|
www.HarrisonCountyKy.US
|
Memorial to the Veterans of the
Battle of Buena Vista
Mexican War, 1846-48 |
The History of the
Monument & the War
According to William H. Perrin
Monuments.--Three
public monuments, all now standing in Battle Grove Cemetery, are to be
noticed.
The
oldest of the three is the Mexican Monument, erected by the people of
Harrison County in memory of their fellow-citizens who lost their lives
as volunteer soldiers in the war with Mexico. In 1848, it was
placed in the court house yard, where it stood for twenty years, and in
1868, by order of the County Court, it was moved to Battle Grove
Cemetery. The pedestal is 6 feet 5 inches square; the base, 6 feet
square; the die, 3 feet square, and its whole height is 24 feet.
On
the east side it bears the inscription: "In memory of the Harrison
County volunteers who fell at Buena Vista, and of those who died of
disease while in the service of their country."
On
the south side--"Died of disease, Isaac N. Anderson, aged 27 years, at
home; Isaiah Miller, aged 17 years, at home; Harvey Humble, aged 23
years, at Puebla; John Loyd, aged 25 years, in Mexico; James Sullivan,
aged 21 years, at New Orleans."
On
the west side--"Died of disease, Worthen Cummins, aged 23 years, at
Memphis; William O. Duncan, aged 21 years, in Texas; Oscar B. Worthen,
aged 25 years, at New Orleans; Francis Smith, aged 23 years, at home;
Jonathan C. Overly, aged 29 years, in Mexico; James H. Fisher, aged 26
years, in Mexico."
On
the north side--"Killed at Buena Vista, John A. Jones, aged 27 years;
William A. McClintock, aged 26 years; David P. Rogers, aged 21 years;
James Pomeroy, aged 19 years." (Perrin, p. 301)
"An occasional
misunderstanding with some obdurate tribe of Indians comprised our war
experience, until the American eagle swooped down upon disrupted Mexico.
The causes which led to this unpleasantness grew out of the admission of
Texas into the American Union as a State, and may be termed but the
forerunnner of that great internecine war that commenced with the fall
of Fort Sumter in 1861. That politics bore an important part in it
there is no question. The majority of the Whig party opposed the
measure of annexing Texas to the utmost of their power. Hon. Tom
Corwin, of Ohio, made the ablest speech of his life, and said to have
been one of the ablest ever made in the United States Senate, against
the further prosecution of the war, just after the fall of Monterey.
The Whig party--dominant in the North--believed it a measure for the
extension of slavery, and upon that ground alone all the Northern
members of the party opposed it. In the Presidential election of
1844, it was made a question at issue, and James K. Polk, the Democratic
candidate--and whose party favored the annexation for Texas--was elected
over Mr. Clay. This was taken as an indorsement [sic] of
the measure by the people, and, accordingly, the "Lone Star" was
admitted into the Union as a State. This led to open hostilities
between the United States and Mexico, which began in the spring of 1846.
In the declaration of war against Mexico, and the call for troops which
followed, Kentucky was required to furnish four regiments of volunteers,
comprising 2,400 men, but so great was the zeal of the people, that
nearly 15,000 men responded to the call. The Louisville Legion,
nine companies strong, reported to the Governor without delay, and were
accepted. The four regiments furnished were officered as follows:
First Regiment Cavalry, Humphrey Marshall, of Louisville, Colonel (Major
General in the Confederate army in the late war); E.H. Field, of
Woodford County, Lieutenant Colonel, and John P. Gaines, of Boone
County, Major. Second Regiment, William R. McKee, of Lexington,
Colonel (killed at Buena Vista); Henry Clay, Jr., of Louisville,
Lieutenant Colonel (killed at Buena Vista); C.H. Fry, of Danville,
Major. Third Regiment, M.V. Thomson, of Georgetown, Colonel,
(formerly Lieutenant Governor of the State); T.L. Crittenden, of
Frankfort, Lieutenant Colonel (Major General in the Federal army during
the late war); John C. Breckinridge, of Lexington, Major (Vice President
of the United States under James Buchanan). Fourth Regiment, John
S. Williams (now United States Senator from Kentucky); William Preston,
of Louisville, Lieutenant Colonel (Major General in the Confederate
army); William T. Ward, of Greensburg, Major.
(Perrin, p. 239)
"In the war with Mexico, Harrison County fully maintained her
good name for courage and patriotism. Nearly an entire company
(sixty-eight men), was made up in the county, under command of the following
officers: John Shawhan, Captain; William Henry Vanhook, First
Lieutenant; George P. Swinford, Second Lieutenant; and Dr. John Kimbrough,
Third Lieutenant. The company participated in the battle of Buena
Vista, where it lost four men killed, viz.: John S. Jones, Corporal;
and privates William McClintock, James Pomeroy and D.P. Rogers.
Fifteen men died of disease before the company was mustered out of the
service, and event which took place in June, 1847, at New Orleans."
(Perrin, p. 239)
MEXICAN WAR
In the war
with Mexico, Cynthiana furnished a company of cavalry. Infantry
companies were first formed but the 2d regiment at Frankfort was found
full and the boys were compelled to straddle their fiery steeds.
The call was made May 22, 1846, and on June 6 the start for Louisville,
the rendezvous was made. One hundred and five men were enlisted.
The officers were: John Shawhan, Captain; Henry VanHook, First
Lieutenant; George Swinford, Second Lieutenant; Noah Patterson, Orderly
Sergeant.
As the
company passed through Cynthiana the streets were lined with sympathetic
spectators. When the then Fowler's Cross Roads were reached,
neighbors and friends were on hand with refreshments, and the same
generous treatment was extended along the entire march through the
country.
At Leesburg
Abner Monson was seized with a sad case of nostalgia, occasioned by
recollections of a sorrowing mother and the demonstrations of the girl
he left behind him. Arrangements for a substitute were effected
and Abner returned.
Citizens of
Georgetown turned out in force to receive the recruits. A visit
was paid to the old hero and slayer of Tecumseh, Richard M. Johnson, and
the Indian boys whom he was educating were inspected. The Colonel
delivered a flattering speech in honor of the occasion, and declared
that with 10,000 such men he could capture the ancient halls of the
Montezumas in ninety days.
At
Louisville the Cynthiana contingent was added to eight companies under
Col. Marshall, and mustered into service. Some of the boys became
sick and were compelled to return home, but ninety-six out of the
original 105 went into the service.
From
Louisville the route lay to Memphis, thence to Little Rock and on
through Arkansas and Texas to Port Lavacha on the Gulf. Will
Duncan died on the trip.
The Rio
Grande was crossed and the enemy's country invaded. The Battle of
Buena Vista, on February 21 and 22, 1847, was the company's first taste
of real war. In that battle Capt. Shawhan's company lost these
men: Corporal J.A. Jones, privates D.P. Rogers, W. McClintock,
James Pomeroy. Wounded: Captain John Shawhan, Wm. Snodgrass,
I.S. Bryson, W.C. Parker, S.M. Vanhook, George H. Wilson, James Warford
and Chas. H. Fowler.
That was the
only battle of consequence in which the men were engaged. Active
hostilities were confined to the Gulf coast. While on their way to
the City of Mexico, the company's services of twelve months expired, and
about the first of July they were taken to New Orleans, paid off and
discharged.
It is
believed that ten of the company yet survive: James Warford, of
Millersburg; Wm. McChesney, of Lexington; Edmond Hawes, of Harrodsburg;
Joseph Perrin[,] of Falmouth; Dr. John Wall, of Flemingsburg; Orderly
Noah Peterson, David Ross, Thomas Miller, George H. Givens, of Harrison,
and Wes. B. Smith, of Bourbon.
The DEMOCRAT
is indebted to Mr. Wes. B. Smith for the facts in this sketch.
Source: The
Cynthiana (Ky.) Democrat Special Edition, June, 1896, page 10, cols.
4 & 5. (The article was published under the full title of "Mexican
War: Brief Tale of Cynthiana's Role in Conquering the Greasers -
List of the Officers. - List of The Killed and Wounded.") (A
reprint of this issue is available for purchase from the
Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum).
|
