September 7, 1893
SKETCHES.
Crittenden County in the Mexican and Civil Wars.
IN WAR WITH MEXICO.
Upon the passage of the act admitting Texas into the sisterhood of states, Mexico immediately broke off all diplomatic intercourse with the American government, called home her minister and began preparations for war. War soon followed. Gen Taylor was sent with a small force to hold the disputed territory. Some skirmishing ensued. A call for volunteers soon followed, the news of the battle of Palo Alto, the first regular battle of the war. Kentucky's quota under the first requisition for troops was 2400 men, of this number Crittenden county furnished one whole company which was commanded by Capt. Cook, of Princeton, Ky. William Polk, who lives at Anora, is the only survivor of this company. Crittenden and Livingston counties jointly furnished another company, but it was mustered in to the service as Mississippi troops. This company started at the first impulse of the war and took an active part in the battle of Resaca de la Palma, Buena Yista [Vista] and Corro [Cerro] Gordo. James Jones, of Dycusburg, is the only known survivor of this company. He is totally blind the result of a gun burst on the field of Buena Vista.
THE CIVIL WAR.
"The cause," which led to the great civil war has been so elaborately discussed by its friends and opponents as to embalm it in the minds of the whole people."
Although Kentucky used the most strenous [sic] efforts to remain neutral, during the first year of the war, her soil was invaded by recruiting officers from both armies until the neutrality was broken and her citizens precipitated into the conflict. Crittenden county was strongly Union, and when the Federal drum rolled out the sad tidings of the disatrious [sic] defeat of Bull Run, and called for volunteers for the preservation of the Union, Crittenden came gallantly forward offering her most cherished sons. As nearly as can be ascertained from the adjutant general's report, Crittenden furnished about 600 men to the Union army, enlisted with companies in adjoining counties so that the exact number can not be obtained.
Below we give a list of companies wholly or principally raised in the county. The first named officers were the ones in command at the organization of the companies, the others suc- [missing line] names.
17th KY., Calvary.
Company I.
Chas. E. Van Pelt, Captain.
Finis H Little, 1st Lieut.
Uriah M Brown, 2nd "
20th Ky., Infantry.
Company D.
Theo B Rushing, Captain.
Jas C Morris, "
Samuel Coram 1st Lieut.
Hugh M Hyatt " "
Jno W Hale " "
Jas R B Cole 2nd "
Campany [sic] E.
Robert F Haynes Captain.
Franklin Gipson, "
Henry C Brennan "
Walter M Asher 1st Lieut.
Jas C Guess " "
S A Crowell 2nd "
Robt B McNary " "
Jas D Young " "
Company H.
Thos M Duvall Captain.
John Glenn "
John R Fleming 1st Lieut
Frank S Loyd " "
O R Herring 2nd "
Wickliffe Cooper " "
Bartholomew Scott " "
Company B.
Hugh M Hyatt Captain.
Wm H Rushing 1st Lieut.
Rushing 2nd "
Company C.
Jno J Wright Captain.
Jno F Lay 1st Lieut.
Logan Belt 2nd "
Company E.
Richard Minner Captain.
William Hoyt 1st Lieut,
Wm J Small " "
Wm J Wilson 2nd "
Company F.
Chas E Van Pelt Captain.
Wm B Radgers 1st Lieut.
48th Illinois Ifantry [sic].
Several companies of this regiment were partailly [sic] raised in Crittenden county.
Crittenden county furnished but one full company to the Confederate States army. This company belonged to the Third Ky., regiment and was raised principally in the northern part of the county, and was mustered into the service under command of Capt. T T Barnett. Many others joined the Confederate service near the close of the war.
But they reached the army at different points in the South where they enlisted; the ajutant's [sic] reports not being preserved we can not give the whole number enlisted or the names of the commanders.
There were not any battles fought on the soil of Crittenden county, but the county was over run by the troops of both armies, who often plundered the citizens of any thing necessary for their comfort. Horses were carried off, and the citizens often required to pay over certain named sums of money for the horses so taken. Peaceable citizens were carried off but fortunately all returned alive.
The confederate General Lyon entered Marion in January 1865, after occupying the town for a while, they applied the torch to the court house, and burned it to the ground; the records were not destroyed. A new one was built after the war, but it was destroyed by fire in May 1870. The present court house was completed in October 1871, making the third on the same site within seven years.
Mr. Jas Lewis a union soldier, at home on a furlough was shot and killed in the town of Marion, by an unknown soldier. This occurred in front of the Marion Hotel during the year 1864 [?]. He escaped after being severely wounded by some citizens, who tried to arrest him. A Mr. Cannon an outspoken union man, was killed at his home near Shady Grove, in 1863 by confederate soldiers under the command of Capt Pierce Bales.
Source: Crittenden Press. (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, September 7, 1893, Image 2 - Chronicling America - The Library of Congress.
[My comments are in brackets.]
