already aware that some movements have been lately made on the subject, leave us no alternative but to comply with the request of those who have transmitted us the article for publication. Where the lady spoken of is personally known, we believe her reputation remains fair, and unsullied even by suspicion.
At a meeting of sundry respectable citizens of Sumner county, in the State of Tennessee, assembled at the Court-House in the town of Gallatin, on the 26th day of April 1830, George Crocket of said town was called to the Chair, and Thomas Anderson was appointed Secretary.
The design of said meeting having been explained by appropriate remarks from Colonel Joseph G. Guild, on motion of Mr. William Howard Douglass it was
Resolved, that the following gentlemen be appointed a committee to consider and draw up a report expressive of the opinions entertained of the private virtues of Mrs. Eliza H. Houston, and whether her amiable character has received an injury among those acquainted with her in consequence of the late unfortunate occurrence between her and her husband, General Samuel Houston, late Governor of the State of Tennessee, to wit:
General William Hall; William L. Alexander, Esq; General Eastin Morris; Colonel Joseph C. Guild; Elijah Boddie, Esq.; Colonel Daniel Montgomery; Thomas Anderson, Esq.; Captain Alfred H. Douglass; Isaac Baker, Esq.; Mr. Robert M. Boyers; Major Charles Watkins and Joseph W. Baldridge, Esq.
And that said Committee meet at the Court-House in Gallatin on Wednesday next, and report.
The meeting was then adjourned until Wednesday next, at 10 o’clock. George Crockett, Chairman.; Thos. Anderson, Secretary.

Gallatin, Wednesday, April 28
The citizens met according to adjournment, (all the members of the committee wre present, except Colonel Montgomery,) and presented the following report:
The committee deem it unnecessary at this time to annoadvert on the character and conduct of Governor Houston, except so far as they may be inseparably connected with the investigation and development of the character of his unfortunate wife.
It appears that very shortly after the marriage, Governor Houston became jealous of his wife, and mentioned the subject to one or two persons, apparently in confidence; yet the committee are not informed that he made any specific charges, only that he believed she was incontinent and devoid of the affections which a wife ought to have towards her husband. The committee cannot doubt but that he rendered his wife unhappy by his unfounded jealousies, and his repeated suspicions of her coldness and want of attachment, and that she was constrained, by a sense of duty to herself and her family, to separate from her infatuated husband, and return to her parents, which she did early in the month of April last, since which time she has remained in a state of dejection and despondency.
The committee will close this report by observing that they are informed that Governor Houston had lately made a tour through the Middle States, and had returned to Nashville on his way to Arkansas, where they understand he has located himself in the Cherokee nation; and it has been suggested that public sympathy has been much excited in his favor, and that a belief has obtained in many placed abroad that he was married to an unworthy woman, and that she has been the cause of all his misfortunes, and his downfall as a man and a politician whereas, nothing is farther from the fact; and without charging him with malignity of heart, or baseness of purpose, the committee have no hestitation in saying that he is a deluded man; that his suspicious were groundless, that his unfortunate wife is now and ever has been in the possession of a character unimpeachable; and that she is an innocent and injured woman there is not the semblance of doubt.
The committee appointed to express the sentiments of this meeting in relation to the character of Mrs. Eliza H. Houston, and the causes which led to a separation from her husband, beg leave to present, that on the 22nd day of January, 1829, Gen. Samuel Houston, the then Governor of Tennessee, was married to Miss Eliza H. Allen, the daughter of Mr. John Allen, a highly respectable citizen of Sumner county. Miss Allen was born in the town of Gallatin and has been raised in the county of Sumner, and is personally known to the whole of the committee, a majority of whom have known her from her infancy. Up to the time of her marriage with Governor Houston, no lady sustained (and the committee think justly sustained) a fairer and more unsullied reputation for all those virtues which embellish and adorn the female character.
The committee have had placed in their hands, a letter from Governor Houston to Mr. Allen, written shortly after the separation, a copy of which they subjoin without comment.
Stay tuned for more of this story.

Kentucky's Revolutionary Land Grants - Part I

Part I - J. Mark Lowe

All land in Kentucky should follow a pedigree back to a governmental grant, generally Kentucky or Virginia. This process is called land patenting. Once a part of the commonwealth of Virginia, the land of Kentucky began to be granted after the King’s Proclamation of 1763 stating that land would be granted in lieu of cash to the veterans of the French & Indian War. The Land Law of 1779 expanded the granting of land to the state’s Revolutionary War veterans. John Filson discussed the land grant process in his 1784 publication.

“The proprietors of the Kentucke lands obtain their patents from Virginia, and their rights are of three kinds, viz. Those which arise from military service, from settlement and pre-emption, or from warrants from the treasury. The military rights are held by officers, or their representatives, as a reward for services done in one of the two last wars. The Settlement and pre-emption rights arise from occupation. Every man who, before March, 1780, had remained in the country one year, or raised a crop of corn, was allowed to have a settlement of four hundred acres, and a pre-emption adjoining it of one thousand acres. Every man who had only built a cabbin, or made any improvement by himself or others, was entitled to a pre-emption of one thousand acres where such improvement was made.
In March, 1780, the settlement and pre-emption rights ceased, and treasury warrants were afterwards issued, authorizing their possessor to locate the quantity of land mentioned in them, wherever it could be found vacant in Virginia.
The mode of procedure in these affairs may be instructive to the reader. After the entry is made in the land-office, there being one in each county, the person making the entry takes out a copy of the location, and proceeds to survey when he pleases. The plot and certificate of such survey must be returned to the office within three months after the survey is made, there to be recorded; and a copy of the record must be taken out in twelve months, after the return of the survey, and produced to the assistant register of the land-office in Kentucke, where it must lie six months, that prior locators may have time and opportunity to enter a caveat, and prove their better right. If no caveat is entered in that time, the plot and certificate are sent to the land-office at Richmond, in Virginia, and three months more are allowed to have the patent returned to the owner.”
John Filson, The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucky: And an Essay Towards the Topography and Natural History of that Important Country....(Wilmington, 1784)p 36-38.

Kentucky's Military District over current county map

1907 Was a Successful Year of Road Building

by J. Mark Lowe

At the end of the 19th Century, Tennessee changed the way that roads were maintained. Prior to this change, the individuals were completely responsible for maintaining the county roads that passed near their property. This report shows the transition from full maintenance by the citizens to the use of a county work crew. This report was found in the loose papers of the Quarterly Court.
To the Honorable Quarterly County Court for Robertson county at its January term 1908. I make the following annual report for the road work for the year 1907. We do not hesitate to say that we have accomplished much in the way of improvements to our public roads, providing benefit to the public of a permanent and lasting kind. The health of the work house prisoners who assisted during the year was about on average, no serious sickness among them. We refer you first to the Wartrace Woodard hills East of town, which have been cut down and heavily graveled. The first 4 or 5 months of the year nearly all the work done was at the workhouse beating rock, which was used on the highway leading to Greenbrier. Said highway having been graded and about one mile of pike made. On the Turnersville road there was about one mile of grading done near New Chapel and the Fizer hill or Powell hill on this side of Carrs Creek changed and well graveled. On the Barren Plains road, the Sulphur Fork hill at the Woolen Mills near the bridge was filled in about four feet and lengthened out. The grade lowered and the hill graveled, on the other side of the creek and nearly as far as Mr. Ceph Armstrong’s farm the road was graded and partly gravelled. [Joe Cephas Armstrong was married to Elvira Holman. Their children at this time were: Addie, Joseph, Lula and Grace.] Another county eyesore was removed on the Cedar Hill road west of town, known as the Crow Hill. The grade was lengthened and the grade lowered about seven feet and graveled with a good substantial bridge put across the same at the foot where the road usually overflowed. The grades on all of this hill being reduced to such an extent that it is an easy matter to trot up either one of them with a horse. Before the work, they were dreaded by all who traveled over them. The best piece of work we have done outside of cutting down the big hills is the piking the old Nashville pike out to Mantlo’s crossing. It will take about 3 weeks to complete this job, afterwards we will have made about two miles of pike that is easily work $1000 per mile, however it has cost the county very little. There was some grading and graveling done on about one fourth of a mile near C.G. Holman’s Eqr in South Town also some repairing done on the Cross Plains road. It is useless to dwell upon this further, as each of you who are acquainted with these locations will readily agree that the improvements are of great benefit to the County. In each case we have been able to secure much help from the citizens in the vicinity in which the work was done. Some would subscribe money, while many others would furnish wagons and teams. With the year’s experience and with the assistance we could secure we are All in all it was I think one of the best years work the county has gotten from the work house prisoners. There are other minor jobs they did which helped swell the benefit the county has derived from the work house labor which is not necessary to mention. There was during the year an average of perhaps nine work hands, and in but one or two instances there was no trouble with the hands and the guards. The hands all seemed to be pleased with their treatment under the condition they were in and but little fault finding among them. I think with the present management in a few year that all the highways leading into Springfield will be benefited and made good. To all of which I most respectfully submit to your Honorable body for consideration.
T. G. Payne, Superintendent of Robertson County Work House

Tennessee's First JPs (Justices of the Peace)

J. Mark Lowe

With statehood looming, the Legislature appointed the Justices of the Peace for the respective counties in state of Tennessee. These men would serve as the representative of the people in the county legislative body, and provide local judgment in criminal/civil affairs. They would also appoint all positions for the state legislative body. I have provided links related to the first two appointed from Blount County.
All of these men served in critical roles. Many had been Soldiers and Officers during the Revolutionary War and others served as political leaders back East. These men and their families deserve our study.

[spelling as printed in text]
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1796.
Met according to adjournment. Ordered, that the following message be sent to the senate :
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen, This house have appointed the following persons justices of the peace for the several counties hereafter mentioned:
For the county of Blount. Andrew Bogle, Joseph Black, William Davidson, Andrew Miller, William Lowry, George Ewing. William Wallace, Samuel Houston, James Greenaway Mathew Wallace, William Hamilton, John Cochran, John Tremble, Thomas Galahor, and John Wallace.
For the county of Carter. Nathaniel Taylor, David M'Nabb, Landon Carter, Andrew Greer, Zachariah Campbell ,Guthridge Garland, John Vaught, Joseph Sands, and Reuben Thornton.
For the county of Davidson. James Robertson, James Mulherin, Thomas Molloy, John Nichols, Thomas Smith, Joseph Phillips, Samuel Barton, James Hoggatt, Robert Hays, Elijah Robertson, and John Gordan.
For the county of Grainger. Thomas Henderson, Elijah Chisum, James Blair, John Estis, Phelps Reed, Benjamin M'Carty, James Moore, John Bowen, John Kedwell, John Simms, William Thompson, and Major Lea.
For the county of Greene. Joseph Hardin, sen. John Wear, Elisha Baker, John Newman, sen. John Morris, Hugh Neilson, William Rankin, Joseph Lusk, Thomas Gillis, Alexander Galbreath, James Penny, Hugh Brown, James Hays, Mathew Cox, James Mahan, Thomas Praetor, David Copelane, James Anderson, Samuel Wilson, and William Wilson.
For the county of Hawkins. George Maxwell, John Long, Nathaniel Henderson, William Armstrong, Joseph M'Min, Alexander Nelson, Thomas Jackson, John Gordon, David Larkin, James Berry, Mark Mitchell, Thomas Lea, James Lathim, William M'Carty, James Armstrong, Benoni Caldwell, Absalom Looney, John Mitchell, and David Kinkead.
For the county of Jefferson George Doherty, James Roddye, Josiah Jackson, Thomas Snoddy, Garret Fitzgerald, Parmenas Taylor, John Blackburn, Andrew Henderson, Abednigo Inman, John M'Nabb, Abraham M'Coy, Adam Peck, William Cox, James Wilson, William Lillard, David Stuart, Ebenezer Leath, Joseph M'Culla, Samuel Jack, Adam Meek, George Evans, James Lea, Alexander Outlaw, and John Goore.
For the county of Knox. James White, Joseph Greer, John M'Clellan, John Adair, George M'Nutt, John Hacket, David Campbell, John Menefee, Nicholas Gibbs, John Sawyers, Samuel Doke, James Cozby, Samuel Flanagan, Jeremiah Jack, and William Doke.
For the county of Montgomery. George Bell, Robert Duning, Amos Bird, Morgan Brown, Robert Nelson, George Nevills, William Prince, Robert Prince, Haydon Wells, Timothy Anderson, and William Mitcheson.
For the county of Robertson. William Fort, Isaac Phillips, Charles Miles, William Miles, Benjamin Menefee, John Phillips, Martin Duncan, Bazel Bowen [Boren], Hugh Henry, Zebulon Hubbard, and James Crabtree, sen.
For the county of Sullivan. Samuel Smith, John Anderson, Joseph Wallace, John Scott, David Perry, George Vincent, William Delany, William King, Robert Allison, John Vance, William Nash, Richard Gammon, James Gains, George Rutledge, Samuel M'Corkle, John Spurgin, Walter Johnson, Robert Easly, John Yancey and James King.
For the county of Sumner David Wilson, Thomas Donald, James Winchester, James Reese, Edward Douglass, William Cage, Stephen Cantrel, Isaac Walton, Thomas Martin, James Guin, Withral Lattimore, James Douglass, and David Shelby.
For the county of Sevier. John Clack, William Henderson, jun. Robert Calvert, Joshua Gest, Abraham M'Clery, Andrew Cowen, Joseph Vance, Robert Pollock, Adam Wilson, Jamea Riggin, Alexander Montgomery, Jesse Griffin, James D. Puckett, and Isam Gain.
For the county of Washington. Jamea Stuart, John Tipton, John Wear, John Adams, John Strain, Henry Nelson, Joseph Young, Joseph Crouch, William Nelson, Robert Blair, John Norward, Jessee Payne, Isaac Depugb, Charles M 'Cray, Samuel Wood, Jacob Brown, John Alexander, John Hammer, and Joseph Britton.

Source:Journal of the Proceedings of the Legislative Council of the Territory of United State of America, South of the River Ohio.
Printed by George Roulstone, Nashville, 1796. Reprinted by McKennie & Brown, True Whig Office,Knoxville, 1852.

More New Madrid Earthquake Reports - 200 Years Ago

In the papers of the USGS, I found these published reports on the New Madrid Earthquakes. The publication titled "A Detailed Narrative of the Earthquakes which occurred on the 16th day of December, 1811, and agitated the parts of North America that lie between the Atlantic Ocean and Louisiana; and also a particular account of the other quakings of the earth occasionally felt from that time to the 23d and 30th of January, and the 7th and 16th of February, 1812, and subsequently to the 18th of December, 1813, and which shook the country from Detroit and the Lakes to New-Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Compiled chiefly at Washington, in the district of Columbia," was intended as a report to Congress.

"The beautiful comet which travelled through the northern celestial hemisphere during 1811, had offered itself plainly to view until the approach of the following year. Its elements, as calculated by Nathaniel Bowditch, Esq. and his learned associates, have already been placed before the public eye.

The tremendous storm from the northeast, near the end of December, 1811, began to leeward, near Cape Hatteras, and swept the American coast to the banks of Newfoundland, doing great damage to navigation, and exhibiting some curious facts in the history of the atmosphere. The particulars of this furious and memorable tempest have been collected by myself; and are in readiness to be offered to the society at the first convenient time.

My present intention is to read to you the information I have gathered on another occurrence of those portentous days. I mean the phenomena of the earthquakes, which terrified the country about the same period, and which continued a long time afterwards.

On the morning of Monday, the 16th of December, 1811, several shocks of earthquakes were felt at the city of Washington. The first of these happened at three o'clock; and in some houses was considerable enough to shake the doors and windows, and wake persons from their sleep. There were successive tremors. Tassels of curtains were seen to move; and pitchers of washing-stands were heard to rattle upon their basins. The sound was very distinguishable, and was believed by many to pass from southwest to northeast. The alarm was so great in some families, that searches were made from room to room, to discover the robbers who were imagined to have broken into the houses.

A second shock, though lighter, was experienced about six o'clock, and a third about eight.

A gentleman standing in his chamber at his desk and writing, in the third story of a brick house, upon the Capitol Hill, suddenly perceived his body to be in motion, vibrating backward and forward, and producing dizziness. Not suspecting the moment that the uncomfortable sensation was caused by an earthquake, he examined his desk to know whether it stood firm. Finding that it did, he dropped his pen; and turning his eyes upward, discerned that the looking-glass, and other things hanging near him, were in a similar motion.

Another person was near a table placed beneath a mirror. Feeling a giddiness come upon him, he seized the table for support. The general agitation of the chamber and house ceased in about a minute; but the looking-glass, which was suspended in the usual manner, continued to swing for some seconds longer. These observations, made by Messrs. Bigelow and Mosely, may serve as specimens of a multitude of phenomena of those kinds.

The atmosphere seemed to forebode some unusual occurrence. One of my most correct and respectable friends, declared in conversation, and stated to me in writing, that he made an observation of the sky about ten o'clock that night. It was quite calm. There was not a breath of wind stirring. The air was perfectly clear and free from clouds. Nevertheless, it was uncommonly dark, and the stars which appeared in every part through the gloom, were lurid and dim, and afforded little light.

In Richmond the signs of an earthquake were witnessed by many persons. At three o'clock on the same morning, (the 16th of December,) there were said to be three successive shocks; another about six; and a third about eight. Several people were impressed with a belief that thieves had entered their dwellings; and in one of the most elevated mansions, the bells were set a ringing in both the upper and lower rooms. The noise and concussion were supposed by some to proceed from east to west.

It was stated at Norfolk that two very distinct shocks were felt in that town and in Portsmouth; to wit, at three and eight o'clock in the morning of the 16th. Some clocks were reported to have stopped; the doors rattled; and articles hanging from the ceilings of shops and houses, swung to and fro, although a perfect calm prevailed.

At Raleigh (N.C.) several slight earthquakes were felt on the morning of the 16th December. The first happened between two and three o'clock, and was distinctly perceived by all who were awake at the time. Two others were reported to have occurred between that time and seven o'clock, but were not plainly observed, except by some members of the legislature, who were in the state-house, and were considerably alarmed at the shaking of the building.

From Georgetown, (S.C.) it was told, that several shocks had been experienced between the hours of three and eight, on the morning of the 16th. The inhabitants were much alarmed. The shocks were so considerable, that the parade-ground of the fort was said to have settled from one to two inches below its former level. A tub of water, standing upon a table in the barracks, was reported to have been overset by the jarring of the building. Another severe shock was felt two days afterwards, at noon.

At Columbia, (S.C.) the inhabitants were alarmed by repeated shocks. The first took place at half after two in the morning of Monday, which was represented as shaking the houses as if rocked by the waves of the sea. It was followed, after the cessation of a minute, by three slighter ones. At eight o'clock two others took place, and at ten, some slight ones. The South Carolina college appeared to rock from its foundation, and a part of its plaster fell; which so alarmed the students, that they left the chambers without their clothes. It seemed as if all the buildings would be levelled. The dogs barked; fowls made a racket; and many persons ran about with lights, not knowing where to go, so great was their terror. During the first agitation, it was observed, that the air felt as if impregnated with a vapour, which lasted for some time.

On Tuesday, at a quarter after twelve, another smart shock was experienced. At Laurens and Newbury, in the interior districts, it was so violent as to crack and start several chimnies.

At Charleston (S.C.) the sensation was of considerable strength. One account stated; that on the morning of the 16th, at a few minutes before three o'clock, a severe shock of an earthquake was felt. Its duration conjectured to ahve been between two and three minutes. For an hour previous, though the air was perfectly calm, and several stars visible, there was, at intervals of about five minutes, a rumbling noise like that of distant thunder; which increased in violence of sound just before the shock was felt. The vibrations of St. Philip's steeple caused the clock bell to ring about ten seconds. Two other shocks were felt afterwards, one a little before eight, and the other about a quarter of an hour after. Both these were slighter and shorter than the first. Many of the family clocks were stopped by the concussions. In many wells the water was considerably agitated. From another source it was related that Charleston was shaken by an earthquake severely, at the time before specified. This was preceded by a noise resembling the blowing of a smith's bellows. The agitation of the earth was such that the bells in the church steeples rang to a degree indicative of an alarm for fire. The houses were so much moved that many persons were induced to rise from their beds. The clocks generally stopped. Another slight shock was experienced about fifteen minutes after; and yet another at eight o'clock. This last one produced a considerable rattling among glass, china, and other furniture. A looking-glass hanging against a west wall was observed to vibrate two or three inches from north to south.

The ingenious writer of the meteorological observations for Charleston during December, 1811, has noticed these occurrences in a manner too interesting to be omitted. According to his remarks, there were seven shocks during the month, having a vibratory motion from east to west. In many persons the motion produced nausea. All the shocks, except the last, were preceded by noises resembling the rattling of a carrage over a pavement. There had been less thunder during the preceding season than usual. THe days of thunder amount annually to about sixty; but this year there were no more than thirty-eight. The beautiful comet was visible in the northwest during the whole month.

The inhabitants of Savannah were sensible of four earthquakes. The first was on the morning of the 16th December, between two and three o'clock. It was preceded by a flash of light, and a rattling noise, resembling that of a carriage passing over a paved road. It lasted about a minute. A second soon succeeded, but its duration was shorter. A third happened about eight o'clock; and a fourth about noon on the 17th. Persons who experienced the hardest shock, were made to totter, as if on shipboard. Its course was believed to be from southwest to northeast.

It was observed, by Dr. Macbride of Pineville, (S.C.) that the earthquake terrified the inhabitants exceedingly. It was accompanied by several appearances that countenances the theory of this phenomenon, which brings in the agency of the electric fluid. 1. The unfrequency or absence of thunder storms; that is, they were much less frequent this year than usual, especially in the autumn. 2. Immediately before the earthquake, a red appearance of the clouds, which had much darkened the water for twenty-four hours immediately before the shock; and 3. The loudness of the thunder, and the number of the peals within twenty-four hours after the first shock, and but a few hours before the last, which was felt before he wrote. Such thunder was very unusual at that season.

At Natchez, the occurrences, as related by a careful observer, were as follow: Four shocks were felt on the morning of the 16th. The principal one was at tem minutes after two, A.M. There was no noise, except in a few situations. Several clocks were stopped. Articles, in some instances, fell from shelves. Plastered walls were sometimes cracked. The Mississippi was agitated as if the banks were falling in. The trees in the forests waved their tops. Many houses were shaken considerably. And things suspended on nails or pins swung backwards and forwards.

Information was forwarded from Tennessee, that the earth quaked so violently, as to throw down chimnies, in some places. Eighteen or twenty acres of land, adjacent to Piney river, suddenly fell down, and sunk so low, that the tops of the trees were on a level with the surrounding earth. Four other shocks were experienced on the 17th, and one or more continued daily until the 30th.

At Knoxville, the quaking of the earth on the 16th was represented to have lasted more than three minutes. The rattling of the windows and furniture of the houses were such as to awaken almost every family. This was about two in the morning. It was followed, in half an hour, by another, which continued half a minute. Between sunrise and breakfast, three others were felt, of only a few seconds in duration. At the end of the first and longest shock, there were, in a direction due north, two flashes of light, at the interval of about a minute, very much like distant lightning.

At Columbia, in Tennessee, between two and three o'clock on the morning of the 16th December, the inhabitants were suddenly alarmed by a voilent agitation in the earth. It was accompanied by a peculiar sound, proceeding from southwest to northeast. Immediately after the shock had ceased, a very large volume of something like smoke was discovered to rise in the quarter whence the sound appeared to come; and pursuing nearly the same course, finally settled in the north, exhibiting the appearance of a black cloud. The shock was computed to have continued from ten to fifteen minutes.

At Louisville, (Ken.) near the falls of the Ohio, on Monday morning about three o'clock, a violent shock of an earthquake was felt. It was judged to have continued about three minutes. This was followed by three or four others of less violence. A number of houses suffered considerable damage; the chimnies having been so much cracked as to require repairs by the mason. On the evening previous to the shock, there was a gentle rain, such as we have in April; and the night was rather close and dark; but at the termination of the first shock, it was light enough to enable a pin to be seen..."

More reports to come.

Earthquakes of 1811-1812

Landslide scarps in Chickasaw Bluffs, east of Reelfoot Lake, created by the New Madrid earthquake are still visible in 1904 (Fuller). (Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey)

J. Mark Lowe


The residents of Kentucky, Tennessee and beyond were shaken by the events beginning early on the morning of the 15th of December, 1811. Their inability to watch an instant newscast of the action or even know what happened for days fueled much misinformation. The earthquakes of 1811-12 that destroyed New Madrid, Missouri and made Reelfoot Lake did considerable damage along the Mississippi river. These earthquakes shook the whole country. One of the worst occurred Dec. 15, 1811, at night, the shocks being felt about every 15 minutes. The navigable rivers were thrown into convulsions, and a number of boats were lost. Muddy logs from the bottom of the stream were thrown to the surface and became so thick that they impeded the passage of boats. Great sections of earth along the Mississippi river sunk, and islands were rent asunder and disappeared. Trees were twisted and lashed together. The earthquake was accompanied by a tremendous distant noise, resembling thunder. These disturbances occurred at intervals for some time and were very alarming to the people. This account by an unknown resident of Springfield [Tennessee] to his brother was found in a newspaper.
City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, Washington DC, 11 January 1812.
(Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Springfield (Tennessee) to his brother in Washington City [DC] dated December 16, 1811.

“We have since yesterday morning about two o’clock experienced one of the most sublime, grand and awful scenes perhaps on record: The night of the 15th, being remarkably dark and cloudy, accompanied by a stillness of the air equal to the silence of the tombs; a little past two o’clock, Mrs. (--), and myself, being awake, there appeared to be a rustling of something similar to wind at a distance; we were however, soon undeceived by a rattling of things in the house, and then a sensible rocking of the same, to a very great degree --- I made up a light as soon as possible and opened the door, more effectually to discover the cause; when to my utter amazement, there was a perfect calm, and nothing but an agitated rolling of the earth from southwest to northeast; this continued, I think from seven to ten minutes; after which the convulsions of nature, appeared to cease for about forty or fifty minutes, when a second shock, tho’ much lighter than the former, alarmed us if possible, more than the first – An interval then took place till about sunrise, when another shock equal I believe to the first gave us fresh alarm. I walked out into the yard, with difficulty could stand steady; saw the earth under my feet, oscillate, as plainly as I ever saw the pendulum of a clock, for some minutes; it then stopped, and was followed by three or four more in succession, for the space of thirty or forty minutes, since then we have had six light shocks – It is now one o’clock at night; we are in dread of other returns before morning. The consternation we are all in has prevented any speculative conjecture – I a now by myself, and will hazard to you my opinion – I think, from the short time I have had to reflect on the course of this phenomena of nature, that it must be owing to one of two causes, viz., either Orleans or New Mexico, or some large tract of land, surrounding the Gulf, has sunk, a similar circumstance, in all human probability, having formed the Gulf, previous to any historical account of this continent – or the other, which I think more improbable, that the Comet, in its ellipsis, forming so near a parallel with the sun and earth and adding its attractive force to that of the Sun, has had this wonderful effect – This in my mind is mere hypothesis. One thing I know, we have felt the effects, in some degree, and I wish some able philosopher to ascertain the cause, if possible."

The following excerpt was written by Judge John Haywood :
The day before the first earthquake, was darkened from morning to night by thick fog; and divers persons perceived a sulphurous scent. The wind ceased, and there was a dead calm, without the least breath of air, on the day of the earthquake. The like calm preceded all the shocks. A dull and heavy obscuration of the atmosphere also usually preceded them. The effluvia, which caused the dimness of the day, seemed to be neither cloud nor smoke, yet resembling both. It was too light for clouds, and too thin for common smoke, and of a lighter cast. It seldom terminated in condensation, a Tennessee vapors usually do
In the time of the earthquakes, lights were seen in the night, sometimes westwardly, like the light of the sun before it is closed by the darkness of the night; but shooting much farther toward the east, and continuing much longer than the light of the sun after setting. And sometimes in the night, the heavens would seem to be tinged with a reddish color, supposed to be the effect of invisible effluvia issuing through the pores of the earth, and collecting above us like smoke in the spring, a which rises from log-heaps and brush-heaps, and shows itself like light at a distance.
In the time of the earthquake, a murmuring noise, like that of fire disturbed by the blowing of a bellows, issued from the pores of the earth. A distant rumbling was heard, almost without intermission, and sometimes seemed to be in the air. Explosions, like the discharge of a cannon at a few miles distance, were heard; and at night flashes of lightning seemed sometimes to break from the earth.
In some places west of the Mississippi, a troublesome warmth of the earth was perceptible to the naked feet.
The frightened horses ran snorting in the fields, the hogs squealed; the dogs barked; and the fowls descended from their roosts. In the time of the shocks, many persons experienced a nauseating sickness at the stomach, and a trembling of the knees.
Sources: City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, 11 January 1812; Earthquakes in Missouri, 1913; History of Tennessee, Haywood.

Links to more details: New Madrid - Info.

Strange Happenings During Earthquake