Camp Blount, Tennessee-- Part 1

From Tennessee Historical Marker.

This is in conjunction with blog entries on Sam Houston posted Nov. 22 and 23, 2015, in this blog.

In September 1813, the Army of West Tennessee assembled at Camp Blount on the Elk River.  It took the Oath of Allegiance on October 7.  Major General Andrew Jackson arrived at Fayetteville to take command of the army which included Sam Houston and David Crockett.

The Army then marched to Alabama and defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

The marker on the site of Camp Blount is at US-231/US-431 in Fayetteville, Tennessee, behind the River Oak Shopping Center.

--Brock-Perry

Texas War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 29: James Washington Winters

As a young man, he moved to Tennessee where he met and married Rhoda Beal and lived in Memphis.

With the coming of the War of 1812, he enlisted in Andrew Jackson's West Tennessee Militia and was in Thomas McCrory's regiment until 1814.  He fought at the Battle of Talladega and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend where he met a young man named Sam Houston and they became friends.

In 1835, he met Sam Houston again in San Antonio where he and his three sons joined Stephen F. Austin's army.  The two men renewed their War of 1812 friendship and traded stories.

--Brock-Perry

Tennessee in the War of 1812-- Part 7: Tennesseans Who Played Roles in the War

In addition to Andrew Jackson, several Tennesseeans played vital roles in the War of 1812.

Congressman Felix Grundy was one of the principal "War Hawk," who were mostly Congressmen from the South and West, who pressed the government for a declaration of war.  I often drive through Grundy County, Illinois, and its county seat, Morris.  It was named for Felix Grundy when he was attorney general of the United States.

James Winchester, a resident of Sumner County, was commissioned a brigadier general and led an unsuccessful invasion of Canada.

Edmund Pendleton Gaines, an East Tennesseean, rose to the rank of major general for his role in defeating the British at Fort Erie in 1814.

Sam Houston and Davy Crockett, future legendary heroes, played minor roles in the war against the Creeks.

--Brock-Perry

Sam Houston's War of 1812 Service-- Part 2: A Sense of Honor

I found in one source that Sam Houston reportedly forced another lieutenant at the point of his sword to remove the arrow in the midst of the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

The same source said that it was hard for him to get his mother's permission to join the Army because he was too young, but, eventually Elizabeth caved in, signed the paper and gave her son two gifts: a gold ring and a musket.

The ring had the word "honor" inscribed inside it.  He wore that ring until his death.

With the musket, Elizabeth said "...my son, take this musket and never disgrace it; for remember, I had rather all my sons should fill one honorable grave, than that one of them should turn their back to save his life.  Go, and remember, too, that while the door of my cottage is open to brave men, it is eternally shut against cowardice."

Apparently, young Sam took these words to heart.

--Brock-Perry

Sam Houston's War of 1812 Service-- Part 1: Camp Blount, Tennessee

From Wikipedia.

In the last post I mentioned that Sam Houston, much better known for his role in the history of Texas, was in Col. John Williams' 39th U.S. Infantry.  I did some more research on his role in the War of 1812.

(March 2, 1793-July 26, 1863)

In 1813 he reported for training at Camp Blount near present-day Fayetteville, Tennessee, and enlisted.  By December, he had transferred to the 39th U.S. Infantry and had risen from private to third lieutenant.

At the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, he was wounded by a Creek arrow in the groin.  The wound was bandaged and he returned to the battle.  General Andrew Jackson called for volunteers to dislodge the Indians from their breastworks and Houston was eager to go.  He suffered bullet wounds in the arm and shoulder, but his men drove the Creeks away.

Afterwards, he returned to Marysville, Tennessee, as a disabled veteran but took advantage of the Army's offer of free surgery and convalesced  in a New Orleans hospital.

Andrew Jackson was impressed with Sam Houston's bravery and the two became close friends and Jackson acted as his mentor.

--Brock-Perry

Col. John Williams of the 39th U.S. Infantry Regiment-- Part 2

In the War of 1812, John Williams raised a small company of 200-250 volunteers, primarily from Tennessee and Georgia, with the intention of invading Florida and attacking the Seminoles.  They invaded Florida in February 1813 and destroyed several Indian villages.  They returned to Tennessee where they were mustered out.

In June 1813, Williams was commissioned into the U.S. Army and ordered to recruit and organize the 39th U.S. Infantry Regiment.  They were charged with engaging the Red Stick Creeks Indians.  Williams raised 600 troops for his regiment.

Early in 1814, they were placed under General Andrew Jackson's command, who was preparing for an expedition against the Red Sticks in Alabama.  They met at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend where the 39th formed the center of Jackson's line and captured the log barricades the Creeks had fortified along the riverbed and forced them to retreat..

Among the soldiers in the 39th were future Arkansas senator Thomas Hart Benton and future governor of Tennessee and Texas, Sam Houston.

After the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Williams went to Washington, D.C., to raise money and weapons for the 39th.  Throughout the rest of 1814, Jackson and Williams bickered over the dispersal of those weapons.,leading to them being adversaries after the war.

In 1815, he was chosen to fill Tennessee's senate seat and later won it on his own.

--Brock-Perry

Texas War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 4: General Nathaniel Smith

From Find-A-Grave.

General Nathaniel Smith.  Born 1791 in Athens, Tennessee.  Died September 17, 1841, in Anderson County, Texas.

A bronze War of 1812 marker was once at his grave but disappeared in 1939.

Military Service:

Ensign, Tennessee Volunteers 1812-1813
Lieutenant, Tennessee Volunteers 1813
Lieutenant, 39th U.S. Infantry 1813-1816
Colonel, Tennessee Volunteers 1836.  Discharged a a colonel 1837.
Supervised the Cherokee Indian removal to Indian Territory 1837-1839

Served with Sam Houston and developed a long-lasting friendship.
Served with Andrew Jackson in the 1836 Seminole War.

The State of Tennessee issued Nathaniel Smith 18 land grants of 180 acres each for his military service.
Trustee of the Forest Hill Academy in Tennessee from 1826-1836.
Arrived at Fort Houston in September 1839.

At some point the Texas U.S. Daughters of 1812 dedicated a marker for him at the cemetery on Nov. 9.  This was done by the Capt. James Asbury Tait Chapter.

--Brock-Perry

Tennesseans in the War of 1812

From the Dec. 9, 2012, Knox News "From frontiersmen to Congressen multiple Tennesseans gained war fame" by Steven Harris.

Of course. most famously was Andrew Jackson, but here are some others: Davy Crockett and former Blunt County resident Sam Houston (later somewhat famous in Texas) who was wounded three times at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

Knoxville founder James White, a brigadier general in 1813, who led the attack at Hillabees Creek, Tennessee.

Congressman Felix Grundy led the Congressional group called The War Hawks who wanted war with Britain.

General Edmund Gaines of Kingsport, Tn., served on the Canadian border, commanding Fort Erie when it was attcked by British, Canadians and Indians and where the enemy lost over 100 men.

--Brock-Perry