Leslie Combs War of 1812 Service-- Part 1: At River Raisin and Relief of Fort Meigs

Same Source as previous post.

During the War of 1812, Leslie Combs, age 19 "distinguished himself by his courage and gallantry.

In the campaign that ended  at the Raisin, he was sent by General Winchester with a dispatch to General Harrison and went through the wilderness through snow and water for 100 miles under conditions that almost cost him his life.

In 1813 he was commissioned as a Captain of Scouts and was attached to the force of General Green Clay, which had been ordered to the  relief of Fort Meigs.  Captain Combs "volunteered with the aid of an Indian guide and four men to carry news  of Clay's approach to General Harrison."

"He succeeded in threading his perilous way through the swamps of hostile savages and had arrived in sight  of the closely invested Fort, where he was attacked by Indians, one of his men killed , another wounded, he and the rest escaped back to Fort Defiance."

--Brock-Perry

Leslie Combs War of 1812 Pension

From Combs Families Organization

On or About the  21 day of November 1865  The State House in Frankfort and the Clerks Office of the Court of Appeals was Consumed  by fire with all its Contents including said Pension  Certificate and other  papers of said Leslie Combs.

Combs was in the Kentucky Militia in the regiment commanded by Colonel William Dudley.in the service of the United States and his name placed on the Pension Roll of Kentucky.

--Brock-Perry

Leslie Combs of Kentucky-- Part 3: Wounded Again and Captured

After two days, he returned to Fort Defiance to tell Green Clay that Fort Meigs needed his help.  But, he found General Clay already beginning preparations for Fort Meigs' relief.

Leslie Combs had been badly wounded in the ambush, though, and was ordered to bed by medical personnel.  However, he found there were two  small companies of spies  ready to operate under his command.

He left his sick bed and took command and joined Clay's march.

He was wounded and taken prisoner on May 5, 1813.

After his release and parole, he discontinued his military career and became a lawyer and politician.  He was a strong Unionist during the Civil War.

--Brock-Perry

Leslie Combs of Kentucky-- Part 2: Fort Meigs Besieged

He was born in Clark County, Kentucky in 1793, the youngest of 12 children of Benjamin Combs and officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, Combs enlisted in the First Regiment Kentucky Volunteers under general William Henry Harrison, but was soon transferred to the command of Green Clay.  By April 1813, he was the captain of a scouting group.

On the evening of May 1, 1813,  Combs and a six-man detachment was  dispatched by Colonel William Dudley from Fort Defiance (present-day Defiance, Ohio)  to the besieged Fort Meigs.  As they canoed down the Maumee River, they were ambushed by Potawatomi, and two of Combs' men were killed.

The remaining men of Combs' force returned to Fort Defiance to say that Fort Meigs  was under siege and in need of aid.

--Brock-Perry

Leslie Combs of Kentucky-- Part 1: Politician and Soldier

Another man who was at the 1872 Reunion of War of 1812 veterans in Kentucky was Leslie Combs.  He was 78 at the time.

From Wikipedia.

LESLIE COMBS

November 28, 1793 to August 22, 1881

Was a lawyer and politician from Kentucky.  He served under General William Henry Harrison during the War of 1812 and was captured in 1813.  After his release, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1818.  He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives for many different terms.

--Brock-Perry

Green Clay's Family-- Part 2: Clement Comer Clay, Governor of Alabama

From Find-A-Grave

A cousin of Green Clay.

December 17, 1789 to September 6, 1866.

Eighth governor of Alabama.  Also attorney, politician, Alabama legislator and U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.

Born in Virginia.

Served under General Andrew Jackson battling the Creek Indians during the War of 1812.  This is also known as the Creek War 1813-1814.

While governor (1835-1837), his administration's term was dominated by the Creek War of 1836, arising from their resistance to Indian Removal.  During his time in office, the U.S. Army  removed the Creek Indians from southeastern Alabama under the terms of the 1832 Treaty of  Cusseta.

The Creeks were relocated to Indian Territory, now Oklahoma.

--Brock-Perry

Green Clay's Family: Henry Clay Was a Cousin

From Wikipedia.

Without a doubt, the most famous relative of Green Clay was a cousin by the name of Henry Clay.

April 12, 1777 to June 29, 1852

American lawyer, planter and statesman.  Represented Kentucky in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.  Created the Whig Party.

As Speaker of the House in Washington, D.C., Henry Clay was a leading War Hawk and helped lead Congress into the declaration of war against Britain in 1812.

In 1814, he helped  negotiate the Treaty of Ghent.

He was very powerful throughout the first half of the 19th century and had a lot to do with any and all U.S. government decisions, including the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850.

--Brock-Perry

USS Constitution Celebrates 221st Birthday

From the October 20, 2018, 7 News Boston.

This was celebrated Saturday, October 20 in honor of the USS Constitution's 221st birthday on October 21, 1797.

It is the world's oldest commissioned warship.

The event also celebrates the birthday of the U.S. Navy on October 13, 1776 and the launching of the destroyer USS Cassin Young on December 31, 1943.  It is also at the Charleston Navy Yard along with the USS Constitution.

Naval drills, rope and knot-making will be demonstrated and there will be a scavenger hunt..

The crew of the USS Constitution are all current active duty U.S. Navy sailors.

--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

Green Clay of Kentucky: First-Born Daughter, Husband and Grandchild

From Find-A-Grave.

Green Clay's first-born was ELIZABETH LEWIS CLAY SMITH  who married John Speed Smith, another important person in Kentucky history. (1798-1887)

JOHN SPEED SMITH:--  U.S. Congressman, lawyer.  (1792-1854) During the War of 1812 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a colonel.  Served as aide-de-camp for General William Henry Harrison, later U.S. president.

During the rest of his career he, at various times was  a Kentucky State House of Representatives member, Kentucky senate and U.S. Congress.  Also U.S. District Attorney for Kentucky.

GREEN CLAY SMITH--  Son of Elizabeth and John Speed Smith.  (1826-1895)  Union brigadier general and U.S. Congressman from Kentucky.  Lieutenant in Mexican War.

In Civil War, colonel of 4th Kentucky Cavalry.  Promoted to brigadier general July 1862.  Resigned March 1863 and elected to U.S. Congress.  Later served as governor of Montana Territory.

--Brock-Perry

Green Clay of Kentucky: Another Brother and Two Sisters

MATTHEW CLAY  brother.  U.S. Congressman.  American Revolution soldier in Ninth Virginia Regiment and later the First and Fifth.  First Lieutenant, Captain and Quartermaster.  U.S. Congressman from Virginia.

His sister ELIZABETH MARVEL CLAY MURRAY  married Alexander Murray who fought on the British side as a Loyalist during the Revolution as a member of the Queen's Rangers.  He died in 1789 and was buried in Halifax, Canada.

Another sister LUCY GREEN CLAY THAXTON married William Thaxton who was a private in the Virginia Line during the American Revolution.

Definitely A Family Tied to the American Revolution.  --Brock-Perry

Green Clay of Kentucky: His Brothers Henry and Thomas

From Find-A-Grave.

Born 14 August 1757 Powhatan County, Virginia.  Died  31 October 1828  (aged 71) Madison County, Kentucky.

Buried White Hall Family Cemetery in Richmond (Madison County) Kentucky.

I have not been able to find any more information about this cemetery.

One of Green Clay's brothers was HENRY CLAY, who was a private in the American Revolution and killed at Trenton 20 December 1776.

Another brother was THOMAS CLAY, a captain in the Continental Army in the American Revolution.  He received a land warrant of 4,000 acres for his three year's service and moved to Kentucky with Green Clay and was on the state constitutional conventions,  and member of both the Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate.

--Brock-Perry

Brig. Gen. Green Clay-- Part 3: Defender of Fort Meigs, Wealthiest Man in Kentucky

When the British gave up their siege of Fort Meigs, Clay was left in command of the fort.  He was still commanding when the British returned  in July 1813. Tecumseh was again with them.

In an attempt to lure Green Clay and his troops out of Fort Meigs, the Indians staged a mock battle, appearing to ambush a column of American reinforcements.

Clay was not fooled as he knew no reinforcements were coming.  He was able to hold out in Fort Meigs until the British again gave up their siege and retreated.

After the war, Clay returned to his plantation  where he spent the rest of his life directing his slaves in cultivating tobacco and hemp.

He is thought to have been the wealthiest man in Kentucky at this time.  He died at his home in 1828 at the age of 73 and was buried with Masonic Rites at White Hall Family Cemetery in Richmond, Kentucky.

Clay County, Kentucky, is named for him.

--Brock-Perry

Brig. Gen. Green Clay of Kentucky-- Part 2: Commanded Kentucky Militia

Green Clay developed and owned several distilleries and a tavern  in central Kentucky near Lexington.  He also owned several ferries across the Kentucky River.

In 1789, he was elected as Kentucky representative to the Virginia House of Delegates (Kentucky at the time was still a territory of Virginia).  Later he was elected representative and senator to the Kentucky General Assembly.

During the War of 1812, he was commissioned as a general in the Kentucky militia.  In the spring of 1813, he was ordered to the aid of General William Henry Harrison who was besieged at Fort Meigs, Ohio.  Clay fought his way into the fort, but many of his men were taken prisoner by Tecumseh after capturing a battery of British artillery.

--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

No Photograph This Time

A photograph was taken of the 1871 reunion of War of 1812 / River Raisin veterans, but none in 1872.  Too bad.

Here's what the source I have been using most of the month had to say about it:

"Preparations had been made for taking in groups the veterans and prisoners, and they were assembled on the porticoes  of the seminary for that purpose.  But the daguerrean artist failed to meet his appointment promptly, and their patience being exhausted they dispersed; hence the failure to secure pictures."

Bet the Photographer Wasn't Hired in the Future.  --Brock-Perry

Another Feast and a Fireworks Problem

The Monroe Knights Templar also put on a huge banquet for the veterans and attendees.  "Their tables were spread with every luxury, and their guests were feasted, toasted and made merry to an entirely satisfactory degree.

"A quantity of fireworks were provided, to be sent off  in the grove in the evening, but owing to an untoward accident the most and best of them were destroyed.  In sending off a revolving rocket, it discharged directly into  the box containing the best pieces, and these were prematurely discharged and destroyed.

"It was great wonder that the accident did not result in serious damage to those who were engaged in sending off the fireworks, but luckily."

A Close Call.  --Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 5: Sackett's Harbor, Liberty and Foreign=Born Citizens

14.  "Sackett's Harbor"      One of the turning points of 1812.  --Response by General Joseph W. Brown, of Detroit.

15.  "Civil and Religious Liberty"  --Response by Dr. Curtis, of Cincinnati.

16.  "Our Foreign-Born Citizens"  --Response by  ex-Mayor Kraus, of Toledo.

Hopefully they were just taking a sip instead of a gulp during these.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 4:The Press, the Army and The Knights Templar

11.  "The American Press"   Independent, enterprising and intelligent, it distributes knowledge and the spirit of freedom throughout the length and breath of the land, affording the best evidence and  guarantee of her institutions.  --Response by C. Waggoner, of the Toledo Commercial.

12.  "Our Regular Army"  Though small in number yet imminent in services, gallant in spirit, the educated intelligence that guides and instructs the patriotic  zeal of a nation in its defense.  --Response by General Custer.

13.  "The Sir Knight of the Order of the Knights Templar"   The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness  comprehendeth  it not.  --Response by  Dr. A.I. Sawyer, of Monroe.

--Brock-Perry

Toasting the War of 1812 Veterans-- Part 3: Michigan, Detroit and Our Country

Of course, the tables were "liberally supplied with pure native wines" after the banquet, so these toasts went on for awhile.

8.  "Michigan"  --No less eminent for her commerce, agricultural and mineral resources than for her intelligent and liberal system of  education and public charities.  Response by Governor  Baldwin of Detroit.

9.  "Detroit"  --The oldest city in the Northwest;  an honor to the State for her intelligence and sterling worth and her connection with pioneer history of the lakes, especially the River Raisin.   Response by  Hon. Levi Bishop, who read his poem entitles "Battle of the River Raisin."

10.  "No North, no South, no Atlantic, no Pacific nor Western States, But our country, our whole country and nothing but our country; would that she  were ever right; but right or wrong, our country, scared, tangible and unprofaned forever."  --Response by Chief Justice Campbell, of  the Supreme Court of Michigan.

Covering It All.  --Brock-Perry