Mammoth Caves Black History

From the February 2, 2023, Wave, (Louisville, Ky) "Slaves explored, discovered cave paths at Mammoth Cave National Park" by Kelly Dean.

According to Molly Schroer, Public Affairs Officer at the park, "They were some of the first people to take our early visitors into the cave.  But they also served as early explorers.

Over 200 years ago, black slaves  worked in the cave to create gunpowder used during the War of 1812.

"What's ironic about the whole thing is they were working hard for us to keep our freedom while they didn't have theirs," said Schroer.

In the mid-1800s,  slaves were used  to not only act as tour guides, but also to go deep down into the caves to discover new paths.

Stephen Bishop was one of the first black tour guides who discovered miles and miles of trails that visitors today walk.

Helping the Cause Even Back Then.  --Brock-Perry

That Horrendous Hurricane of 1812 Hits New Orleans-- Part 1

From the June 5, 2022, WGNO News "The Hurricane of 1812" by Christopher  Leach.

This mega storm happened during a time of war.  A very unique letter at the Historic New Orleans Collection gives an account of this hurricane.  It was written in French by  French consul Louis Tousard to a friend.  (I've also seen his named spelled Toussard.)

Cecilia  Hock is an interpreter at the place and says that the year 1812 was a particularly trying one in New Orleans  There were three slave uprisings, a number of earthquakes along the  New Madrid Faultline that began the  previous December that caused levee breeches in New Orleans.  The war with Britain had just started.  

And then came the hurricane.

The hurricane hit at nightfall.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

So Where Is Sodus, New York?--Part 2: And, a Civil War Connection

From Wikipedia.

I must admit some confusion while writing the recent posts between the area sometimes being called Sodus Point and sometmes Sodus.  Evidently, Sodus Point is a section of the town of Sodus, which had a population in 2010 of 8,384.

It is halfway between  Rochester and Syracuse, New York.

Members of the Shakers settled in the early town, but moved away when the began to feel that  Sodus was becoming too worldly.

Sodus claims to be  the birthplace of Arbor Day, established by Sodus native Edward C. Delano.

Among people listed as notable from there is Union Civil War General Gordon Granger.  He achieved fame during the war and when it ended, he was given command of the Department of Texas.  On June 19, 1865, in the city of Galveston, he read to the people his General Order No. 3 which proclaimed that all slaves were free.

This is where all this Juneteenth stuff comes from.

Perhaps we need a new federal holiday to honor Gen. Granger for bringing the freedom message to Texas.

--Brock-Perry

Canada's Coloured Corps-- Part 2: A Move Toward Abolition

The first substantial settle of Blacks in Canada occurred at the end of the American Revolution.  Some like Richard Pierpoint am enslaved man who had gained his freedom by fighting for the British in that war.  Most, however, were enslaved people brought there as spoils of war or as property of Loyalists.

About 500-700 Blacks lived in Upper Canada (Ontario)  by the time Lieutenant-Governor John Simcoe arrived there in 1792.  He wished to abolish slavery entirely, but the legislature of Upper Canada  opposed many of his reforms.

Many of the members of both houses either had slaves themselves or were from slave owning families and were concerned over the economic impact of abolition.  As a result, when the Act to Limit Slavery in Upper Canada passed on 9 July 1793, it severely limited Simcoe's intentions.

It banned the further importation of slaves and limited the terms of enslavement to nine years.

--Brock-Perry

Cochrane's Proclamation-- Part 2: What He Hoped to Accomplish

At no point in the proclamation did Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane mention the words slaves or slavery, but this was clearly his intention.  Runaway slaves had already been coming out to British ships to gain freedom.

This was a two-fold attempt at weakening the Americans.

First, these slaves could be enlisted to serve on British warships who were always in need of more crew members as well as the Colonial Marines.

Plus, the loss of slaves hurt the American economy.

With British ships in the Chesapeake Bay area, it was hoped that slaves would get out to the ships in vast numbers from the numerous plantations.

Essentially, this document could be read to be as an instrument of freedom.

The Free Black settlement at Willow Grove in New Brunswick Province in Canada was a result of the proclamation.

I'd definitely call this an early Emancipation Proclamation.

--Brock-Perry

Admiral Cochrane's Proclamation to Blacks in the United States: A Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation?

From American Battlefield Trust.

A British Appeal to American Slaves:  Bermuda, April 2, 1814

Proclamation of Vice Admiral Sir Alexander F.I. Cochrane, R.N.

"Whereas, it has been represented to me, that many Persons now resident in the United States, have expressed a desire to  withdraw therefrom,  with a view of entering  His Majesty's Service, or of being received as Free Settlers into some of His Majesty's Colonies.

"This is therefore to Give Notice,

"That all those who may be disposed to emigrate from the United States will, with their Families, be received on board His Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, or at the Military Posts that may be established, upon or near the Coast of the United States. when they will have their choice of either entering into His Majesty's  Sea or Land Forces, or being sent as Free settlers to  the British Possessions in North America or the West Indies, where they will be met with due encouragement.

Given  under my Hand at Bermuda, this 2nd day of April, 1814, ALEXANDER COCHRANE.

By Command  of the Vice Admiral, William Balhetchet (Secretary)   GOD SAVE THE KING.

A Way Out of Slavery.  --Brock-Perry

Historic Black Settlement of Willow Grove to Be Honored on Canadian Stamp-- Part 1

From the November 22, 2020, CBC by Jordan Gill.

A community outside of  Saint John will receive a stamp during next year's Black History Month according to Canada Post.

For Ralph Thomas, a descendant  of the residents of Willow Grove and a proponent of black history, the honor is a long time in coming.  "We have gone through the years without being recognized with some of our great folks that came to these parts and  went through a very tough time to get started in life."

The community was founded in 1815 as a result  of an 1812 British call to anyone living in the United States would be welcomed in the British Empire.  This was primarily aimed at Blacks, both enslaved and free.  Thousands of the Blacks took them up on it along the coast and especially from the Mid-Atlantic states and ended up living in  New Brunswick looking for a better life.

--Brock-Perry

St. Mary's College, Md., Unveils Memorial to Enslaved People

From the November 20, 2020, The Hill "See the first memorial  to the enslaved peoples of southern Maryland in St. Mary's" by Anagha Srikanth.

In 2016,  the remains of slave quarters on campus were discovered during an archaeological dig ahead of the construction of a new stadium.  This proved that St. Mary's had an association with  slavery.  Indeed, all colleges built before 1865, especially in the South, had an association with slavery.

On November 21, the college unveiled  a new memorial at a virtual commemoration to the slaves of southern Maryland.  It takes the shape of a cabin.

The site, which appears to have been abandoned sometime around the 1820s also correlates with an interesting chapter of the area's history.  During the War of 1812, British Admiral George Cockburn sailed along the eats coast of the United States near the British-held Chesapeake Bay.

He encouraged  enslaved people to defect in return for their freedom.  About 19 slaves from the St. Mary's area reportedly defected, raising the possibility that the found slave quarters might even have been theirs.

Never Enough History Markers.  --Brock-Perry

Craney Island, Virginia-- Part 1: Origins of the Name and American Revolution and Civil War

 From the September 16, 2020, Virginia-Pilot (Norfolk) "Craney Island has stories to tell" by Robert Hitchings.

In the beginning, Norfolk and Portsmouth shared a small island in the Elizabeth River.  It was named after the birds who nested there.  The problem is that early colonists thought the birds were cranes, but they were actually  white and blue herrons, so it probably should have been called Heron island, but Craney Island stuck.

For years the island was used for primarily agricultural pursuits by farmers, but the Wise family actively raised cows and sheep on it.  Many fishermen used the site to dry their nets.

The island has a long and interesting history.  During the American Revolution, the British Army occupied it and were greatly plagued by smallpox.  During the Civil War, Craney Island became a safe haven for the many runaway slaves who poured into Norfolk after the city fell to Union forces in May 1862.

The biggest military action to occur on the island, however, came during the War of 1812, which I will write about in the next post.

--Brock-Perry

Action Around Apalachicola Bay, Florida, During the War-- Part 1

From the January 17, 2018, Times (Appalachicola and Carrabelle, Florida) "Apalachicola Bay and the War of 1812" by Robert Register and James Hargrove.

British preparation for the attack on New Orleans began at St. George Island (Florida) in May 1814, when Captain Henry Pigot of the Royal Navy anchored the HMS Orpheus in Apalachicola Bay, and Captain George Woodbine of the Royal Marines unloaded 2,000 muskets for delivery to the Creek Indians and escaped black slaves who were living along the Apalachicola River.

At the same time, the British Navy began their blockade of Mobile and New Orleans.

The British advance into Apalachicola Bay was part of a three-pronged British attack planned by Admiral Alexander Cochrane.

--Brock-Perry

Paul Jennings Describes the White House That Day-- Part 2

He said that the people who actually saved the painting were:  "John Suse (Jean Pierre Sioussat, the French doorkeeper) and Magraw (McGraw), the President's gardener, took it down and sent it off on a wagon, with some large silver urns and other such valuables  as could hastily be got  hold of.

"When the British did arrive, they ate up the very dinner, and drank the wines, &c.,  that I had prepared for the President's party."

The soldiers burned the President's home and fuel was added to the fires that night to ensure they would continue burning  into the next day.

--Brock-Perry

Paul Jennings Describes the White House That Day

From Wikipedia Burning of Washington.

In the last post I mentioned James Madison's personal slave, 15-year-old Paul Jennings describing the events at the White House 24 August 1814.  He later purchased his freedom from the widower Dolley Madison and in a memoir he published in 1865. related those events.

"It has often been stated in print that when Mrs. Madison escaped  from the White House , she cut out  from the frame of the large portrait of Washington (now in one of the parlors there), and carried it off.  She had no  time for doing it.

"It would have required a large ladder to get it down.  All she carried off  was the silver in her reticule (purse in case you're wondering), as the British were thought to be but a few squares off, and were expected an moment."

He went on to tell who were responsible for saving the painting.

Who Saved the Portrait?  Tomorrow.  --Brock-Perry

Green Clay's Children: Sons Brutus Junius Clay and Cassius Marcellus Clay

BRUTUS JUNIUS CLAY

Farmer, cattle breeder, Kentucky state legislature, U.S. Congressman.

!862 elected as a Unionist to U.S. Congress.  Held seat from 1863-1865 and was chairman of the Agriculture Committee.  Returned to farming.

Older brother of Union Army Major General Cassius Marcellus Clay.

One of his sons, Green Clay, was a colonel in the U.S. Army's 3rd Kentucky Cavalry 1862-1865.  Another son, Exekiel Field Clay was lieutenant colonel of the 3rd Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, was wounded and lost an eye, captured, held at Johnson's Island, Ohio until January 1865.  After war was a horse breeder.  His horses won the Kentucky Derby twice.

CASSIUS MARCELLUS CLAY

Abolitionist,  Freed slaves he inherited from his father.  Civil War U.S. minister to Russia.  Also appointed major general by Lincoln.Influential in negotiations to purchase Alaska.

An Influential Family.  --Brock-Perry

Brig. Gen. Green Clay of Kentucky-- Part 1: American Revolution and War of 1812

His name was mentioned in connection with Fort Meigs in Ohio at the 1873 Reunion.

From Wikipedia.

August 14, 1757 to October 31, 1828.

Was an American businessman, planter and politician from Kentucky.  He served in the American Revolution and was commissioned a general in the Kentucky militia in the War of 1812.  At one time he was believed to be the wealthiest man in the state, owning tens of thousands of acres of land, many slaves, several distilleries, a tavern and ferries.

He was born in Virginia and served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.  Afterwards he joined the westward migration into Kentucky where he became a surveyor.  He used this to acquire land.

He was a cousin of U.S. Congressman  and statesman Henry Clay and  Alabama governor Clement Comer Clay.

--Brock-Perry

Joseph Haslet, Delaware's War Governor-- Part 5: Dirty Campaigning

In 1822, he ran for governor again and again it was a very close contest.  Similar to today's dirty campaigning, Haslet was accused of being a former slave owner and that he had failed to come to the defense of Lewes in 1813.His opponent, James Booth, was accused of being a Loyalist during the American Revolution.

He won, but served just five months before dying in office.

Originally buried on his farm, he was reinterred at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Milford, Delaware.

--Brock-Perry

Montgomery Bell-- Part 2: Emancipated His Slaves

Montgomery Bell immediately began to enlarge the operations by building other furnaces and mills.

In 1808, he was buying wood at 50 cents a cord to fire the Cumberland Furnace which cast cannon balls used by Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans.

He built a home called Bell View.  His business interests were severely hurt by the Panic of 1819.

By 1835, he had sent fifty of his freed slaves to Liberia and in 1853, sent fifty more.  Eventually he emancipated 150 more.  He even went so far as to hire a teacher from Philadelphia to teach them how to read and write, something that was very illegal at the time.

--Brock-Perry

And, All This Started With Ann Stokes, Black Nurse in the Civil War

I had never heard of Richard M. Johnson before, but he has a very interesting story as you have been reading over the last two weeks.

Ann Stokes was the reason I found him.  She was one of the first women ever to be in the U.S. Navy, noteworthy in itself.  But, she also was "contraband," a runaway slave.  So, not only was she one of the first women in the Navy, she was also one of the first black women.  She was also the first woman to receive a Navy pension for her service, not her husband's.

I wrote about her in several posts in my Running the Blockade Civil War Navy blog if you want to find out more.

She spent her latter years in the really small town of Belknap, Illinois, and died there.  I can't find out where she was buried.

Population of Belknap in 2000 was 133.  It is in Johnson County, pop. 2010 12,382.  But what got me was that it was named after Richard M. Johnson in 1812, who was then a Kentucky Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives and commanded a Kentucky regiment in the War of 1812 and at the Battle of the Thames and claimed to have killed Indian leader Tecumseh in hand-to-hand combat.  He later became U.S. vice president.

Well, I just had to find out more about this interesting fellow.

And, So It Was.  --Brock-Perry

Richard M. Johnson-- Part 3: Turning Political

Richard Johnson was born in Virginia, but his family moved to Kentucky when he was very young..  This still being frontier, he received no formal education until he was 15 and entered Transylvania University in Kentucky.  He was admitted to the bar in 1802, at age 22.

When his father died, he inherited an octoroon slave named Julia Chinn who became essentially his common-law wife.

In 1804, he entered politics and was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, even though he was just 23 (Kentucky law had minimum age at 24), but he was so popular, his age was overlooked.  In 1806, he was elected as a Democrat-Republican to the U,S, House of Representatives.  This, even though he had not yet attained the minimum age 25 (but he was that old when he took his seat).

Age Is Just a Numbers Thing for Richard.  --Brock-Perry

Richard M. Johnson-- Part 1: Kentucky Politician, Vice President and Killed Tecumseh

From Wikipedia.

I have been writing about Ann Bradford Stokes in my Running the Blockade Civil War Naval Blog.  She served on the hospital ship USS Red Rover during the Civil War, one of the first women to serve on a U.S. naval ship.  She also became the first woman to receive a pension based on her wartime service.  She was also a black woman and former slave.

She died in the town of Belknap, Illinois, in 1903, which is in Johnson County, named for this man.

I wrote about that today and am looking to see where her grave is and whether or not it is marked (but have been unsuccessful so far).

Richard Mintor Johnson was born October 17, 1788, apparently in Virginia, and died November 19, 1850.  He was a War of 1812 leader and the 9th vice president of the United States, serving under Martin Van Buren (1837-1841).

I'd never heard of Him.  --Brock-Perry

Ten Strange Tales From America's Second War For Independence-- Part 4: T.J.'s Library

2.  Along with other buildings in Washington, D.C., the British also burned the nation's Library of Congress, consuming all the accumulated books.  Thomas Jefferson sold his 6,487 books to it in 1815 to settle debts he had incurred.

1.  Black refugees:  The British promised black slaves their freedom if they joined them and served.  Some 4,000 did.

After the war, they settled in Trinidad, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the West Indies.

--Brock-Perry