ROANE COUNTY, TN - LETTERS - W. E. McElwee to Susie Gentry
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Found in Susie Gentry (Scrapbook) 1860-1944 microfilm Ac. #418 (TLSA)
Rockwood, Tenn.
Dec. 5th, 1909

Miss Susie Gentry,

It was not for the lack of courtesy or interest in the subject matter of yours 
of the 8th ult. That I failed to give an immediate reply, but because of 
absence from home.
On my return I at once got out my Scrap book and rather than wait till I get 
to my office tomorrow (I live 4 miles out of town) I pencil off copy of a 
letter I at one time wrote for a Local paper.
“Of the Revolutionary soldiers who settled, lived and died in Roane County, 
Tennessee:
Capt. Samuel Walker 12th regt. Va., Col. Jas. Woods Rgt.
Robert Crow 6th reg. Va., Capt. Crockett’s Co.
Uriah Rector—Col. Marshall’s regt.—Va.
John Bowman—10th Va regt, Capt. Shelton’s Co.
Capt. John Walker—16th Va. Rgt
James Walker— 16th Va. Rgt.
Wm. Willis—one of the 16 Va rgt. Recruited in 1777
Crominus Acre, Maryland regulars.
Thomas Crumbles 11 Va. Rgt., Capt. Shelton’s Co.
David Blevins—Col. Benjamin Cleaveland’s Va, Rgt.
Wm. Mead—one of the 16 Va. Regiments recruited in 1777.
James Young—Genl Danl Morgan brigade—he was 21 years of age the day of Morgans 
    Cavalry Charge at battle of Cowpens.
James McElwee—Col. Wm Thompson’s S. Carolina rgt. And Col. Campbell’s Va. Rgt.

As the command in which each one served is of but little interest to the 
general reader I will only give a list of names. In fact I do not remember 
having heard the command to which each one belonged though I was very fond in 
my childhood of hearing these old men tell their war stories.

Robert Overton
Amos Mamey
Capt. John Stone
Race Gullick
David Henley
Jacob Gardenshire
Adam Sherrill
Hugh Beaty
Nathan Sullins
Nicholas Nail
Zaccheus Roberts
Abraham McClellan
James Campbell
James McNeal
Richard White
John McCowan
John Hood
John Woody (pensioner in 1840, written in by S. Gentry)
Peter Avory
Wm Clift
Jesse Blackwell
Mathew Pryor
Milton Center
Steven Center
Tandy Senter (pens. 1840—S. G.)

These were brothers, but Milton and Steven were captured at the battle of 
Camden, and took the oath of Allegiance to keep from being hung. Tandy was so 
incensed because of it he changed the spelling of his name. He was the father 
of W. T. Senter, and grandfather of D. W. C. Senter.
Alex Casey
If I ever heard the given names of Mr. Perry, Mr. Burns [S. G. adds pen. 1840, 
Laird], or Mr. Sutlow, I do not remember them.
They each drew pensions under the act of 1820—Mr. Sutlow was returning from 
Knoxville where he had drawn his pension (in 1840), and was found near the 
road, where he had been robbed and murdered, by having a sourwood stick pushed 
down his throat.
I sincerely regret not being informed of your purpose at an earlier date as I 
take pride in the Military history of Roane County.
When I pass to the great beyond there will be left with my effects, in 
manuscript form, a Military, political, and Byographical history of the people 
of Roane County, together with numerous Exhibits. One of which will be the 
original farewell Address to the Army, written by Gen’l Robert E. Lee, and 
from which copies were made and sent to each command—This original paper was 
given by Genl Lee to a Roane County Soldier, and brought home by him.
With sincere respect, I am Yours &C.
W. E. McElwee

[NOTE: This letter is hand written and though I tried my best to produce an 
accurate copy, a careful researcher will obtain a copy of the original from 
microfilm at TLSA. In the Gentry Scrap book, there is an additional letter 
from McElwee to R. C. Shelley, Louisville, Ky. (a relative) which gives more 
information about the burial places of James McElwee, Capt. James Walker, 
___Young (father of Col. Freemuten Young), Tandy Senter, Joel Hembree, Milton 
Center, and ___Bowman (grandfather of Col. G. W. Bowman.)]


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	This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
	by:  Laurel Baty	ltbsas@erols.com
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