Oil and Mining Companies in Eastern Kentucky in 1865

Upper Big Sandy Valley

At the time of this writing (May 24, 2015), Eastern Kentucky is yet again experiencing a drilling boom, reminiscent of the swarms of speculators from the East who descended upon the area in 1865 and bought thousands of acres of land from the farmers, leased mineral rights, built derricks and began boring - all in search of precious oil. In this day and age, the speculators and their companies hail from the Gulf of Mexico, from states such as Louisiana and explore gas and oil. Our first oil boom was rather short-lived and had fizzled out by 1867. How long it will be around this time, and at what cost to our area and its people, remains to be seen.

As described in a previous article, the end of the Civil War marked the start of frenzied oil exploration in Eastern Kentucky.  A great number of stock companies were formed to explore the natural resources of Eastern Kentucky, with a number of the leading local men jumping onto the band wagon. Between January and June 1865, no less than 49 oil, coal and minerals companies were chartered in Eastern Kentucky alone. The list does not include out-of-state companies who held mining interests in the Big Sandy Valley and other areas in Eastern Kentucky.

Oil and Mining Companies in Eastern Kentucky 1865

(Names of officers and date of incorporation)

Beaver Creek Oil Company

Edwin S. Graham, H. C. Caruth, Pack Thomas, and Thomas Sheerer

February 24, 1865

Big Blaine Creek Petroleum Company

John M. Rice, Jake Rice, and John B. Hatcher

May 31, 1865

Big Paint Creek Oil Company

Martin Preston, U. B. Evarts, Ross Forward, Roland Whitney, B. M. Anderson, J. T. Boyle, Collis Ormsby, and E. D. Tyler

January 31, 1865

Big Sandy and Great Oil Spring Petroleum Company

Len. A. Harris, A. G. McCook, Ben. Robinson, J. A. Fisher, J. F. Horr, C. Rule, and J. B. Auxier

March 1, 1865

Big Sandy Coal, Oil and Mining Company

Captain A. J. Allen, Col. George W. Gallup, S. J. Henderson, D. M. Johnson, G. W. Dixon

Bef. January 19, 1865

Big Sandy Oil and Mineral Company

George Carpenter, F. Gray, W. L. Scott, J. Hearn, Thomas B. Vincent, R. H. Henry, J. P. Vincent, A. H. Gray, and Orange Noble

March 2, 1865

Big Sandy Petroleum Company

Zephaniah Meek, H. L. Swetnam, J. T. Boyle, Roland Whitney, U. B. Evarts, E. D. Tyler, Collis Ormsby, B. M. Anderson, and J. S. Phelps

January 27, 1865

Boston & Big Sandy Oil Company

Incorporated in Massachusetts. Office in Boston 1865. Property in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Buffalo Mining Company

George T. Steadman, A. C. Vandyke

Principal office in Greenup Co. KY

March 1, 1865

Carter Coal, Iron, and Oil Company

William Wurts, Green H. McAtee, Marinus King

March 4, 1865

Crystal Mining and Oil Company

E. L. Chandler and Robert A. Bradshaw

March 4, 1865

Cliff Springs Mining Company of Kentucky

Wm Reson, Michael West, Thomas Sherlock, George H. Hill, Hamilton Lyon, Henry E. Harper, Thomas S. Brown, R. R. Whitman, David Harper Jr., R. R. Pullam, A. M. Searls, Henry H. Seems, Ref. Butler, Jacob Resart, Matthew H. Coats.

February 4, 1865

Eastern Kentucky Oil Company

B. B. Groom, John M. Riffe, Hugh L. Ray, Allen N. Bush, J. N. B. Hardwick, James Flanigan, Green B. Farney, all of Clarke County

February 22, 1865

Eastern Kentucky Oil and Mineral Company

H. C. Lilly, R. B. Jamison, A. D. Powell,  Isaac N. Cardwell, J. H. Gardner, Joseph Blackwell, Robert Riddell, jr., H. C. Dickerson, Thomas H. Barnes, Jas. K. Barnes, of Estill County, Kentucky

K. F. Hargis, Jas. F. Blount, David Price, J. G. McGuire, of Owsley County, Kentucky

Thos. P. Cardwell, W. D. Cardwell, of Breathitt County, Kentucky

Elijah Patrick and Reuben Patrick, of Magoffin County, Kentucky

March 3, 1865

Eastern Kentucky Oil, Coal, Mining and Iron Manufacturing Company

E. H. Taylor, Jr., James J. Miller, W. A. Gaines, E. H. Watson, and S. F. J. Trabue.

February 23, 1865

Eastern Kentucky Oil Creek Mining Company

F. Gray, R. W. Emerson, R. H. Henry, J. P. Vincent, F. F. Farrar, Geo. Carpenter, John Richards, A. T. Marsh, and W. L. Scott

March 2, 1865

Eastern Kentucky Petroleum Company

John Mason Brown, George W. Gallup, John Henderson, Harman Conley, Winsten Conley, and Laban T. Moore

January 23, 1865

Eastern Kentucky Petroleum and Mineral Company

John P. Winston, W. C. Culbertson, John E. Hamilton, John G. Carlisle

February 22, 1865

Frankfort and Big Sandy Oil, Coal, Mining, and Iron Manufacturing Company

Jacob Swigert, E. H.Taylor, jr., W. A. Gaines, James J. Miller, and R. P. Pepper

February 23, 1865

Greenup and Boyd Coal, Oil, Mining and Manufacturing Company

Benjamin Butterworth, A. M. White and Wm. Stewart

June 3, 1865

Greenup Coal and Oil Company

Labin J. Bradford, George Wurts, W. T. Finch, J. Taylor Bradford, and B. C. Larew

Chartered  February 15, 1860

Michael Ryan, George Wurts

Amended February 27, 1865

Greenup County and Little Sandy Mining and Petroleum Company

Wm. P. Anderson, A. G. Burt, Wm. Dodd, John Bogher, and James C. Moores

March 4, 1865

Greenup County Mining, Petroleum, and Manufacturing Company

Geo. Wents, Samuel G. Wents, Alfred Spaulding, E. F. Dulin, and Wm. C. Ireland

January 26, 1865

Greenupsburg and Cincinnati Petroleum and Oil Company

John E. Winn, William C. Ireland

February 1, 1865

Amended February 25, 1865

Highland Petroleum and Mining Company

E. G. Phelps, T. M. Conditt, and Wm. Berry

May 31, 1865

Kentucky & West Virginia Oil & Coal Company

Office in New York 1866. Extinct.

Lawrence Coal, Iron, and Oil Company

George W. Coons, James A. Johnson, William Wurts

March 4, 1865

Lawrence Oil, Coal, Mining and Iron Manufacturing Company

James J. Miller, E. H. Taylor, Jr., and W. A. Gaines

February 23, 1865

Lick Branch Oil, Mining and Manufacturing Company

Wm. Berry, E. G. Phelps, and T. M. Conditt

May 31, 1865

Little Sandy Mining and Oil Company

Robt. W. Robb, Rich. F. Robb. and W. C. Ireland

March 4, 1865

Magoffin County Oil, Coal, and Manufacturing Company

George Sutherland, J. W. Harding, Parker Artis, Wm. Ecton, H. W. Calmes

March 3, 1865

Morgan County Coal, Oil, Salt, Lumber and Mineral Manufacturing Company

George M. Hampton, William C. Miller

June 3, 1865

Morgan Oil and Mining Company

John Fox, John W. Van Hook, William Fitch, J. F. Boyle, L. M. Flournoy

February 22, 1865

Mountain Petroleum and Transportation Company

M. E. Ingram, H. D. McHenry, Wm. Millward, L. S. Trimble, Wm. McKee Fox, John Woods, J. T. Boyle, L. M. Flournoy, A. H. Hoger, and John R. Thomas

February 24, 1865

North Kentucky Oil Company

Lafayette Devenny, William H. Clement, H. H. Huston, F. B. Rust, C. G Rogers, J. W. Stevenson, and Harvey Myers

June 3, 1865

Oil Creek Oil Company

A. H. Gray, R. W. Emerson, R. H. Henry, F. F. Furror, J. R. Vincent, Orange Noble, J. W. Hammond, W. L. Cleaveland, and F. Gray

March 3, 1865

Oil Spring Fork Oil and Mineral Company

J. W. Hammon, W. L. Cleaveland, John Richards, Geo. Carpenter, R. W. Emerson, J. P. Vincent, F. Gray, R. H. Henry, and A. H. Gray

March 2, 1865

Oil Spring, Kentucky, Petroleum Company

Colonel Sidney B. Jones, Wm. N. Thompson, and J. C. Beck, M. D.

March 4, 1865

Oil Spring and Sand Lick Petroleum Company

Wm. Frazier, Richard P. Rundle, Wm. Kidd

June 3, l865

Old Oil Spring Mining and Petroleum Company

Sam. L. Mitchell, Geo. C. Knight,and Geo. F. Chester

June 3, l865

Paint and Barnett Creek Oil and Mining Company

Frederick W. Jones, William Kidd, and J. Mansfield Davis

June 3, 1865

Paint Lick Oil and Mining Company

F. F. Farror, R. H. Henry, J. P. Vincent,

Geo. Carpenter, F. Gray, J. Hearn, Thomas B. Vincent, Orange Noble, and A. H. Gray

March 3, 1865

Pike Mining and Manufacturing Company

J. M. Montmollin, E. D. Ashford, James G. Hatchitt, James Harlan, Jr.

February 25, 1865

Rush Creek Mining and Manufacturing Company

Robertson M. Biggs, William Biggs, Sr., Andrew Biggs, F. K. O'Farrell, and Ed. F. Dulin

February 27, 1865

Sandy Valley Oil Company

Charles G. Shaw, George W. Shaw, George C. Glass, George F. Sadd, and Harvey Myers

May 26, 1865

Sandy Valley Petroleum Company

Thomas Wallace, Lloyd B. Dennis, Jake Rice, John B. Hatcher, and John M. Rice

January 26, 1865

Star Oil, Coal and Mining and Manufacturing Company of Carter County

W. T. Nicholls, R. D. Callihan, Addison McCullough, William H. Lampton, L. D. Ross, R. W. Lampton, W. L. Geiger, and James Kilgore

February 24, 1865

Tug Fork Lead, Iron, Salt and Oil Mining and Manufacturing Company

Thomas Wrightson, R. T. Baker, Jacob Hawthorn

February 27, 1865

West Liberty Coal, Oil, Lumber, Mining and Manufacturing Company

George W. Hampton, Wm. C. Miller

March 4, 1865

Article researched and written by Marlitta H. Perkins, May 2015. Images are the author's property, unless noted otherwise. Unauthorized use and/or duplication, including images, without express written notice by the author is strictly prohibited. 
© 2015. All Rights Reserved.

The Cold Snap of 1864

Winter in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky

As temperatures have plummeted this winter to near-record lows, with much of the nation in the grip of polar air masses that have brought snow as far as Florida and Alabama, the question emerges - how unusual is this weather, really? Are there any historic parallels? Look no further than the cold snap of 1864 which was very similar to our current weather in many respects.

The Big Sandy River in Eastern Kentucky froze over in December of 1863 and remained so for nearly three months, until late February 1864. Snow covered the ground and the temperatures hovered right at zero degrees or lower. Things turned worse on New Years Eve 1863 and culminated on Friday, January 1, 1864, a day remembered by all who were old enough at that time, as the "The Cold New Year."

The Louisville Weekly Journal reported on December 31, 1863, that the “weather glasses in our city gave unfailing premonitions of the remarkable change in the weather which accompanied the close of the old year and the opening of the new. At noon on Thursday, the barometer indicated 29.62, when it commenced falling rapidly, accompanied by a rain storm, and the wind a little north of west. At four in the afternoon the temperature was forty-seven degrees above zero, when it commenced steadily and rapidly falling.”

At dusk, the rain changed into snow and the winds began blowing violently. Within five hours, the temperatures dropped thirty-five degrees. At nine o’clock P.M., the thermometers registered twelve degrees above zero which dropped to one degree above zero within ninety minutes.

The severe cold weather arrived at Portsmouth, Ohio, several hours later. New Years Eve was a dark drizzling day and it remained quite warm until 9 P.M. At this time, it was still fifty-three degrees and raining. Things started to change quickly at 9:30 P.M. when the wind started blowing hard from the Northeast. By 10:30 P.M., the thermometer showed twenty degrees and kept falling throughout the night.

The weather deteriorated even further on New Years Day. At 7 o’clock A.M., it was eight degrees above zero, at 2 P.M., four degrees above and at 9 P.M., one degree above. It was reported that heavy winds were blowing all day. In comparison, it was clear and cold at Cincinnati at 8 o’clock in the morning and the mercury stood at seven degrees below zero

One journalist noted, “The New Year was ushered in with a wind that blew almost a hurricane, and reminded one of the stormy nights when witches are said in old nursery legends to be abroad in their work of mischief. The cold was intense, penetrating everywhere, freezing every thing, not guarded by artificial heat, that could be frozen, and exceeding in degree the cold on any New Year's Day ever known by 'the oldest inhabitant'."

The severe cold weather extended throughout the West and Northwest. Two break men on the Oil Creek railroad, in Western Pennsylvania, were frozen to death while standing at their posts!

In Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Northern Illinois and Indiana, the cold was still more intense. At Milwaukee, on the 1st and 2nd, the thermometer ranged from thirty to forty degrees below zero, and several persons were frozen to death. At Galena, Ill., thermometer twenty-five to thirty-three below; at Madison, Wis., thirty-four to thirty-nine below; at Dubuque, thirty below; at Oshkosh, Wis., thirty-eight below; at Rockford, Ill., thirty below; Fort Wayne, Ind., twenty-eight below. Between Springfield and Virginia, a stage-driver was frozen to death on his box. The Mississippi River was frozen over at St. Louis, which people crossed on the ice.

Even the Southern States were affected by the “General Freeze Up.” In Richmond, Virginia, the papers reported that, “Matters and things in general concluded to "wait" on Saturday morning, in view of the sudden descent of the temperature below zero. The water froze up in railroad tanks and locomotive boilers, water wheels refused to "circumnavigate", machine shops ceased their clatter, old clocks stopped at "witching hours", hydrants negatived the reservoirs, the town pumps were in demand, the boards of the floors creaked and weather boarding snapped, frosty network frescoed every window pane, and the universal "ugh" that escaped from every mouth went with icy chilliness to the soul of sympathetic nature.”

At Memphis, Tennessee, the thermometer was reported on New Year's Day at ten degrees below zero. Even Georgia was not spared from the cold weather. The Atlanta Intelligencer reported temperatures of twelve degrees at 10 P.M. on January 1^st, 1864, and eight degrees the following morning at 7 A.M. “This is the coldest weather we have experienced within forty years, in this country, with a single exception - the cold Saturday (in 1834), when the Mercury fell below zero. It is with difficulty, therefore, that we can write. Not only has our ink frozen, but with the best of fires that we can command, our fingers become numb before a paragraph can be written.”

The severe weather was especially hard on the soldiers. The newspapers reported that, “at Fort Halleck, Columbus, on the Mississippi, above Memphis, on New Year's eve, many of the negro soldiers were badly frozen; and at Island No. 10, ten negroes were frozen to death, and more were expected to die. On the same night, at the same place, eight men of the 52nd Indiana Infantry “were out on a skiff, and being unable to make the shore, were cast on a sand-bar, where three of the party were frozen to death before they could be rescued, two others died the next day, and the others were not expected to live.” The soldiers at Camp Indianapolis also suffered considerably on New Years Eve when a number had their ears and feet frozen.

According to news from Louisville, three Union soldiers were frozen to death at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, on the night of January 2, 1864. At Camp Yates, Springfield, Illinois, several soldiers met the same fate, as well as two soldiers at Camp Chase, Ohio.

Similar hardships were also endured by soldiers who were stationed in Eastern Kentucky where the temperatures dropped well below zero. According to local citizens, the beginning days of January 1864 saw the coldest weather and most abrupt change to be recorded in this section for many years. 

On New Years Day, a soldier from the 5^th Independent Battalion OH Cavalry recorded the following from winter quarters at Poplar Plains, “Turned awfully cold last night, a strong wind began blowing from the northwest about nine o'clock and by midnight everything was frozen up. We left our tents and hovered around blazing fires. Our pickets were all brought in except the one that was sheltered towards Poplar Plains. It is reported to-day that seven men of the 40th Kentucky Infantry were found frozen on their posts east of here. Such intense cold I never felt before.” Another member of the unit wrote, “The night of December 31, 1863, we passed through the cold that ushered in "the cold New Years." The thermometer dropped to 25 degrees below zero, and with difficulty the troops were saved from freezing ... Two soldiers on duty were frozen to death at Mount Sterling below us, and all in all the experience was one not soon to be forgotten.”

Snow covered road, Eastern Kentucky

On New Years Day, the 45th Kentucky Mounted Infantry began to arrive at Mt. Sterling from Paris. “Some of these men were badly frosted and had to lie by at farmhouses,” noted an eye witness, “and it was several days before they all got in, and as they were without tents they were quartered where ever shelter could be found for them, till the cold had abated somewhat, and tents could be procured...”

In an effort to stay warm, the 14^th Kentucky Infantry, one of the regiments stationed at Louisa, KY, detailed one of the soldiers as coal digger in the quartermaster department during the months of December 1863 and January 1864.

The cold weather continued unabated. A report from St. Louis noted that, “The weather continues very cold here, the mercury ranging from 5 degrees below to 15 degrees above zero. About one foot of snow lies on the ground, and the sleighing is splendid. Heavily laden wagons cross the river on ice, and there are no indications of a speedy break-up. The weather has been intensely cold throughout the State. Many persons and a large amount of stock have been frozen to death.”

On January 8, 1864, Portsmouth recorded ten inches of snow and the thermometer had not risen above twenty degrees. The Ohio River was full of floating ice and finally closed up firmly on Jan. 13, 1864. It remained ice-bound which prevented the steamboats from running thus limiting the delivery of supplies to citizens and soldiers alike. The soldiers' families were impacted as well and those who had not been able to put up enough food for the winter were in dire straits. In order to alleviate some of the suffering, Catlettsburg merchant William H. Geiger donated two steers and one beef to the poor soldiers' wives and families.

The Ohio River at Greenup with floating ice, January 2014
Photograph courtesy of Nancy Wright Bays

As the frozen Big Sandy River prevented steamboats from supplying the Union post at Louisa with stores, the quartermaster department soon was running low on provisions. Therefore, a detachment of the 39^th KY Mounted Infantry was ordered to proceed to Catlettsburg on January 9, 1864.  An attack by the enemy was not expected since the weather was extremely cold.  However, as the men were marching along the west bank of the Big Sandy River, they were quietly followed on the other side of the river by a detachment of about 150 men of the 16th Virginia Cavalry, under the command of Colonel Milton J. Ferguson.

By nightfall, the 39^th Kentucky detachment had reached Turman's Ferry at the mouth of Bear Creek, a prominent point on the Big Sandy River about 14 miles above Catlettsburg. Just below, at the present-day site of the Cavanaugh M. E. Church, stood an old log schoolhouse, which the men selected as their sleeping quarters. Still completely unsuspecting of any danger, no pickets were posted, “and the officers were asleep in the neighboring farm houses." 

The 16^th Virginia Cavalry, under the cover of night, crossed the Big Sandy River on the ice and quietly approached the quarters of the unsuspecting Union soldiers. The Confederates wasted no time and opened fire on the sleeping men. One of the lieutenants was killed in the fight, nine men taken prisoners, including one lieutenant, and the rest, “were driven out into the snow with weather at about zero or lower." The 16^th Virginia Cavalry re-crossed the icy river and vanished as quickly as they had appeared. A Union force from Catlettsburg was later sent out to pursue the Confederates but came back empty handed. Some of the men who had taken to the woods, "became frozen, especially their feet, and suffered greatly." On January 11, 1864, "A part of the wounded left behind arrived at the Ashland Hospital, not only badly wounded, but frostbitten.” The majority of them required amputations. According to Catlettsburg post commander Major Rhys Thomas, twenty men had to be sent to the hospital.  

Snowy  Creek in Eastern Kentucky

In closing, the eloquent remarks of the editor of the Daily Ohio Statesman seem fitting. “The New Year has come in, our brother journalists say, like a Lion - more, we should think, like a Russian or Norwegian Bear. A little snow would have probably moderated the intensity of this Arctic weather; but that was not vouchsafed us. Is this rugged birth of the New Year figurative of the hardships of the mass of people - the laboring poor - will have to endure during its existence, or does it prefigure that, though it freezes us with its cold frowns at its commencement, it will comfort and gladden us with sunny smiles before its close? Let us all hope, and so labor, that we may have cause to remember and bless the year 1864.”

The same thoughts and blessings go out to everyone for the year 2014, as we look outside our windows, shivering from yet another winter storm.

Article researched and written by Marlitta H. Perkins, January/February 2014. Images are the author's property, unless noted otherwise. Unauthorized use and/or duplication, including images, without express written notice by the author is strictly prohibited. © 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Pensions for Militia and State Troops

KENTUCKY.
The following report, made in the second session of the Fifty-second Congress from the House Committee on Invalid Pensions on bill (H. R. 7554) to grant a pension to survivors of certain battalions of Kentucky Militia, etc., contains much information regarding a number of Kentucky State troops that were in service during the war and the orders and State laws under which they were raised:

"The Committee on Invalid Pensions have considered the bill (H. R. 7554) granting a pension to survivors of certain battalions of Kentucky Militia, etc., and submit the following report, recommending the passage of the accompanying substitute for the bill under consideration.

"The object of the bill, as introduced, is to place those who served in the organizations named under the provisions of the act of June 27, 1890, which requires a service of 90 days and a present disability, not due to vicious habits.

"In considering the bill these questions arise:
"(1) Under what authority were the said organizations raised and paid?
"(2) Were they subject to the orders of United States officers, and  what was the character of the service performed?

"On these points the following facts and arguments have been presented to the committee:
"The Frankfort, Paducah, and Sandy Valley Battalions, which were known as the Capital Guard Regiment, were intended to aid and assist the Federal troops, and were to be held subject to the call of the district commander for any service in Kentucky, and they were raised by order of the governor of Kentucky, under sanction of an order dated July 11, 1864, and signed by Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

"The North Cumberland, Three Forks, Halls Gap, Green River, Middle Green River, South Cumberland, and Frankfort Battalions, and First Kentucky State Cavalry and Frankfort Battalion were raised under an act of the Kentucky Legislature approved January 26, 1864, entitled 'An act empowering the governor to raise a force for the defense of the State.'

"The Harlan County Battalion was raised under the militia laws of the State and was mustered into the State service October 13, 1862, and was mustered out January 13, 1863. It comprised seven companies, of 494 men, and performed service in eastern Kentucky, along the Tennessee and Virginia borders, affording protection to the loyal people of that section and preventing the destruction of property by the evil inclined, and at the same time acting as an advance guard for the Federal troops.

"The Casey County State Guards, and Captain Bussey's Bath County Rangers were organized under the militia laws of Kentucky, and, being  ordered on duty, the former was assigned to and performed duty with the First Kentucky Cavalry, whilst the latter after having performed service from December 11, 1863, to April 1, 1864, was assigned to and  performed duty with the Capital Guard Regiment, and was then known as Company F, of the Frankfort Battalion of that regiment, and was mustered out February 6, 1865.

"It may be proper to state that the Halls Gap Battalion also included the Mercer County State Guards, which organization was raised under the  militia laws of the State, and that the Frankfort Battalion was a distinct organization from that of the same name raised under the order of Secretary Stanton, heretofore referred to.

"It appears from the records in the Third Auditor's Office that the State of Kentucky made a claim against the United States on account of expenses incurred in behalf of the organizations mentioned in the bill  and was reimbursed therefor, and that the United States reimbursed Kentucky, on account of expenses incurred in raising volunteers to the amount of $3,504,466.77, being a greater amount than was paid to any other State, except the States of Missouri, New York, and Illinois.

"The said organizations performed the same character of service in the State of Kentucky as was required of United States troops. They were in the service not less than 90 days, some for six months, others for about one year. They rendered valuable and efficient service to the State and General Government, and cooperated with the forces of the  United States, and were subject to the orders of United States officers for services to be performed within the State.

"Hon. John M. Palmer, now United States Senator from Illinois, and formerly department commander of Kentucky, under date of January 21, 1863, says:
"'The Kentucky State troops, as a rule, were under my command in the  department of Kentucky, and I treated them as troops subject to my command. Some of the organizations performed valuable services, and ought to be provided for by the pension laws.'

"Gen. Green Clay Smith appeared before the committee and stated that at times during the war he commanded Federal troops in Kentucky; that he was then a resident of the State, and a native thereof, and well acquainted with the conditions prevailing therein at that time, and he had no doubt whatever that the organizations mentioned in the bill were at all times subject to the orders of the department commander, and rendered important service in behalf of the United States in protecting and guarding its property, its lines of communication, and aiding in driving its enemies from loyal territory.

"Kentucky furnished three classes of troops in behalf of the General Government during the late war—those that were mustered into the United States service, those that were known as the State militia proper and which did not perform service for 90 days, and those mentioned in this bill.

"A table is appended hereto showing the number and when mustered in in  each organization mentioned in the bill, the whole number being 4,983, and the number mustered out being about 4,200. But as many of these performed military service in other organizations, which service placed them within the provisions of the pension laws, it is thought that not more than 2,500 would be placed under the provisions of this bill, as originally presented, should it become a law.

"Having directly sanctioned the organization of some of these troops, and having accepted the services of all of them, they having been subject to the orders of the commander of the Department of Kentucky, and having reimbursed Kentucky for all expenses incurred in their organization and maintenance, it seems that the General Government, so far as its military, executive, and ministerial officials had power so to do, have regarded the organizations mentioned in the bill as if they had been mustered into the United States service for all practical purposes. And that being true, it would be fair dealing to place them, as far as this bill can do so, upon an equal footing with the same class of troops furnished by the States of Missouri and Pennsylvania, which have been placed under the provisions of the pension laws.

"Following is the table above referred to, compiled from the report of  the adjutant general of Kentucky: (click on image to enlarge)

"In view of the facts shown, your committee have been unwilling to recommend the passage of the bill as presented, for the reason that to  do so would be to assume to determine that the organizations named were essentially in the service of the United States during the entire period of their service. It does seem proper, however, that these troops should be placed in a position as good as, but no better than, that given to the Missouri State Militia, and your committee therefore report the accompanying bill as a substitute for the bill H. R. 7554, and respectfully recommend that the substitute do pass."

This bill failed of passage and no pensionable rights accrue on account of service in these organizations. The period of service of these troops was generally about six months, though a few of them served about one year. The earliest period of service was from the first part  of 1864. The following is taken from the published report of the adjutant general of the State of Kentucky, dated September 1, 1867,  volume 2, pages 825, 826, as showing something of the service of these organizations:

"All these troops did valuable and efficient service to the State and  the General Government, as the history of the time would fully show. The Sandy Valley Battalion rendered most important service during the Saltville raid.

"The Frankfort Battalion protected the capital from the frequent incursions of guerrilla forces. The Paducah Battalion protected the southwestern portion of the State. Shortly after the muster out of this battalion, the gallant Capt. Thomas J. Gregory, Company A, was killed in action while leading a charge against a guerrilla force.

"The troops raised under the act of January 26, 1864, were enlisted subsequent to the muster out of the Capital Guard Regiment and were located as follows:

"The Three Forks Battalion in the extreme southwestern portion of the State, with headquarters at Booneville.

"The Halls Gap Battalion in the locality between Stanford and Halls Gap; headquarters at Stanford.

"The Green River Battalion in the counties between the Ohio and Green  Rivers, with headquarters at Calhoun.

"The Middle Green River Battalion in the southern portion of the State, with headquarters at Rochester.

"The South Cumberland Battalion also in the southern portion of the State, with headquarters at Burksville.

"The First Kentucky Cavalry in the central part of the State, with headquarters at Lebanon.

"The Frankfort Battalion was assigned to duty in guarding the Louisville & Lexington Railroad and the country adjacent thereto.

"All of these battalions performed the most valuable service against  the rebels and guerillas under Morgan, Johnson, South, Lyon, Mundy, Gentry, Jesse, etc., and for some time freed the State from the incursions of these troops (the acts of many of whom were barbarous in  the extreme). This was accomplished notwithstanding their efficiency was somewhat crippled, first, by the then military commander of the district of Kentucky, and, second, by partisan feeling and prejudice."

This report does not give any particulars of service rendered by these forces under command of United States officers or in connection with United States troops. It shows, however, that 66 of them died and 27 were killed, some of these being killed in action.

Kentucky had another body of State militia, State guards, and home guards that were on active duty at various periods during the war. The published report of the adjutant general of the State of Kentucky, volume 2, page 903, shows the designations and strength of the organizations composing this force to have been as follows:

Home-guard companies called out by Gens. Anderson and Sherman 1,534
Police guard Kentucky Central Railroad 1,470
Oldham County State Guard 63
Shelby County State Guard 35
Spencer County State Guard 56
Nelson County State Guard 49
Flower Creek Home Guard 33
Martin's company Home Guard 57
Ohio County Home Guard 155
Leonard's company, Home Guard 60
Forty-first Regiment Kentucky Enrolled Militia 1,096
Forty-second Regiment Kentucky Enrolled Militia 1,393
Frankfort Union Guards 57
Rockcastle and Lincoln County Home Guard 304
Twenty-second Regiment Kentucky Enrolled Militia 112
Sixty-eighth Regiment Kentucky Enrolled Militia 615
Sixty-fifth Regiment Kentucky Enrolled Militia 347
Thirty-sixth Regiment Kentucky Enrolled Militia 280
Peak's Mill Rangers  51
Fleming County State Guard 102
Hardin County State Guard 42
Capt. R. R. Bacon's company, State Guard 26
Capt. Greenbery Reid's company, Kentucky National Legion 84
Capt. H. H. Johnson's company, Kentucky National Legion 87
Lieut. George W. Burchett's company, Kentucky National Legion 14
Harlan County Battalion 494
Bath County Rangers 88

These militia and home guards served short terms at various intervals during the war, beginning in the fall of 1861; some of them were in  service as late as in November, 1865. A great many of them served less  than 20 days, some served 1 and 2 months, and but very few, if any,  were in service 3 months. Their principal duty was the guarding of  railroads, bridges, locks, etc. The Forty-first and Forty-second  Regiments, Kentucky Enrolled Militia, were 30-day men, called out at  the time of Bragg's Invasion. The Sixty-eighth Regiment Kentucky  Enrolled Militia, 30-days' service, is recognized by the War Department as having been accepted into the military service of the United States  and the members thereof have pensionable status under the general law for disability or service origin only. They have no status under the act of June 27, 1890, as their service was less than 90 days. None of the other Kentucky State organizations has pensionable rights under existing laws.

Many of these troops served out of the limits of Kentucky and the report of the adjutant general of Kentucky mentions that 1,534 of the home guards of that State were called out by Gens. Anderson and Sherman. The home guards, so called, were on active duty in the fall of 1861, a few serving a little over 1 month, but the majority less than 15 days. The Thurston Guards, called out by Gen. Anderson, served 12 days in September, 1862.

Source: Congressional Edition, 66th Congress, 2d Session, Dec. 1, 1919 - June 5, 1920, Volume 7653, pp. 27-31

Transcribed by Marlitta H. Perkins, July 2013.

Dear John ~ The Hazards of Mail Delivery

Patriotic cover, postmarked April 14 (1862) at Catlettsburg, KY 

The Post Office Department of the Confederate States of America was established February 21, 1861, by an act of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States. On March 6, 1861, former U.S. Congressman John Henninger Reagan was appointed postmaster general of the Confederate States of America by President Jefferson Davis.

Reagan instructed southern postmasters to continue to render their accounts to the United States as before until the Confederate postal system was organized. In May 1861, Reagan issued a proclamation stating that he officially would assume control of the Post Office Department of the Confederate States on June 1, 1861. US Postmaster General Blair  responded by ordering the cessation of United States mail service  throughout the South on May 31, 1861. This also included mail going from North to South and vice versa.

After this time, private express companies, such as Adams Express, American Letter Express, and Whiteside's Express, still managed to carry the mail across enemy lines, until the U.S. Post Office ordered an end to such traffic, effective August 26, 1861.

Mail delivery was carried out by private contractors. Transporting the mails was filled with danger, particularly along the Kentucky and Virginia border which was infested with bushwhackers. Interrupted service, robberies and guerrilla sniping were a common occurrence. On Sept. 5, 1861, the Daily Louisville Democrat reported that, "In the counties along the Kentucky and Virginia line, several mails have been robbed by men, who came from Virginia, across the line, for that purpose."

One such incidence took place on Wednesday, August 21, 1861, when the mail from Louisa to Warfield, via Cassville (VA), was robbed. Nathan Holt, a wealthy Wayne Co. VA farmer and one of the first local constables, was the mail contractor. The mail boy, his 17 year old son Bernard P. Holt, had left Warfield at 6 o'clock in the morning with the mail and was travelling on the Virginia side of the Big Sandy River toward Cassville. About 5 o'clock in the evening, Bernard arrived within 1 1/2 miles from town when he noticed two men, Alex. Vinson and John Walker, on the road side waiting for him. The boy was knocked from his horse by Vinson and Walker who swore that they were going to have that Lincoln mail. Bernard Holt engaged in a fight with Walker while Vinson cut the mailbag and took out and destroyed all the mail matter, and then took the horse from the boy. Both men left together.

Bernard P. Holt alerted the citizens who made pursuit and captured Vinson about three miles from the place of the robbery. He was brought back to Cassville, and had a hearing before Justice James Stone, who held him over for further trial. Vinson was then put in custody of Constable Bow, who summoned two citizens as guard to watch Vinson through the night. He however made his escape before morning. The Sandy Valley Advocate noted, "He and Walker are now at large. From what we can learn, all the officers were secessionists, as well as the guard, and therefore do not wonder at the escape of the prisoner."

Within days after the incident, Bernard P. Holt was fired on by someone in ambush near Taber's creek, between Turman's Ferry and Cassville. The constant threat of rebel incursions made it increasingly difficult to safely maintain postal service in the area, which may have contributed to the closing of the Falls of Tug (William Ratcliffe, post master) and Palmetto Post Offices on Sept. 3, 1861. David Holt, Bernard's older brother, had held the position of post master at Palmetto since March 9, 1858.

 Nevertheless, Nathan Holt entered into another contract with the US post office on April 24, 1862, to carry the mail twice a week between Warfield and Louisa, KY. In the end, however, Holt failed to execute the contract.

Instead, Nathan Holt joined Union Capt. David Bartram Company, 167th Militia, on June 2, 1862, together with his sons William, David, John W. and Bernard. The Holts continued in the militia service until 1864, in Capt. William Bartram's Wayne County Scouts. 

Sanford Scott, who was contracted to carry the mail six times a week between Guyandotte to Catlettsburg, failed to arrive at Catlettsburg on May 4 and June 28, 1861 and 8 times in July of 1861. Scott completely omitted service for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1861. Deliveries were resumed by John H. Ford, of Catlettsburg, beginning February 21, 1862.

Catlettsburg Postmark, March 14 (1862)

The situation in Kentucky along the Big Sandy River was very similar.  Stephen Bartram who was contracted to carry the mail twice a week from  Catlettsburg to Prestonsburg, a distance of 73 miles one way, encountered similar problems. Bartram failed to arrive at Catlettsburg with the mail on July 24, Sept. 12 and 26, 1861. After being robbed several times, mail service was finally suspended until the end of December of 1861 when the presence of Union troops along the Big Sandy River made it to a degree safer again to carry the mail.

During the first week of November 1861, the Grand Jury, United States Court, in session at Frankfort, KY, found indictments against Harvey T. Hawkins and Milton J. Freese, for robbing the mail. Bail was set at $ 3,000 each, and $3,000 surety.

Cincinnati Postmark, May 13 (1862)

At the beginning of fall 1861, safety concerns led to the discontinuation of mail service on several Eastern Kentucky routes, under act of Congress of February 28, 1861. The act authorized the Postmaster-General to discontinue the postal service on routes where, in his opinion, it "can not be safely continued, or the postal revenues collected, or the postal laws maintained, by reason of any cause whatever, till the same can be safely restored."

Effective Oct. 17, 61, Route # 9555: Mt. Sterling/Piketon, 2 weekly round trips, D. Cooley (contractor)

Effective Oct. 17, 61, Route # 9556:  Mt. Sterling/West Liberty, 2 weekly round trips, H. C. Berkley (contractor)

Special Agent Miller was authorized to employ service upon the above mentioned routes "as far as safety would permit, at not exceeding the rate of the old pay, from Nov. 11, 1861."

Effective Oct. 17, 61, Route # 9578: West Liberty to Louisa, 1 weekly round trip, Wm. P. Davis (contractor)

Effective Nov. 29, 61, Route # 9569: Greenup Court House/Louisa, 1 weekly round trip, Charles Callahan (contractor)

Louisa Postmark, August 13 (1862)

Several Post offices were discontinued in Eastern Kentucky during the Civil war. Given are the dates of closing name of the post masters and date when the post office was re-established, if applicable.

Lawrence

Cherokee, Sept. 13, 1861 (William W. Graham), re-est. Sept. 10, 1867

Warfield, Nov. 4, 1862 (Mark Dempsey) re-est. Aug. 29, 1870

Bolton, Nov. 2, 1861 (Greenville Bolt) see Boyd Co. KY

Riffe's X Roads, June 25, 1863 (Isaac Belcher)

Georges Creek, July 31, 1863 (Thomas P. Salyer)

Lockwood, Dec. 8, 1865 (Jacob Lockwood)

Buchanan (formerly Round Botton, Wayne, VA) est. Sept. 3, 1861 (George Buchanan, followed by Joseph F. Hatten, Sept. 29, 1863)

Floyd

Coal Grove, Feb. 28, 1863 (Stephen Ferguson)

Lanesville, July 31, 1863 (James S. Layne), re-est. Oct. 27, 1865

Pike

Breckenridge, July 21, 1863 (William R. Bevins)

Democracy, Feb. 28, 1863 (William H. Johnson)

Lonville, Oct. 10, 1862 (Thomas L. Marrs)

Piketon, May 20, 1864 (Lewis C. Dils), re-est. Oct. 28, 1865

Robinson Creek, Nov. 5, 1861 (Samuel Keel), re-est. Sept. 28, 1866

Hamilton's Store, July 31, 1863 (Nelson Hamilton)

Boyd

Grass Land, Jan. 30, 1862 (William Davis); re-est. Aug. 28, 1862 and discontinued Feb. 28, 1863 (Madison M. Hensley), re-est. June 11, 1875

Sandy Furnace, Feb. 28, 1863 (Pleasant Barber)

Amanda, Aug. 22, 1862 (George P. Walker)

Bolton, July 21, 1863 (John W. Bolt)

Greenup

Three Prong, Nov. 2, 1861 (J. R. Warnock), re-est. Jun 23, 1866 (Mrs. Martha Warnock)

Truittsville, May 30, 1862 (George W. Truitt)

Callahan, Dec. 2, 1861 (John R. Callahan)

Argylite, Oct. 26, 1861 (James Lampton), re-est. June 24, 1874 (as  Argilite)

Carter

Bell's Trace, April 15, 1863 (Nelson T. Rice)

Bruin, July 31, 1863 (John Hood), re-est. Jan. 16, 1867

Estill Flats, June 4, 1863 (Wesley Fults), re-est. Sept. 10, 1863

Rice's X Roads, July 31, 1863 (Paris Rice)

Lewis

Clarksburgh C. H., Feb. 8, 1864 (Isaac Bassett)

Morgan

Black Water, July 21, 1863 (John C. Dennis), re-est. Feb. 1, 1866

Caney, March 20, 1862 (David F. Lykins), re-est. July 7, 1874

Christy's Fork, Feb. 26, 1862 (Thornton W. Sanford)

Grassy Creek, July 31, 1863 (Thomas Goddwin)

Hampton's Mills, March 20, 1862 (George M. Hampton)

Johnson's Fork, Sept. 10, 1862 (Eli Williams), re-est. in Magoffin Co. KY Jan. 9, 1863 (Mrs. Lodicky Denham)

Little Sandy, Jan. 9, 1864 (William B. Wheeler)

Relief, July 31, 1863 (Wallace W. Brown)

Devil's Fork, Jan. 9, 1864 (George W. Stamper)

Wolfe

Still Water, Feb. 14, 1865 (Wm. W. Waterman)

Devil's Creek, July 31, 1863 (Sandford R. Shackelford)

Hazel Green, Nov. 8, 1865 (Addison H. Tracey), re-est. Feb. 1, 1866

Rowan

Blue Rock, Oct. 10, 1863 (Wm. H. K. Garvin), re-est. in Carter Co. Feb. 9, 1864

Bath

Gill's Mills, July 31, 1863 (William M. Ragland), re-est. Sept. 23, 1865, in Rowan Co. KY

Laurel Fork, April 15, 1863 (Andrew J. Connoy)

Rockhouse, Dec. 14, 1861 (Thomas N. Perry), re-est. Feb. 6, 1867

Bald Eagle, Jan. 21, 1863 (Joseph Willson), re-est. Jan. 21, 1874

Fleming

Pleasant Grove Mill, Dec. 15, 1864 (Squire A. Day)

White Oak Hill, Feb. 26, 1862 (Benjamin G. Johnson)

Letcher

Cornett's Mill, Oct. 10, 1863 (Peyton M. Duke)

Indian Bottom, July 31, 1863 (John Dickson), re-est. Aug. 25, 1868

Perry

Brasherville, Juy 31, 1863 (Robert S. Brashears)

Cutshin, Juy 31, 1863 (James C. Brewer), re-est. Aug. 22, 1872

Breathitt

Frozen Creek, July 31, 1863 (Samuel H. Holmes)

There were no closings in Johnson and Magoffin County, KY, during the Civil War.

Paintsville Postmark, August 27 (1862)

Links of Interest

Smithsonian National Postal Museum

The United States Postal Service: An American History - 1775 – 2006

Article researched and written by Marlitta H. Perkins, July 2013. Unauthorized use and/or duplication, including images, without express written notice by the author is strictly prohibited. © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

The Ticktown Murders and Fiery Retribution

Map of the Ticktown and Camargo area, Montgomery Co. KY (1879)
Source: Library of Congress

In the fall of 1863, the small village of Ticktown in Montgomery County, Kentucky, was burned to the ground by Unionists. What led to this event?

Ticktown, also known as Jeffersonville, began as an important trading center for cattle in Eastern Kentucky during the mid-19th century. It was located roughly eight miles southeast of Mt. Sterling, KY. The origin of the name is obscure but it is believed that the town was either named after the tick grass grown in the area or the ticks found in the cattle stalls. During the Civil War, the town became known as a safe harbor for rebel guerrillas such as the notorious Tom Greenwade.

Several incidents preceded the burning of Ticktown. On Sept. 28, 1863, some twenty or thirty guerrillas made a raid on Sharpsburg, Kentucky and stole fifteen horses as well as other items and subsequently  escaped army scouts. Oneof the units in pursuit was Captain Simon Cockrell, 47th Ky. Mounted Inft. (US) who, with a detachment of 15 men, was searching for the guerrillas in the farmland east of Mt. Sterling. At one point, Cockerell sent five of his scouts, namely Pleasant  Martin, Asbury Nickell (son of Spaniard Nickell), Charles Little, (son of Phillip Little), Reason Grayson and Robert Nickell, off on their own search. Most of these men were friends and nearby neighbors of Captain Cockerell who lived in Morgan County, with the exception of Reason Grayson who was a resident of Bath County.

When the small group reached the vicinity of Camargo, they were surprised by a party of a dozen guerrillas and taken prisoner. After their capture, the prisoners were disarmed and stripped. The rebels then marched them a half a mile to Sycamore bridge near Ticktown. Here the men were drawn up in line and told they were going to be paroled.

Henry C. Hurst, one of the local home guards, later related, "They had  them cross their hands on their breasts, telling them they were about to administer the oath; but instead they placed their guns against them  and fired. All were killed dead except Robert Nickell who was shot near  the right nipple, the bullet came out about five inches lower in the back. He fell off into the creek and they fired three more shots at  him, one bullet struck his arm. He played off dead and they left him." As soon as the guerrillas disappeared, Nickell managed to drag himself  to the house of J. R. Shubert where he was taken in by the family who attended to his wounds.

Meanwhile, the guerrillas continued on their killing spree and reached the home of Jacob Stephens. He was robbed of his pocket book with about $30.00 and shot dead in his own home. Next, the guerrillas captured a man by the name of Jenkins. Hurst noted, "The treatment they gave him was much worse than death. They took all privileges from him that was allowed a man by nature and told him that if that did not kill him they would come back and finish the job."

The morning following the raid, Shubert managed to take Nickell to Mt. Sterling and alert Union authorities about the murders. During the pursuit that ensued, the guerrillas made their way to James Gibbs' on Dry Ridge. Here they successfully escaped the grasp of the federal troops. Lt. Col. C. C. Matson of the 6th Indiana Cavalry, post commander at Mt. Sterling, noted in his report to General Boyle, "I fear the murderers have escaped."

The brutality of the murders triggered much anger and outrage among the citizens in the area. The fact that the depredations continued just added oil to the fire. Consequently, a decision was made to inflict  severe penalties upon the rebels and those who shielded and spied for them in order to curb outrages of this nature in the future.

Accordingly, on October 6, 1863, Lt. Col. Matson ordered a company of  the 6th Indiana Cavalry under the command of Captain E. W. Peck to Olympian Springs. Here they found one of the barns destroyed by the rebels. Following their trail, and passing by the ruins of a residence  belonging to a Union man by the name of Hall, Peck pursued the rebels to Thomas Greenwade's at Old Beaver Furnace in Bath County. His home was a known resting spot and hiding place for guerrillas. Peck ordered the house burned, as well as those belonging to two other rebels, including Isaac Ingram's.

Guerrilla infested Ticktown fared no better and received the same treatment at the hands of a detachment of the 47th KY Mtd. Infantry under command of Captain Simon Cockrell. On October 12, 1863, the Frankfort Tri-Weekly Commonwealth reported that Union men of Mt. Sterling had recently burned the village to the ground and killed a resident by the name of Greenwade, who was charged with harboring  guerrillas and desperadoes. Incidentally, Thomas Greenwade survived and  remained at large until well after the Civil War, holed up in a cave with his followers, and refusing to surrender.

We have only limited information as to the identity of the guerrillas responsible for the Ticktown killings, except for one man - Jacob L. Edwards. On January 28, 1864, a Union scout pursued a group of guerrillas to the home of Big Jim Stamper on Grassy Creek in Morgan County, KY. The Union soldiers surrounded the house but the guerrillas showed fight and a fiery exchange began. When finally a door was torn  down, the guerrillas surrendered and threw their pistols into the yard. Among the captured was Jacob L. Edwards, who, according to an eye witness, was, "the man who led the squad, who killed the four men at  the Ticktown Bridge and wounded Robert Nickells. They were all tied  together and taken to our camp. We were all very happy over getting  Edwards in our custody. Many of the boys wanted to kill him on the spot; but our Captain would not permit it. He said not to worry that he would get what was coming to him when we turned him over to the proper  authorities."

Edwards was a former member of the 5th KY Mtd. Infantry (CSA) and a deserter from the 1st Battalion KY Mounted Rifles (CSA). He was taken with the other prisoners to Mt. Sterling on the charge of murder and forwarded to the  Military Prison in Louisville. On February 12, 1864, Edwards was sent  to Rock Island Prison, Illinois, but was turned over to civil authorities on March 11, 1864, to be tried for murder. He eventually escaped on October 20, 1864. Nothing further is known about him.

List of prisoners, including Jacob L. Edwards,
arrested in Morgan Co. KY, Jan. 28, 1864.

Robert Nickell, the only survivor of the Ticktown murders, eventually recovered from his wounds. He might be the same man who enlisted a  month later in the 47th KY Infantry. He lived a long and productive
life and died on May 21, 1924, in Rich Hill, Bates County, Missouri. He was 83 years old.