ky-footsteps Friday, 11 July 1997 Volume 01 : Number 146 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Scott K. Williams" Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 01:56:00 +0000 Subject: KY-F: Confederate POW's/ McCreary - Madison Co Lt. Col. James Bennett MCCREARY (1838-1918), of the 11th Kentucky Cavalry, CSA. After the war, McCreary became a U.S. Senator for Kentucky and twice was Governor of that State. He was a lifelong resident of Richmond, Madison Co., KY. He was the great grandson of Capt. Robert McCreery (American Revolutionary war veteran) and Polly McClanahan of Clark Co., KY, who were also my direct ancestors. He was of Highland Scottish ancestry, his family migrated from Scotland to Ireland then to Maryland, to Augusta Co., Virginia, and finally Kentucky. Here is a story I found in the "Confederate Veteran" magazine written in 1911 about Lt. Col McCreary: "On the Fourth of July 1863, at the very beginning of Morgan's Ohio raid, the battle of Green River occurred. The 11th KY Cav bore the brunt of that conflict. Col Moore, of a Union Iowa regiment , was in charge of a stockade at that point. General Morgan (Gen. John Hunt Morgan) had easy sailing from where where he had crossed the Cumberland river to this place. A demand for surrender met with the response that "the Fourth of July was a bad day to ask a Union soldier to surrender, and that if General Morgan wanted him he would have to come and get him". "An assault was immediately ordered. It was met with determined resistence, and in the end with a deadly repulse. While standing by Col Chenault that officer was shot through the head and fell dead at Major McCreary's feet. Assuming command of the regiment, McCreary passed along the line to designate Captain Treble as his second in command; and as the order was issued and Treble waved his hand in acknowledgement of the promotion, he too was shot down at McCreary's side. A second Captain was killed in like manner. Maj. Theophilus Steele rode up to learn what were the conditions, and his horse was killed as he leaned over to hear the report from the gallant McCreary. On that day no man ever acted with calmer courage or handled a regiment with more skill and bravery. And he won the admiration and respect of all his command by his splendid bearing..." "You will remember that all of Morgan's officers who were captured in the Ohio raid were confined for some months in the Ohio penitentiary. Amoung these was Lt. Col. James Bennett McCreary. From this prison General Morgan and some of his companions escaped by tunneling into an air shaft and sewer. To escape became the highest hope and ambition of those prisoners. Col. McCreary had concealed $100 in gold in the seams of his clothing. With part of this he had induced a Federal soldier to sell him a long knife. It was agreed that McCreary with the knife should grapple the guard, overpower him, then the two escape to Canada." "The fact that McCreary had a knife was in some way betrayed to the warden of the penitentiary. He demanded its production, and the prisoner refused its surrender. He was thoroughly examined for its presence and threateneed with the dungeon if it was not given up. Search was in vain, but finally a detective advised ripping open the mattress in the cell and the knife was discovered. The thermometer was then below zero. Col McCreary was hurried into a dark, dismal dungeon, with no furniture, no bed [this was an air tight metal clad cell that was either very hot in summer or very cold in winter]. Without food or water, he was kept in this horrible place for thirty-six hours, and then the name of the person who had given him the knife was again demanded. This was positively refused." "You may kill me or freeze me or starve me, but I will not betray the man who gave me the knife', was the courageous response of this young Kentuckian. He was returned to the dungeon, where he could keep from dying with cold only by walking across the floor of his cell for two days and nights. In awful isolation, in the terrifying darkness, tortured with hunger and burning thirst, the only relief that came to the dreadfulness of the place was one tin cup of water and a slice of bread handed in through a small opening of the door. Death seemed near at hand, but another demand for the name of the man who had given him the knife was met with a calm and determined refussal. After an awful experience for many hours, the surgeon of the penitentiary passed in front of the dungeon. He heard the moaning of what he believed to be a struggling, dying human being. He ordered the door opened, removed the unconscious soldier to the hospital, and by humane and merciful attendance saved his life." "Fellow citizens, a man who courted death rather than betray a Federal soldier who had sold him a knife is incapable of a mean or dishonorable act. If this thing were to happen in the year 1911, the Carnegie medal fund would give him a splendid testimonial and in addition add enough to make him comfortable for the remainder of his life. No man in Kentucky has emerged from as many political conflicts with a better record. He can hold up his hands with a lime light of truth shinning through and through, and not a single dollar in his political life ever stuck to his fingers. He was always kind and courteous and true to his party and to his principles. He never politically did anything of which a Kentuckian need be ashamed." The above is from a speech of Gen. Bennett Young of the United Confederate Veterans. Young was with McCreary participating in Morgan's Indiana/Ohio raid and was confined in prison. He escaped to Canada and afterwards led the raid on St. Albans, Vermont from the Canadian border. The Northern-most Confederate land attack upon the North (yankees) during the war. It is my assumption that the "Federal soldier" that provided McCreary with the knife, was the same insider that got Gen. Morgan and companions their change of clothes and train tickets. There probably was a vow taken amoung the prisoners that they would go to their deaths rather than betray this soldier. McCreary's problems did not end with the Ohio penitentiary. He was sent east to Ft. Delaware before being sent to Morris Island, S.C. and was held with others as "human shields" in front of Union artillery emplacements that were shelling the city of Charleston. The yankees were mad that the Confederate government took the Union prisoners from Andersonville and put them with better conditions in the city of Charleston, which is where the yanks wanted to shell. In attempt to punish the Confederates for this act, Confederate prisoners of war were held as human shields. By an act of God, no Confederate prisoners were hurt or killed by the incomming shells, the only casualities to shells were the Union soldier guards. These were not white soldiers but black soldiers, given this work where no white troops would serve. The Confederate casualities on the Island were not from shells but from shots fired by the guards at the prisoners, often with no justified reason. After Morris Island, the prisoners were taken to Ft. Pulaski where they were intentionally starved to a point as close to death as possible. Some did die of starvation and associated illnesses. The doctors were oredered to treat only symptoms even though they had the cure to the disease (scurvy) all around them. POWs lost their teeth, hair,ect. Those that lived had their health ruined for the rest of their lives. Although Col. McCreary was starved on Morris Island, he was fortunate to be one the last to get an exchange before conditions at Ft. Pulaski became extremely worse. Upon returning to Richmond, Virginia, McCreary testified before the Confederate Congress about the atrocities being committed upon Confederate soldiers in the POW camps. McCreary had many reasons to become bitter at what the yankees did, but he didn't. As a committed Christian he forgave them and stressed reconciliation for Kentucky and the nation. He believed it was important to erect monuments in memory of the Confederate soldiers, to remember their valor, fight for States rights, but not dwell on the atrocities that took place. The two major lessons, McCreary gave in a speech before the veterans of the blue and the gray during the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg were that the Union must be preserved and the States have rights that must be maintained. ------------------------------ From: Maria & Tim Troutman Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 14:20:03 +0200 Subject: KY-F: Ky Birth Records Index - HAZEL (Louise - Maud) KY BIRTH INDEX 1911-1988, by Mother's Maiden Name HAZEL, Louise - Maud NAME 0F CHILD MOTHERS MAIDEN NAME LAST FIRST BIRTH COUNTY LAST FIRST YR VOL CERT Wakefield Angela C 07-18-50 056 Hazel Louise 50-070-34712 Wakefield Charles H 10-27-48 056 Hazel Louise 48-123-61248 Wakefield Mary E 02-20-47 056 Hazel Louise 47-0223-11396 Bell Oliver H 12-01-15 044 Hazel Lucy 15-130-64747 Bell Richard H 05-31-22 044 Hazel Lucy 22-057-28110 Smith Aaron L 10-02-23 030 Hazel Lucy 23-115-57440 Stacy Ethel 08-07-36 097 Hazel Maggie 37-074-36644 Clark Evelyn J 10-27-30 114 Hazel Manie 30-102-50527 Smith Nancy L 09-09-35 056 Hazel Marala 35-095-47262 Smith Hazel L 04-15-19 050 Hazel Marcola 19-045-22140 Haines CharlotteL 01-10-71 047 Hazel Margaret71-009-04460 Mills Gregory L 05-25-51 030 Hazel Margaret51-056-27638 Mills Joseph W 07-05-58 030 Hazel Margaret58-068-33736 Mills Michael R 05-25-51 030 Hazel Margaret51-056-27637 Voskuhl William H 12-16-31 059 Hazel Marie 31-116-57641 Dunning Leslie R 01-26-72 114 Hazel Marilyn 72-013-06372 Dunning Stephen P 02-21-77 114 Hazel Marilyn 77-022-10687 Sowder James K 07-29-85 100 Hazel Marilyn 85-060-29779 Sowder Sara N 06-21-84 100 Hazel Marilyn 84-043-21094 Blandford George A 11-15-54 082 Hazel Martha 54-142-70627 Blanford Connie S 05-09-51 113 Hazel Martha 51-066-32813 Blanford Evelyn A 06-21-60 047 Hazel Martha 60-066-32881 Blanford Joseph M 02-17-59 056 Hazel Martha 59-023-11442 Blanford Kathy L 07-27-53 113 Hazel Martha 53-086-42689 Blanford Martha S 01-07-62 047 Hazel Martha 62-002-00926 Blanford Patsy J 09-07-49 117 Hazel Martha 49-104-51644 Calhoun Barbara F 03-15-37 030 Hazel Mary 37-019-09154 Chadain Roy E 09-01-24 044 Hazel Mary 24-095-47179 Chandoin Anna 05-18-26 044 Hazel Mary 26-046-22726 Fulkerson Mary I 01-13-11 030 Hazel Mary 11-003-01072 Fulkerson Teresa A 09-28-16 030 Hazel Mary 16-091-45461 Fulkerson William B 12-01-14 030 Hazel Mary 14-125-62009 Fulkerson Zella M 02-11-13 030 Hazel Mary 13-015-07408 Gardner Paula J 04-19-60 005 Hazel Mary 60-041-20242 Hazel Derick E 10-10-78 056 Hazel Mary 78-094-46968 Hazel Jacoby F 01-06-86 056 Hazel Mary 86-002-00780 Hazel Jimmy R 08-18-49 114 Hazel Mary 49-104-51605 Hazel Lillie S 10-15-84 056 Hazel Mary 84-077-38243 Hazel Mary H 08-27-40 044 Hazel Mary 40-082-40537 Hazel William L 10-18-72 056 Hazel Mary 72-085-42295 Henson Ronnie D 04-18-85 066 Hazel Mary 85-040-19931 Jones Elizabeth 07-24-41 117 Hazel Mary 41-087-43131 Jones Richard C 08-12-38 117 Hazel Mary 38-086-42894 Kuykendall Roberta A 09-11-47 113 Hazel Mary 47-126-62827 Marion James L 03-24-13 030 Hazel Mary 13-027-13114 Marion Leon J 06-03-22 056 Hazel Mary 22-058-28973 Marshal Gerald 12-20-39 113 Hazel Mary 39-133-66180 Marshall Arthur L 03-05-28 113 Hazel Mary 28-051-25355 Marshall Bernice R 10-15-29 113 Hazel Mary 30-019-09456 Miles Frances F 12-28-60 047 Hazel Mary 60-141-70306 Miller Barbara J 09-18-59 114 Hazel Mary 59-104-51766 Miller Bobbie R 04-14-46 114 Hazel Mary 46-040-19980 Miller John E 04-06-56 114 Hazel Mary 63-195-92164 Miller Shirley G 03-01-62 114 Hazel Mary 62-029-14011 Parnell Jeremy L 12-04-75 047 Hazel Mary 75-095-47440 Phillips VirginiaE 04-19-22 113 Hazel Mary 22-042-20963 Stahl Jerry W 01-12-48 114 Hazel Mary 48-053-26320 Turner Anita D 12-26-65 114 Hazel Mary 65-125-62112 Turner Linda K 11-16-56 114 Hazel Mary 56-129-64359 George Alice K 01-06-15 056 Hazel Maud 15-006-02630 George Marion F 09-29-21 056 Hazel Maud 21-095-47147 Maria DeMoss Troutman Genealogy - http://www.bunt.com/~troutman/genealogy.html ------------------------------ From: WRFC71A@prodigy.com (MRS BEULAH A FRANKS) Date: Thu, 10 Jul 1997 23:33:39, -0500 Subject: KY-F: Bio: Banta, A J - Nicholas Co. History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed. by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. p. 732. [Nicholas County] [Carlisle City and Precinct] JUDGE A. J. BANTA, Judge of the County and Quarterly Courts, P. O. Carlisle, was born in Bourbon County, Aug. 2, 1824 (see Peter Banta's history); he received a common school education, assisting his father until the year 1842, when he engaged in farming on his own account, removing to Nicholas County in February, 1846. He was married on Oct. 5, 1846, in Flat Rock, to Elizabeth Johnson of Bourbon County; where she was born in November 1824, to John and Lettie (Call) Johnson, natives of Bourbon. Her parents both died in 1833 of cholera. By this union there have been four children, two of whom died in their infancy; those living are: Letitia J., wife of M. A. Glenn, a farmer of Nicholas; and John P., farming in Bates County, Mo. Mr. Banta and family are of the Christian faith, religiously, and Democratic politically. He was Sheriff of the county at the breaking out of the late war, but was compelled by order of the Federal troops to relinquish his office, which proved disastrously to him in a financial point of view. He espoused the cause of the Confederacy, enlisting in 1862 in the 9th Kentucky Regiment, was made First Lieutenant of Company B., but on account of bad health was appointed to the commissary department for general supplies for the Southern Army, in which he served until the close of the war, when he returned home and engaged in farming and distilling. He is now engaged in various other pursuits besides his judicial duties. Beulah Wiley Franks wrfc71a@prodigy.com ------------------------------ End of ky-footsteps V1 #146 *************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genelaogical information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or presentation by other organizations or persons.Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.