Cheaney through Clayton

CHEANEY, Person Colby, 1828-1901, Manchester, New Hampshire, statesman, soldier, abolitionist, businessman, paper manufacturer, Republican politician, abolitionist.  U.S. Senator, 35th Governor of New Hampshire.  His father was abolitionist Moses Cheney.  (Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 54)


CHEAT MOUNTAIN PASS, Virginia, September 12-14, 1861. (See Elk Water.)


CHEAT RIVER, WEST VIRGINIA, January 8, 1862, and December 6, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 270.


CHEAT RIVER, WEST VIRGINIA, September 25, 1863. (See Seneca Trace Crossing.)


CHEAT SUMMIT, VIRGINIA, September 12-14, 1861. (See Elk Water.)


CHEATHAM, Benjamin Franklin, soldier, born in Nashville, Tennessee, 20 October, 1820; died there, 4 September, 1886. He served as captain of volunteers in the Mexican War, distinguished himself at Monterey, Medelin, and Cerro Gordo, and, after the expiration of his twelve months term of service, was again mustered in as colonel of the 3d Tennessee Regiment, and served till the end of the war. He was major-general of Tennessee militia after his return, and was a farmer until 1861, when he entered the army of the seceded states, being one of the first Tennesseans to enlist in the Confederate service, and was early appointed a brigadier-general. He commanded at Mayfield, Kentucky, in September, 1861, and at the battles of Belmont and Shiloh, served subsequently at Columbus, Kentucky, was a division commander in Bragg's army when it entered Kentucky in September, 1862, was soon afterward promoted major-general, and was engaged at  Stone River, being wounded and having three horses shot in the second battle, and at Chickamauga and Chattanooga, Nashville, and other places. President Grant, who was his personal friend, offered him an appointment in the civil service, but he declined. He devoted himself chiefly to agriculture after the war, but served four years as superintendent of state prisons, and in October, 1885, became postmaster of Nashville. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 596


CHEEK'S CROSS-ROADS, TENNESSEE, December 12, 1863. Cavalry under Colonel Garrard. Brigadier-General J. M. Shackelford, commanding at Bean's station, sent out Colonel Garrard with his brigade of cavalry to make a reconnaissance on the Morristown road. At Cheek's cross-roads he fell in with about 2,500 of the enemy and a heavy skirmish ensued. Garrard reported a loss of 4 killed and several wounded. The enemy's loss was not learned. Some skirmishing occurred on the Morristown and Rogersville roads the next day, but without important results.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 270.


CHEEK'S CROSS-ROADS, TENNESSEE, March 13-14. 1864. 7th Ohio Cavalry. Chehaw Station, Alabama, July 18, 1864. Cavalry, Army of the Cumberland. In the raid on the West Point & Montgomery railroad General Lovell H. Rousseau, commanding the expedition, sent Major Baird with part of the 5th la. and 4th Tennessee to begin the work of destroying the railroad at Chehaw Station and work back toward Notasulga to meet another party under Lieutenant-Colonel Watts. Baird encountered a considerable force of the enemy near Chehaw and sent back for reinforcements. Colonel Harrison, with the 8th Indiana, moved to his support and a sharp skirmish followed. The enemy stubbornly contested the ground, but were driven back to a ravine, where they made a stand and all efforts to dislodge them were futile until Harrison turned the left flank, when they were routed and fled in confusion, leaving 40 dead and a number wounded on the field. The Union loss was 3 killed and some 8 or 10 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 270.


CHEMIN DES RONDES is a berme from four to twelve feet broad, at the foot of the exterior slope of the parapet. It is sometimes protected by a quickset hedge, but in more modern works by a low wall, built on the top of the revetment, over which the defenders can fire, and throw hand grenades into the ditch. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p.160 ).


CHENEY, Abigail, New Hampshire, abolitionist.  Wife of abolitionist Moses Cheney.  Conductor on the Underground Railroad.  (Cheney, 1907)


CHENEY, Ednah Dow Littlehale, 1824-1904, abolitionist, women’s rights activist (American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 164-165; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 777)


CHENEY, Moses, 1793-1875, New Hampshire, abolitionist, printer, state legislator from New Hampshire.  Cheney printed the abolitionist newspaper, The Morning Star, a Free Will Baptist newspaper.  He was a conductor on the Underground Railroad in Peterborough and an associate of African American abolitionist Frederick Douglass.  Husband of Abigail Cheney.  (Cheney, 1907)


CHENEY, Oren B., 1816-1903, Maine, Free Will Baptist clergyman, state legislator in Maine, educator, newspaper editor, abolitionist.  Free Soil Party.  Editor of The Morning Star.  Founder and President of Bates College.  Conductor on the Underground Railroad for seven years.  Son of abolitionists Moses and Abigail Cheney.  (Cheney, 1907)


CHENEY, Person Colby, 1828-1901, abolitionist, businessman, Union Army officer.  Son of Moses and Abigail Cheney.  Later, Governor and Senator from New Hampshire.  (Cheney, 1907)


CHENEY'S FARM, GEORGIA, June 22, 1864. 3d Division. 23d Army Corps. Cheney's farm was at the crossing of the Sandtown and Powder Springs roads, about 6 miles southwest of Marietta. On the 22nd, while Sherman was drawing his lines about Kennesaw mountain, Schofield sent Cox's division to hold the road. A sharp skirmish occurred with a body of Confederate cavalry, but the enemy was driven off and a position covering the two roads intrenched. That afternoon Reilly's brigade and the 23d Indiana battery were left to hold the works and the rest of the division moved up toward Marietta and took position on the right of Hascall's division near Kolb's house.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 270.


CHENEY'S FARM, GEORGIA, June 27, 1864. 3d Division, 23d Army Corps. Cameron's brigade crossed Olley's creek at daybreak and moved down the ridge to turn the enemy's position in front of Reilly, who with his brigade occupied an intrenched position at Cheney's farm, and who was ordered to attack upon Cameron's approach. Reilly opened fire with the 15th and 23d Indiana batteries, after which he sent the 100th and 104th Ohio forward on the Atlanta road and the 112th Illinois and 16th Kentucky on a farm road across the creek and drove the Confederates out of their works. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 270-271.


CHENEYVILLE, LOUISIANA, May 18, 1863. Detachment of Weitzel's Cavalry. Brigadier-General Godfrey Weitzel, commanding the U. S. forces at Murdock's plantation, reported that he sent out two companies of cavalry against the pickets of Lane's Texans below Cheneyville and drove the outpost back upon the main body, capturing 2 prisoners without loss.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 271.


CHENEYVILLE, LOUISIANA, May 20, 1863. U. S. Troops under General Weitzel. Early in the morning the Confederates attacked Weitzel's pickets near Murdock's plantation and drove them in. Colonel Bean, with the advance guard of infantry and cavalry, repulsed the attack and pursued the enemy some distance. About 2 miles from Cheneyville Major Robinson, who was in command of the cavalry in front, gave the order to halt, but Captain Barrett, with 17 men, continued to advance. After passing an old sugar house a party of about 150 of the enemy sprang out from the buildings and cut him off from the main body. Barrett made a dash for the Cheneyville bridge, intending to cross and come down the opposite bank, but at the bridge he ran into some 600 of the enemy and was compelled to surrender after 2 of his men were killed. This was the only Federal loss. The enemy lost 2 killed, 2 wounded and 2 captured.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 271.


CHERAW, SOUTH CAROLINA, February 28, 1865. 1st Division, 14th Army Corps. In the campaign of the Carolinas, when the army reached the Great Pedee river at Cheraw, it was found necessary to construct a pontoon bridge and build a mile or so of corduroy road before a crossing could be made. The road was built by a detail of the 53d Indiana, the men being protected while at the work by the 1st brigade of the division. When the bridge was completed the army crossed, the 1st division bringing up the rear and covering the movement. Butler's Confederate cavalry made a dash on the rear-guard about noon, but were held at bay until the guard was ordered to retire across the river and join the main column. A battery on the east side covered the crossing and kept back the enemy. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 271.


CHERAW, SOUTH CAROLINA, March 3, 1865. 17th Army Corps. Incidental to the campaign in the Carolinas the corps entered Cheraw about noon on this date, the enemy retreating after a slight resistance across the Pedee river. A large number of guns and a quantity of ammunition were found here, having been sent from Charleston on the evacuation of that city. These were destroyed, as were the railroad trestles and bridges as far as Darlington.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 271.


CHERAW, SOUTH CAROLINA, March 5, 1865. Detachment of the 15th and 17th Army Corps. The detachment, commanded by Colonel Williams, of the 12th Indiana, was sent on an expedition to Florence. On the west side of Thompson's creek the enemy was encountered in considerable force, protected by a strong earthwork. By skilfully deploying his men Williams soon drove them from their position and succeeded in saving the bridge, which they fired in their retreat. He then drove them rapidly through Cheraw, using his artillery with splendid effect, and continued the pursuit to the Pedee river, capturing 25 pieces of field artillery, 16 caissons, 5,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 20,000 rounds of infantry ammunition, 2,000 stands of small arms, 1,000 sabers, a locomotive, and stores of various kinds. Several thousand bales of cotton, etc., were destroyed. The enemy burned the bridge over the Pedee, having thoroughly saturated it with turpentine in anticipation of his being compelled to retreat. No casualties reported. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 271.


CHEROKEE BAY, ARKANSAS, May 8, 1864. 3d Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Abijah Johns made a scout from Patterson, Missouri, in the direction of Poplar Bluff. Near Cherokee bay his advance discovered 75 or 80 of the enemy drawn up along the roadside in the brush and fired upon them. A return volley came promptly, but fortunately did no damage. Johns then charged with his main body, scattering them in all directions, killing 12 and wounding several others. The Union casualties were 1 man missing and 2 horses killed. The enemy was pursued for some time, but owing to the nature of the ground could not be overtaken. Cherokee County, Indian Territory, January 18, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 272.


CHEROKEE COUNTY, INDIAN TERRITORY, December 4-12, 1863. Chief Stand Waitie, commanding the 1st Cherokee regiment (Confederate), in reporting an expedition he made through Cherokee county, mentions a skirmish with some Pin Indians at Manus on the 10th, and says that during the raid he killed 10 Pins and captured 3. Federal reports do not mention the affair.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 272.


CHEROKEE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, October 27, 1863. Bryson's Tennessee Cavalry. According to the reports of Confederate General C. L. Stevenson General Burnside sent Captain Goldman Bryson, with his company of cavalry belonging to the Tennessee national guard, to get in the Confederate rear. Stevenson says he sent General Vaughn, with a detachment of mounted men, to intercept him, and that in a skirmish near Murphy, North Carolina, Bryson was killed, 17 of his company captured, and the rest dispersed. The Federal reports make no mention of the affair.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 272.


CHEROKEE STATION, ALABAMA, December 12, 1862. (See Corinth, Mississippi, Reconnaissance from, December 9-14, 1862.)


CHEROKEE STATION, ALABAMA, April 17, 1863. (See Courtland, Expedition to:)


CHEROKEE STATION, ALABAMA, October 21, 1863. 1st Division, 15th Army Corps. After the engagement at Barton's station on the 20th two companies of cavalry were left at Cane creek on picket duty, while the main body of the division, under Brigadier-General P. J. Osterhaus, occupied Cherokee Station. About noon on the 21st the officer commanding the picket notified General Osterhaus that he was hard pressed by a large mounted force of Confederates. The division was ordered to fall in at once, and part of the 2nd brigade and one section of the Missouri horse artillery were advanced to the support of the picket. One battalion of infantry was deployed on each side of the main road, while the remainder of the brigade was to follow in supporting distance. Simultaneously the 1st brigade and batteries were so placed that they could be thrown forward on either flank. When the advance had driven the enemy from the timber into an open field the entire 2nd brigade was ordered up, but while it was being formed the enemy made a desperate charge and regained the edge of the woods. The advantage was only temporary, however, as the brigade soon forced them again into the open. Thus forced back in front the Confederates now made an effort to turn the Union left, but it was promptly met by the 1st brigade, the 29th, 31st and part of the 12th Missouri infantry being quickly thrown into position to check the movement. The artillery was now called into action and soon dislodged the enemy from their position. Osterhaus then ordered a general advance, when the enemy retreated, followed for 5 miles by the Federals, who returned to camp when it became too dark to continue the pursuit. Casualties reported: 7 killed and 28 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 272.


CHEROKEE STATION, ALABAMA, October 29, 1863. 1st Division, 15th Corps. On the 28th the division left Tuscumbia and marched toward Cherokee Station, Colonel Heath advancing toward the enemy's position, but finding that the Confederates had moved during the night, followed the command. The enemy, discovering that they were not to be pursued, turned round, and on the 29th appeared in considerable force near Cherokee Station. General Osterhaus, commanding the division, protected his camp en echelon and tried to draw the Confederates within range, but was unable to do so. Desultory firing occurred at intervals during the day and toward evening the enemy fell back. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 272-273.


CHERRY CREEK, MISSISSIPPI, July 10, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps. On the Tupelo expedition the brigade, commanded by Colonel E. F. Winslow, was assigned to the advance on the morning of the 10th and moved out from New Albany at an early hour. Colonel Peters, with the 4th la., was in front and near Cherry creek became engaged in a skirmish with some of the enemy's cavalry. He was promptly supported by the rest of the brigade and the enemy retired with a loss of 1 man killed, 3 wounded, 1 horse captured and 10 stands of arms taken. No losses reported on the Union side. Cherry Grove, Missouri, June 26, 1862.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 273.

CHERRY GROVE, MISSOURI, July 1, 1862. Detachments Missouri Cavalry (Militia). Major F. W. Reeder, with the greater portion of the troops stationed at Hudson, Major Benjamin's battalion, and a part of Colonel McNeil's regiment, made a scout through Schuyler county. Near Cherry Grove the expedition came upon Porter's and Dunn's guerrillas and immediately gave chase. The pursuit continued to within 6 miles of the Iowa line, where they were overtaken and attacked. The guerrillas lost some 10 or 12 killed and about 25 wounded. Some of their horses, arms and equipments fell into the hands of the Federals. The Union loss was 1 severely and 2 slightly wounded, and 6 horses so badly disabled as to be unserviceable.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p.


CHERRY GROVE, VIRGINIA, April 14, 1864. (See Isle of Wight County.)


CHERRY RUN, WEST VIRGINIA, December 25, 1861.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 273.


CHESHIRE, OHIO, July 20, 1863. This was an incident of the Morgan raid. After Morgan's defeat at Buffington island on the 19th his command broke up into small parties and separated in an effort to reach the Ohio river. It was with one of these detachments that the skirmish occurred at Cheshire the following day. No detailed report of the action is to be found in the official records of the war.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 273.


CHESSER'S STORE, KENTUCKY, October 9, 1862. (See Dog Walk, same date.) Chesterfield, South Carolina, March 2, 1865. 1st Division, 20th Army Corps. General Williams, commanding the 20th corps, ordered Brig-General New Jersey Jackson to push forward with his division at 6 a. m. on the 2nd, for the purpose of securing two bridges across Thompson's creek near Chesterfield. Two miles from the town Jackson's advance was arrested by a strong line of skirmishers behind a barricade of rails. The 5th Conn., and 141st New York were deployed and advanced on the double-quick, driving the Confederates from their position and back through the town, which was occupied by the entire corps that afternoon. No casualties reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 273.


CHESSES are the platforms which form the flooring of military bridges. They consist of two or more planks, ledged together at the edges, by dowels or pegs. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 160 ).


CHESTER, Colby M. naval officer, born in Connecticut in 1845. He was graduated at the U. S. Naval Academy, assigned in 1863 to the steam sloop "Richmond," of the Western Gulf Squadron, and participated in the operations against Mobile on 5 August, 1864. He was promoted master, 10 November, 1866, commissioned lieutenant, 21 February, 1867, lieutenant-commander, 12 March, 1868, became commander, 15 October, 1881, and was hydrographic inspector of the Coast Survey from 1881 till 1885. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 599.


CHESTERFIELD, STEAMER, August 2, 1863. (See Naval Volume.)


CHESTER GAP, VIRGINIA, November 16, 1862. Chester Gap, Virginia, July 21-22, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. In the Gettysburg campaign the brigade, commanded by Colonel Gamble, was ordered to move to Chester gap and occupy it, if not already in possession of the enemy. Leaving Rectortown in the morning he covered the 20 miles with his command and at 3:30 was within a mile of the gap. Here he encountered the Confederate pickets, dismounted six squadrons as skirmishers, and forced the pickets back on the reserves at the crest. This reserve force proved to be Pickett's entire division, and as Gamble had no supports nearer than Rectortown, he fell back about a mile and a half to a position covering both roads leading from the gap, planted the guns of Heaton's battery in position and threw out a strong line of pickets. At 8 a. m. the next day the pickets on the Sperryville road reported the enemy approaching in force. Dismounting part of his men and deploying them along the sides of the road, Gamble waited for the appearance of the enemy. When the head of the column came in sight the cannon and carbines opened fire so effectually that the enemy halted and then fell back out of range. Gamble held his position until 6 p. m., when the Confederates succeeded in getting a force of five regiments around to his left flank and drove in his skirmishers. He then fell back to Barbee's cross-roads. On the 2ist Gamble captured 23 prisoners, 84 horses, 12 mules, 654 beef cattle and 602 sheep. His loss during the two days was 1 killed, 8 wounded and 16 missing. The enemy's casualties were not ascertained. Chester Station, Virginia, May 6-7, 1864. (See Port Walthall, Junction.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 273-274.

CHESTER STATION, VIRGINIA, May 10, 1864. Expedition against the Richmond & Petersburg Railroad. The expedition was made up of detachments of the 1st and 2nd brigades, 1st division, 10th corps; part of the 2nd brigade, 1st division, 18th corps, and consisted of the 6th and 7th Connecticut, 13th Indiana, 67th Ohio, and 169th New York infantry, and the 1st Conn, and 4th New Jersey batteries. The object was to destroy the railroad, and when the troops reached the vicinity of Chester Station they were divided into two wings. The left wing, commanded by Major O. S. Sanford of the 7th Connecticut, moved up the railroad toward Chester Station, where the 6th Conn, was engaged in tearing up the track, and remained there for about an hour, when orders came to join the other column on the turnpike below. Here the right wing, commanded by Colonel C. J. Dobbs of the 13th Indiana, had encountered a force of the enemy too large to overcome, and Dobbs sent back for reinforcements. In the meantime he formed line of battle with his own regiment on the left, the 169th New York on the right, one section of the 1st Conn, battery in front, supported by a detachment of the 67th Ohio, and awaited the onset. The enemy, with infantry, cavalry and artillery, advanced, and when they were within easy range Dobbs gave the command to fire. A tremendous volley from his entire line checked the Confederate advance and a second threw them into confusion, compelling them to retire for the purpose of reforming their lines. At this juncture Sanford arrived with the left wing and went into position with the 6th Conn, on the right of the road and the 7th on the left as supports to the advanced lines. Two companies of the 7th were sent forward to support a battery and the remainder of the regiment moved up to the top of the hill and opened fire on the enemy's left, driving them back to the woods. One of the guns of the 4th New Jersey battery was abandoned by the men and an effort to capture this piece was thwarted by this regiment, Sanford sending Lieutenant Barker with Company K to bring in the gun, which he did in the face of a galling fire. The 7th New Hampshire came up and went into position just as the enemy advanced again, having been reinforced, and again they were allowed to come within easy range, when they were greeted with a murderous fire from both artillery and infantry. This settled the contest. After a vain endeavor to rally the shattered ranks the Confederate officers gave up the attempt and sought the cover of the woods. General A. H. Terry, commanding the 1st division, 10th corps, arrived on the field after the action had begun, and during the latter part of the engagement directed the movements of the troops. He reported the Union loss as being 280 in killed, wounded and missing, and estimated that of the enemy as at least twice that number, some 50 prisoners remaining in the hands of the Federals. The number of Union troops engaged was about 3,400. The Confederate force consisted of Barton's, Grade's and Johnson's brigades of Ransom's division, and was estimated at 6,000.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 274.


CHESTER STATION, VIRGINIA, November 17, 1864. 209th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 274.


CHESTNUT, James, Jr., senator, born near Camden, South Carolina, in 1815. He was graduated at Princeton in 1835. From 1842 till 1852 he served in the South Carolina legislature, and from 1854 till 1858 was a member of the state senate. A vacancy occurring in the U.S. Senate, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term, and was formally elected senator on 5 January, 1859. He resigned on 10 November, 1860, in anticipation of the secession of South Carolina; but his resignation was not accepted, and he was formally expelled, 11 July, 1861. In the meantime he had been appointed a delegate to the Confederate Provisional Congress. He was commissioned colonel in the Confederate Army, and detailed as aide-de-camp on the staff of Jefferson Davis. In 1864 he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to a command on the coast of South Carolina. In 1868 he was a member of the National Democratic Convention that nominated Horatio Seymour for the presidency. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 600.


CHETLAIN, Augustus Louis, soldier, born in St. Louis, Missouri, 26 December, 1824. His parents, of French Huguenot stock, emigrated from Neufchâtel, Switzerland, in 1823, and were members of the Red River colony. He received a common-school education, became a merchant in Galena, and was the first volunteer at a meeting held in response to the president's call after the bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861. He was chosen captain of the company when General (then Captain) Grant declined, and on 16 April, 1862, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 12th Illinois Infantry. He was in command at Smithland, Kentucky, from September, 1861, till January, 1862, and then participated in General Smith's campaign on the Tennessee River to Fort Henry, and led his regiment at Fort Donelson. He was engaged at Shiloh, distinguishing himself at Corinth, being left in command of that post until May, 1863, and while there organized the first colored regiment raised in the west. On 13 December, 1863, he was promoted brigadier-general, placed in charge of the organization of colored troops in Tennessee, and afterward in Kentucky, and by 1 January, 1864, had raised a force of 17,000 men, for which service he was brevetted major- general. From January to October, 1865, he commanded the post of Memphis, and then the District of Talladega, Alabama, until 5 February, 1866, when he was mustered out of service. He was assessor of internal revenue for the District of Utah in 1867–'9, then U.S. consul at Brussels, and, after his return to the United States in 1872, established himself in Chicago as a banker and stock-broker. In September, 1886, General Chetlain delivered the annual address before the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, at Rock Island, Illinois. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 600.


CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE. The principal uses of chevaux-de-frise are to obstruct a passage, stop a breach, or form an impediment to cavalry. Those of the modern pattern are made of iron, whose barrel is six feet in length, and four inches in diameter, each carrying twelve spears, five feet nine inches long, the whole weighing sixty-five pounds. (See OBSTACLES.) (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 160).


CHEW, Robert S., chief clerk of the State Department at Washington, born in Virginia in 1811; died in Washington, D. C., 3 August, 1873. He entered the service of the government in his youth, and had served in the State Department more than forty years, when he was advanced to the chief clerkship on the appointment of William Hunter as second assistant Secretary of State in July, 1866.—His eldest son, Richard S., naval officer, born in the District of Columbia, 7 September, 1843; died in Washington, D. C, 10 April, 1875. He was graduated at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1861, commissioned lieutenant, 22 February, 1864, and lieutenant-commander, 25 July, 1866, served on board the frigate "Minnesota," participating in the actions with the "Merrimac" on 8 and 9 April, 1862, being attached to the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron in 1863-'4, and being present at the battle of Mobile Bay. On 2 February, 1875, he was retired for disability. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 601.


CHEWALLA, TENNESSEE, October 3, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, Army of West Tennessee. The division, commanded by Colonel John M. Oliver, was sent out from Corinth by General Rosecrans, to gather information regarding the movements of the enemy. On the morning of the 3d Oliver encountered the Confederate advance at Chewalla and fell back fighting all the way to Corinth. This action uncovered the position of the enemy and gave Rosecrans an opportunity to place his troops in position for the battle which followed.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 275.


CHEWALLA, TENNESSEE, October 5, 1862. (See Big Hill.) Chicamicomico, North Carolina, October 1-4, 1861. 20th Indiana Infantry and Transport Fanny. In the operations about Hatteras Inlet the 20th Indiana was stationed at Chicamicomico, or Loggerhead Inlet, some 40 miles north of Fort Hatteras. On the 1st the transport Fanny left the fort with supplies for the regiment. About 2:30 p. m. she came to anchor near her destination, a large flatboat came alongside and took off a load of supplies, tents, provisions, etc. Soon after this 3 Confederate vessels approached from the westward and opened fire at long range. Most of the crew went ashore in a boat, a white flag was run up and the vessel with the remainder of the stores was surrendered. The Confederates claim to have taken 50 prisoners. On the 4th an attack was made on the 20th Indiana. Of this affair Major-General John E. Wool said in his report: "In an attempt on the part of the rebels at Hatteras Inlet to cut off and capture the Indiana regiment, out of place, the enemy were completely defeated, and many killed and wounded." Chickahominy River, Virginia, June 27, 1862. This was the name given by the Confederates to the battle of Gaines' mill, one of the Seven Days' battles during the Peninsular campaign. (See Seven Days' Battles.)  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 275.


CHICKAMAUGA, GEORGIA, September 19-20, 1863. Army of the Cumberland. At the battle of Chickamauga the Union forces, commanded by Major-General William S. Rosecrans, were organized as follows: the 14th corps, Major-General George H. Thomas, was made up of the four divisions of Baird, Negley, Brannan and Reynolds; the 20th corps, Major-General Alexander D. McCook, consisted of the three divisions of Davis, Johnson and Sheridan; the 21st corps, Major-General Thomas L. Crittenden, included the divisions of Wood, Palmer and Van Cleve; the reserve corps, Major-General Gordon Granger, was made up of the divisions of Steedman and Daniel McCook; the cavalry corps, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell, embraced the divisions of Colonel Edward M. McCook and Brigadier-General George Crook. The effective strength of the entire Army of the Cumberland was slightly less than 60,000 men of all arms. The Confederate army, commanded by General Braxton Bragg, was divided into the right and left wings. The right, commanded by Lieutenant-General Leonidas Polk, was composed of Cheatham's division of Polk's corps; Lieutenant-General D. H. Hill's corps, consisting of Cleburne's and Breckenridge's divisions; the reserve corps, Major-General W. H. T. Walker, including the divisions of Walker and Liddell. The left, commanded by Lieutenant-General James Longstreet, embraced Hindman's division of Polk's corps; Longstreet's corps, commanded by Major-General John B. Hood, and consisting of the divisions of Hood and McLaws; Buckner's corps, Major-General Simon B. Buckner, including the divisions of Stewart, Preston and Bushrod Johnson; Wheeler's cavalry, including the divisions of Wharton and Martin; and Forrest's cavalry, consisting of the divisions of Armstrong and Pegram. The total strength of the army was not far from 72,000 men. For several days prior to the engagement both armies had been maneuvering for position. Several attempts had been made by Bragg to cut off and destroy detachments of the Union army, but they had. failed, either because of the tardiness of his officers in executing his orders, or because the movements were discovered by the Federal commanders in time to thwart the designs. On the 17th McCook's corps was in McLemore's cove, between Stevens' and Dug gaps, with the remainder of the army in easy supporting distance. For the first time since the crossing of the Tennessee river the Federal forces were in position where they could be quickly concentrated. And it was well that such was the case, for Bragg, having failed to strike the army in detail, was contemplating a movement in force against Rosecrans. The 17th was occupied by him in getting his troops in position along the east bank of the Chickamauga. Wheeler, with his two divisions of cavalry, was to make a feint against the troops at McLemore's cove, while Forrest was to cover the right and front to prevent the Federals from gaining knowledge of Bragg's intentions and preparations. Bushrod Johnson's brigade came up from Ringgold and was 'assigned to a position at Reed's bridge, on the extreme right of the line. Walker's corps, about 6,000 strong, took position at Alexander's bridge on Johnson's left. Next in order came Buckner's corps, which was stationed near Tedford's ford. Then came Polk's corps, drawn up opposite Lee & Gordon's mills, with Hill on the extreme left. Late in the day two brigades came up from Mississippi and were united with Johnson's, thus forming a division of three brigades at Reed's bridge. That evening Bragg issued his orders for the whole line to move at 6 o'clock the next morning, cross the Chickamauga, and advance on the Federal position. His plan was for Johnson to cross at Reed's bridge, strike the Union left and force it back toward Lee & Gordon's mills, the other portions of the line to cross in succession and continue the assault from right to left, constantly pressing the Federals on the left and rear. The plan was well conceived, but, as frequently happens in war, a series of unforeseen occurrences prevented its successful execution. When Johnson began his forward movement on the morning of the 18th he was so delayed by the stubborn resistance of Minty's and Wilder's cavalry that it was 3 p. m. before he gained possession of the bridge. In the meantime Hood had arrived on the field and was assigned to command the division, which was further strengthened by the addition of three brigades belonging to Longstreet's corps. As soon as the bridge was gained Hood rushed his troops across and swept southward to the point where Walker was to cross and resume the assault. The Federal cavalry had been engaged throughout the forenoon in making an extended reconnaissance along the entire front and had developed the enemy's position. Finding Walker about to cross at Alexander's bridge, Wilder massed his brigade of mounted infantry at that point and, after a sharp skirmish, succeeded in destroying the bridge. This compelled Walker to cross at Byram's ford several hours behind schedule time. It was 5 p. m. before Hood had reached a position where he could menace Wilder's flank, and the latter retired toward Gordon's mills. Night fell with only about one-tenth of Bragg's army across the Chickamauga, and again his plans had failed. The fighting at the two bridges, in connection with the reconnaissance, had so far indicated the Confederate plan of operations as to cause a radical change in the position of the Union troops. At 4 p. m. Thomas concentrated his corps at Crawfish Spring, where he received orders to move northward to the Chattanooga and Lafayette road and take up a position at or near Kelly's farm. He arrived there about daylight on the 19th and stationed his command to cover the roads leading to Reed's and Alexander's bridge?. The morning of the 19th, therefore, found the Union army with its right resting at Crawfish Spring, where the left had been on the preceding day, while the left was several miles north. prepared to contest the possession of the road, which Bragg had hoped to occupy without opposition, thus giving him an easy line of march to the Federal rear. The battle was opened on the 19th by Thomas. Colonel Daniel McCook, whose brigade had been stationed during the night on the road leading to Reed's bridge, reported . the destruction of the bridge about 4 a. m., and that the only force of the enemy he could discover on the west side of the stream was one brigade, which might be cut off. Thomas ordered Brannan to send forward two brigades for this purpose, and to support Baird with the rest of his division. About 10 a. m. Croxton's brigade became engaged with Forrest's cavalry, gradually forcing him back for about half a mile upon two brigades of infantry—Wilson's and Ector's—who raised the "rebel yell" and in turn forced Croxton to retire until Baird came to his support, when the Confederates were again driven for some distance, a number of prisoners being taken. This action of Croxton's brought on the battle of Chickamauga before the Confederate troops' were in the positions assigned them. It also gave Bragg the first knowledge of the fact that his right was overlapped by the Union left, and that his flank was in danger of being turned by Thomas. Hurriedly changing his plans he halted Walker, who was marching toward Lee & Gordon's mills, and ordered him to make all possible speed to the relief of the right wing. Croxton's men had almost exhausted their ammunition and were moved to the rear to renew the supply. Baird's and Brannan's divisions were then united and after some severe fighting drove Walker from their front. Baird had halted to readjust his line, when he was struck on the flank by Liddell's division, and two brigades—Scribner's and King's—were thrown into disorder and their batteries captured by the enemy. Just at this juncture R. W. Johnson's and Reynolds' divisions arrived and were immediately formed on the right of Baird. As soon as they were in position the line advanced, attacking Liddell on the flank and rear, driving him back for a mile and a half, while Brannan's men met him in front and recaptured the guns taken from Baird's brigades, the recapture being effected by the 9th Ohio at the point of the bayonet. Cheatham's division was then rushed to the support of Liddell, but Thomas had also been strongly reinforced and the Confederates were driven back upon their reserves, now posted along the west bank of the Chickamauga between Reed's and Alexander's bridges. This was followed by a lull of about an hour in which Brannan and Baird were posted in a position on the road leading from Reed's bridge to the Lafayette road north of Kelly's and ordered to hold it to the last extremity. About 3 p. m. a furious assault was made on Reynolds' right and Brannan's division was sent to his assistance, Croxton's brigade arriving just in time to check the enemy in an effort to turn Reynolds' flank and gain his rear. Again Thomas reformed his line and about 5 o'clock the enemy assaulted first Johnson and then Baird, but both attacks were repulsed with considerable loss to the assailants. This ended the fighting for the day. On the evening of the 19th Rosecrans met his corps commanders in council at the house of Mrs. Glenn, and the plans for the next day's battle were arranged. Thomas was to maintain his present position, holding the road to Rossville, with Brannan's division in reserve. Davis' division of the 20th corps was to close on Thomas' right, and Sheridan's division was to form the extreme right of the line. Crittenden was to have two divisions in reserve near the junction of Thomas' and McCook's lines, ready to reinforce either as circumstances might require. Davis and Sheridan were to maintain their pickets until they were driven in by the enemy. The reserve corps, under Granger, and the cavalry were to keep open the line of communications to Chattanooga. The Confederate line was also somewhat rearranged. Beginning at the right it was made up of the divisions of Breckenridge, Cleburne, Cheatham and  Walker, the last two being in reserve. The left wing began with Stewart's division, which touched Cleburne' left, followed in order by Johnson and Hindman. Hood was in reserve behind Johnson, Preston was in reserve on the extreme left, and Humphrey and Kershaw, who had come up during the night, were also held in reserve. Longstreet arrived about 11 p. m. on the 19th and assumed command of the left wing. Although Bragg had failed to accomplish his ends on the 18th and 19th. he still adhered to his original plan of successive attacks from right to left, in an effort to force the Union army up the valley. Orders were accordingly issued for Breckenridge's division to attack at dawn on the 20th, his assault to be followed rapidly by the other divisions throughout the entire length of the line, but constantly forcing back the Federal left until the road to Chattanooga was in possession of the Confederates. Before daylight Bragg was in the saddle near the center of his line, anxiously waiting for the sound of Breckenridge's guns. The morning dawned red and sultry, with a dense fog hanging over the battle-field. During the night the Union troops had thrown up temporary breastworks of rails, logs, etc., behind which a line of determined men awaited the onset. Eight o'clock came and still no attack. Bragg then rode to the right and found the troops unprepared for an advance. All the energy possible was exerted to begin the action, but it was 9:30 before Breckenridge moved. Cleburne followed fifteen minutes later and the fight was on. At 2 a. m. Thomas had received word from Baird that his left did not rest on the road to Reed's bridge, as it was intended to do, and that to reach the road he would have to weaken his line. Thomas immediately sent a request to headquarters for Negley's division to be sent to the left to extend the line to the road, and received the assurance that the request would be granted. At 7 a. m. Negley was not in position and Thomas sent one of his staff to hasten him forward and to point out the ground he was to occupy. About the same time Rosecrans rode along the line and personally ordered Negley to lose no time in joining Thomas, at the same time directing McCook to relieve Negley and close up his line more compactly. Upon reaching the left of the line Rosecrans became convinced that the attack would begin on that flank, saw the importance of holding the road, and again rode back to hurry Negley's movements. The division then moved to the left with Beatty's brigade in advance, and Rosecrans directed Crittenden to move Wood's division to the front to fill the gap in the line caused by Negley's removal. The assault of Breckenridge fell mainly on Beatty's brigade soon after it was in position on the left, and it was driven back in confusion. Several regiments of Johnson's division, with Vanderveer's and Stanley's brigades, hurled themselves into the breach. checked the advance of the enemy and finally drove him entirely from Baird's flank and rear. Immediately following the opening attack the Confederate line advanced, striking Johnson, Palmer and Reynolds in quick succession. But, from behind their improvised fortifications, the Federals met the assaults with a bravery and determination seldom equalled on the field of battle. Fresh troops were hurried forward by Bragg, who now made a desperate effort to drive in the center and turn Thomas' right. Again and again the Confederates advanced in the face of that merciless fire and each time they were repulsed with fearful slaughter. Finding all his efforts in this direction futile, Bragg fell back to his old position. About 11 a. m. Wood received an order from headquarters to "close up on Reynolds as fast as possible, and support him." In the execution of this order a gap was left in the line, which Davis undertook to close with his reserve brigade. But Longstreet had observed the break in the Page 279 line and was quick to take advantage of it. Before Davis could get his reserves into position the divisions of Stewart, Hood, Kershaw, Johnson and Hindman came rushing through the opening, sweeping everything before them, while Preston's division pressed forward to the support of the assailants. McCook vainly endeavored to check the impetuous charge of Longstreet's men with the three brigades of Heg, Carlin and Laiboldt, but they were as chaff before the wind. He then ordered Walworth and Lytle to change front and assist in repelling the assault. For a time these two contended against an overwhelming force, temporarily checking the enemy in their immediate front. But the Confederates, constantly increasing in numbers, succeeded in turning the left of these two brigades and they were forced to retire to avoid being surrounded. In this part of the engagement General Lytle was killed and Hood seriously wounded. Wilder and Harrison joined their commands with that of Sheridan to aid in resisting the fierce attack, but a long line of the enemy was advancing on Sheridan's right and he was compelled to withdraw to the Dry Valley road in order to save his command. Subsequently he moved toward Rossville and effected a junction with Thomas' left on the Lafayette road. In his report Rosecrans says: "Thus Davis' two brigades, one of Van Cleve's, and Sheridan's entire division were swept from the field, and the remainder, consisting of the divisions of Baird, Johnson, Reynolds, Brannan, and Wood, two of Negley's brigades and one of Van Cleve's, were left to sustain the conflict against the whole power of the rebel army, which, desisting from pursuit on the right, concentrated their whole efforts to destroy them." This tells the situation. Not only were the troops on the right driven from the field, but several thousand men were made prisoners, 40 pieces of artillery and a large number of wagon trains fell into the hands of the enemy. When McCook's forces were compelled to fall back in confusion they were not pursued. Instead, Longstreet reversed the order of battle, and when Stewart's division reached the Lafayette road it became the pivot upon which the left wing turned to the right instead of to the left, with the intention of crushing the forces under Thomas. At 11 a. m. Granger and his chief of staff were seated on the top of a hay-rick at Rossville. Through his glass Granger could see the clouds of smoke, constantly increasing in volume, while the sounds of the battle grew louder every moment. Scanning the road to the south he saw that no attack was likely to be made on his position, and rightly surmising that the whole Confederate strength was being massed against Thomas, he said to his chief: "I am going to Thomas, orders or no orders." Sliding off the hay-rick he hurriedly directed Dan McCook to station his brigade at McAfee Church, to cover the Ringgold and Lafayette roads, then went to Steedman and ordered him to take his command "over there." pointing toward "Horseshoe Ridge," where Thomas was making his last stand. Along the crest of this ridge Thomas had placed Wood's and Brannan's divisions, while on the spurs to the rear was posted his artillery. If Wood had inadvertently brought about the disaster by the withdrawal of his division, causing the gap in the line, he now retrieved himself. From 1 p. m. until nightfall he bravely held his portion of the ridge, repulsing several obstinate and determined attacks of the enemy. One of these attacks was made by Bushrod Johnson, who reformed his line on a ridge running nearly at right angles to the one on which Brannan and Wood were posted. Longstreet reinforced Johnson with the divisions of Hindman and Kershaw, the object being a movement in force against the Federal right and rear. Just at this critical moment Granger and Steedman arrived and reported to Thomas, who ordered them into position on Brannan's right. Granger then ordered a charge on the Confederate lines. Steedman seized the colors of a regiment and led the way. Inspired by the example of their commander the men hurled themselves upon the enemy and after twenty minutes of hot fighting drove him from the ridge, which was held by Steedman until 6 p. m., when he fell back under orders. The arrival of Granger's troops was a great advantage to Thomas in another way. By some mistake the latter's ammunition train had been ordered back to Chattanooga at the time the Union right was routed, and the supply was running low, when the arrival of Granger with about 100,000 rounds put new courage into the men as it was distributed among them. To add to the supply the troops went among the dead and gathered all they could from the cartridge boxes of their fallen comrades and foes alike. Toward the close of the day the order was given to husband the ammunition and use the bayonet as much as possible. Some of the late charges of the Confederates were repulsed with the "cold steel" alone. The gallant stand of Thomas, and the generalship he displayed in holding Horseshoe ridge in the face of superior numbers, won for him the significant sobriquet of the "Rock of Chickamauga." When Longstreet broke the Union line at noon Rosecrans himself was caught in the rout. Believing that his army was doomed to certain defeat, he went to Chattanooga to provide for the security of his bridges and, as he says in his report, "to make preliminary dispositions either to forward ammunition and supplies, should we hold our ground, or to withdraw the troops into good position." The first official intelligence that Thomas had of the unfortunate occurrence on the right was about 4 p. m., when General Garfield, Rosecrans' chief of staff, arrived from Rossville. Notwithstanding the disheartening news, Thomas decided to hold his position until nightfall, if possible. The remaining ammunition was distributed and instructions given to his division commanders to be ready to move promptly when orders to that effect were issued. At 5 .30 Reynolds received the order to begin the movement. Thomas himself went forward to point out the ground he wanted Reynolds to occupy and form a line to cover the withdrawal of the other troops. While passing through a strip of timber bordering the Lafayette road Thomas met two soldiers, who had been in search of water, and who informed him that a large body of the enemy was drawn up in line in the woods just in front, advancing toward the Union lines. Reynolds was ordered to change the head of his column to the left, with his right resting on the road, and charge the enemy. At the same time the artillery opened a converging fire from both right and left, while Turchin made a dashing charge with his brigade, utterly routing the Confederates and driving them clear beyond Baird's position on the left, capturing over 200 prisoners. Robinson's and Willich's brigades were then posted in positions to cover the retirement of the troops, the former on the road leading through the ridge, and the latter on the ridge to the right. Wood. Brannan and Granger fell back without molestation, but Baird, Johnson and Palmer were attacked as they were drawing back to their lines. This attack was made by L. E. Polk's division, but by this time it had become too dark to move with certainty, and in advancing the Confederate line was changed so that it formed an acute angle, the troops firing into each other. The withdrawal from the field was accomplished with such precision and quietness that it was not discovered by Bragg until after sunrise the following morning. Thomas took up a position in the vicinity of Rossville and remained there during the 21st, retiring to Chattanooga that night. Bragg's army had been so severely punished in the two days' fighting that he was disinclined to continue the conflict. Some desultory skirmishing occurred on the 21st, but no general movement was undertaken. The Union losses in the battle of Chickamauga, according to the official reports, were 1,657 killed, 9,756 wounded, and 4,757 missing. The Confederate losses, as given in "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," amounted to 2,389 killed, 13,412 wounded, and 2,003 missing.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 275-281.


CHICKAMAUGA CREEK, GEORGIA, January 30 and May 3, 1864.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 281.


CHICKAMAUGA STATION, GEORGIA, November 26, 1863. 15th Army Corps, and 2nd Division of the 14th Army Corps. The Confederate army under Bragg was routed at Missionary ridge on the 25th. At 5 o'clock the next morning the 15th corps, commanded by General O. O. Howard, crossed Chickamauga creek near its mouth and started in pursuit. Two hours later he was joined by Davis' division of the 14th corps, which took the advance. About noon Davis' advance began skirmishing with the enemy's rear-guard near Chickamauga Station. The 15th corps promptly moved up and the Confederates beat a hasty retreat. No report of killed and wounded was made, but the Federals captured 2 large siege guns, 1,000 bushels of corn, 10 pontoons and a large quantity of flour. General Sherman joined the command at this point and the pursuit was continued.


CHICKASAW BAYOU, MISSISSIPPI, December 27-28, 1862. (See Chickasaw Bluffs.)


CHICKASAW BLUFFS, MISSISSIPPI, December 27-29, 1862. Right Wing, Army of the Tennessee. Early in the war the Federal administration took steps to seize and keep open the Mississippi river. Island No. 10 on the north, New Orleans, with Forts Philip and Jackson, on the south had been taken by the Union forces in the spring of 1862, and toward the close of that year an expedition was planned against Vicksburg, which was the key-point to the possession of the river. The movement against Chickasaw bluffs, with the preliminary skirmishes around Chickasaw bayou, was a part of this expedition, and was under command of Major- General W. T. Sherman. His forces, the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee, consisted of the divisions of A. J. Smith, Morgan L. Smith, George W. Morgan and Frederick Steele, numbering about 32,000 men, with ten batteries. The first three divisions left Memphis on transports on the 20th. and were joined by Steele at Helena, Arkansas Milliken's bend was reached on the 25th, and here Burbridge's brigade of A. J. Smith's division was sent to destroy the Vicksburg & Shreveport railroad, in order to cut the line of supplies to Vicksburg. This work was well done, and Burbridge rejoined the main body on the 27th. Meantime the transports proceeded on to the mouth of the Yazoo river and ascended that stream for some 13 miles, where a landing was made at Johnson's plantation, opposite the mouth of Steele's bayou, on the 26th. Sherman's object was to move so rapidly and quietly as to surprise the Confederates at Vicksburg, carry Walnut hills, or Chickasaw bluffs, and establish a base of supplies near Haynes' bluff. Then he would either take Vicksburg. or, if not strong enough for that, cut the railroad communications between Vicksburg and Jackson and hold his position on the Yazoo until Grant could join him with the rest of the Army of the Tennessee. The Confederate commanders at Vicksburg were kept fully informed of Sherman's movements through their spies in Memphis and at various points along the river, making a surprise impossible. Unaware of this condition of affairs, Sherman sent forward De Courcy's, Stuart's and Blair's brigades to reconnoiter, and formed his army in four columns for a general advance. On the right was A. J. Smith's division, which was to follow the main road toward Vicksburg; next was M. L. Smith, who was to strike the Chickasaw bayou near the head of McNutt lake; Morgan, with Blair's brigade of Steele's division, was to strike the bayou some distance from the mouth and ascend along the left bank, while the remainder of Steele's division was to form the extreme left, on the opposite side of the bayou from Morgan. The head of each column soon encountered the Confederate pickets and, with slight skirmishing, drove them back toward Vicksburg. Night came on before the high ground was reached, and during the darkness the ground in front was reconnoitered as well as possible. Early on the morning of the 28th a general advance was made as far as a bayou, which could be crossed at only two places, and these were well guarded by the enemy's sharp-shooters. On the opposite side of this bayou was a piece of elevated ground, covered with rifle-pits and batteries, while just back of it were the bluffs, where the enemy had his strongest line of defences. Along the foot of the bluffs ran the wagon road leading from Vicksburg to Yazoo City, giving the Confederates excellent advantages for shifting their artillery to any point to meet an attempt to cross the bayou. On the other hand, the movements of the Union troops had to be made on sandy or marshy ground, in some places so miry that it was almost impossible to move the artillery. Steele reached Thompson's lake to find the only means of crossing a long, narrow causeway, covered by a battery that could easily pour an enfilading fire into his ranks should he attempt the crossing. After skirmishing nearly all the forenoon he reported the situation to Sherman, who ordered him back to the boats to cross over and support Morgan's division. M. L. Smith struck the bayou at a point where there was a narrow sandbar covered with abatis, and on the opposite side a system of rifle-pits and earthworks that checked his progress. While reconnoitering here Smith was severely wounded and General Stuart assumed command of the division. He disposed his forces so as to cross as soon as he heard Morgan begin the engagement on his left. Morgan had the only pontoons with the expedition, and was on the best ground of any of the four columns. During the night of the 27th Morgan threw his pontoons across an old bayou, supposing it to be Lake McNutt, but when he advanced the next morning discovered there was a natural crossing over the lake. He was therefore in the best position to advance of any of the divisions, and when Steele came to his support on the 29th Sherman ordered him to cross the lake and carry the works to the top of the hill by a determined assault. Meantime A. J. Smith on the right had advanced as far as the bayou, where he ordered Burbridge's brigade to construct rafts and cross under cover of the artillery. Landram's brigade, of this division, occupied a strong position on the main road, with pickets and skirmishers pushed forward into the abatis within less than a mile of the enemy's forts and within plain view of Vicksburg. Sherman's plan for the 29th was to make a determined assault on the Confederate center near the head of Chickasaw bayou, and having accomplished a break in the line to turn the left toward Drumgould's bluff, near the Yazoo river, or the right toward Vicksburg, which ever promised the greatest success. At the same time A. J. Smith was to keep up a vigorous demonstration on the road to Vicksburg, to create the impression that the city was the objective point, and prevent the enemy from concentrating his strength against Morgan in the center. Just at noon the signal for the attack was given. De Courcy's brigade, of Morgan's division, moved forward promptly, crossed the lake, and in the face of a murderous fire advanced rapidly over the sloping ground to the foot of the bluffs. Blair's and Thayer's brigades, of Steele's division, immediately started in support of De Courcy. The former crossed the lake near its junction with the bayou and, like De Courcy, reached the foot of the bluffs through a hot fire. Thayer took a wrong direction and only one regiment of his brigade arrived at the scene of the struggle. Sherman sent word to A. J. Smith to push his demonstration and threaten the enemy's left. The 6th Missouri was thrown forward, crossed the bayou, but found it impossible to ascend the bank on the other side. This regiment was compelled to hug the bank to keep out of range of the guns on the summit, and here it remained until after dark. When De Courcy and Blair found themselves unsupported in their gallant assault on the enemy's main line of works, they saw it was useless to continue the fight in the face of the terrible odds that confronted them. Literally cut to pieces by front and cross fire they fell back about 3 p. m. and recrossed the levee. During the night the Union forces remained in front of the Confederate works, lying on the marshy ground in the midst of a driving rain, with no shelter but their blankets, expecting to be called on to renew the assault the next morning. Sherman visited Admiral Porter on his flag-boat and arranged for an attack on the Confederate right at Drumgould's bluff. The plan was to embark 10,000 troops immediately after dark on the 31st, move up the Yazoo under the protection of the gunboats, make a landing before daylight and carry the batteries by storm. As soon as Sherman heard the guns at the bluff he was to begin a vigorous assault on the center to prevent the right from being reinforced. Steele's division and Burbridge's brigade were accordingly embarked, but after midnight a dense fog arose and Porter deemed it unsafe to make the attempt. It was then proposed to postpone the movement to the next night, but upon discovering that the moon did not set on the morning of January 2 until nearly 6 o'clock, and that the landing would therefore have to be made in daylight, the plan was abandoned. The troops were reembarked on the transports on the 2nd and the vessels dropped down to the mouth of the Yazoo, where Sherman met Major-General J. A. McClernand and turned over to him the command of the expedition. The failure of the attempt on Chickasaw bluffs was due in a great measure to Grant's inability to carry out his part of the plan to advance by way of Grenada and attack the Confederates in the rear. The Union losses in the several skirmishes along the bayou and the assault on the works were 208 killed, 1,005 wounded and 563 missing. General Pemberton reported the Confederate losses as being 63 killed, 134 wounded and 10 missing.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 281-283.


CHICKASAWHA BRIDGE, MISSISSIPPI, December to. 1861. Troops of Davidson's Expedition against the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. As an incident of the raid of Brigadier-General John W. Davidson into Mississippi and Louisiana to cut the Mobile & Ohio railroad, a portion of his force crossed the Pascagoula river at Chickasawha bridge and charged the enemy. After a short but sanguinary fight the Federal troops were repulsed and retired across the river. The Union loss was 2 killed and 8 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 283.


CHILD, David Lee, 1794-1874, Boston, Massachusetts, abolitionist, author, journalist.  Leader, manager, 1833-1840, and founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society, December 1833.  Child served as a manager and a member of the Executive Committee of the AASS, 1840-1843, Vice-President, Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, 1835-1836.  Published The Despotism of Freedom—or The Tyranny and Cruelty of American Republican Slaveholders.  Co-editor with his wife, Lydia, of The Anti-Slavery Standard. 

(Dumond, 1961, p. 269; Mabee, 1970, pp. 193, 327; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 42, 398, 399; Abolitionist, Vol. I, No. XII, December, 1833; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 603-604; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 65; American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 165-166; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 804; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. II. New York: James T. White, 1892, p. 324)

CHILD, David Lee, journalist, born in West Boylston, Massachusetts, 8 July, 1794; died in Wayland, Massachusetts, 18 September, 1874. He was graduated at Harvard in 1817, and was for some time sub-master of the Boston Latin-school. He was secretary of legation in Lisbon about 1820, and subsequently fought in Spain, “defending what he considered the cause of freedom against her French invaders.” Returning to this country in 1824, he began in 1825 to study law with his uncle, Tyler Bigelow, in Watertown, Massachusetts, and was admitted to the bar. He went to Belgium in 1836 to study the beet-sugar industry, and afterward received a silver medal for the first manufacture of the sugar in this country. He edited the “Massachusetts Journal,” about 1830, and while a member of the legislature denounced the annexation of Texas, afterward publishing a pamphlet on the subject, entitled “Naboth's Vineyard.” He was an early member of the anti-slavery society, and in 1832 addressed a series of letters on slavery and the slave-trade to Edward S. Abdy, an English philanthropist. He also published ten articles on the same subject (Philadelphia, 1836). During a visit to Paris in 1837 he addressed an elaborate memoir to the Société Pour L'abolition d'Esclavage, and sent a paper on the same subject to the editor of the “Eclectic Review” in London. John Quincy Adams was much indebted to Mr. Child's facts and arguments in the speeches that he delivered in Congress on the Texan question. With his wife he edited the “Anti-Slavery Standard” in New York in 1843-'44. He was distinguished for the independence of his character, and the boldness with which he denounced social wrongs and abuses. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 603-604.


CHILD, Lydia Maria Francis, 1802-1880, author, reformer, abolitionist, member Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society.  Wrote for the Liberty Bell.  Executive Committee, American Anti-Slavery Society.  Prolific writer and ardent abolitionist.  In 1840’s, edited National Anti-Slavery Standard newspaper.  Child published: Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans (1833), Romance of the Republic (1867), Authentic Accounts of American Slavery (1835), The Evils of Slavery, and the Cure of Slavery (1836), Anti-Slavery Catechism (1836), The Right Way, the Safe Way, Proved by Emancipation in the British West Indies and Elsewhere (1860), Freedmen’s Book (1865), and articles “The Patriarchal Institution” and “The Duty of Disobedience to the Fugitive Slave Law,” (1860), and edited Harriet Ann Jacobs’ Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861). 

(Drake, 1950, pp. 117, 176; Dumond, 1961, pp. 273, 281; Karcher, 1994; Mabee, 1970, pp. 37, 70, 108, 193, 320, 325, 359, 360; Meltzer, 1992; Meltzer & Holland, 1982; Nathan, 1991, p. 131; Pease, 1965, pp. 86-91; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 44, 199, 221-222, 398, 399, 519; Van Broekhoven, 2002, pp. 97-98, 113-114, 185; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 603-604; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 67; American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 167-170; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 806; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. II. New York: James T. White, 1892, pp. 324-325)

CHILD, Lydia Maria, author, born in Medford, Massachusetts, 11 February, 1802; died in Wayland, Massachusetts, 20 October, 1880, was descended from Richard Francis, who came from England and settled in Cambridge in 1636. Miss Francis attended the common schools, and studied with her brother, Reverend Convers Francis, D. D., afterward professor in the divinity-school at Cambridge. When seventeen years of age she chanced to read an article in the “North American Review,” discussing the field offered to the novelist by early New England history. Although she had never thought of becoming an author, she immediately wrote the first chapter of a novel entitled “Hobomok,” and, encouraged by her brother's commendation, finished it in six weeks, and published it (Cambridge, 1821). From this time until her death she wrote continually. She had taught for one year in a seminary in Medford, Massachusetts, and kept a private school in Watertown, Massachusetts, from 1824 till 1828, when she was married. She began, in 1826, the publication of the “Juvenile Miscellany,” the first monthly periodical for children issued in the United States, and supervised it for eight years. In 1831 both Mr. and Mrs. Child became deeply interested in the subject of slavery, through the writings and the personal influence of William Lloyd Garrison. Mrs. Child's “Appeal for that Class of Americans called African” (Boston, 1833) was the first anti-slavery work printed in America in book-form, and was followed by several smaller works on the same subject. The “Appeal” attracted much attention, and Dr. Channing, who attributed to it part of his interest in the slavery question, walked from Boston to Roxbury to thank Mrs. Child for the book. She had to endure social ostracism, but from this time was a conspicuous champion of anti-slavery. On the establishment by the American Anti-Slavery Society of the “National Anti-Slavery Standard” in New York City, in 1840, she became its editor, and conducted it till 1843, when her husband took the place of editor-in-chief, and she acted as his assistant till May, 1844. During her stay in New York, Mrs. Child was an inmate of the family of Isaac T. Hopper, the Quaker philanthropist. After leaving New York, Mr. and Mrs. Child settled in Wayland, Massachusetts, where they spent the rest of their life. In 1859 Mrs. Child wrote a letter of sympathy to John Brown, then a prisoner at Harper's Ferry, offering her services as a nurse, and enclosing the letter in one to Governor Wise. Brown replied, declining her offer, but asking her to aid his family, which she did. She also received a letter of courteous rebuke from Governor Wise, and a singular epistle from the wife of Senator Mason, author of the fugitive slave law, threatening her with future damnation. She replied to both in her best vein, and the whole series of letters was published in pamphlet-form (Boston, 1860), and had a circulation of 300,000. Mrs. Child's anti-slavery writings contributed in no slight degree to the formation of public sentiment on the subject. During her later years she contributed freely to aid the national soldiers in the Civil War, and afterward to help the freedmen. Wendell Phillips, in his address at Mrs. Child's funeral, thus delineated her character: “She was the kind of woman one would choose to represent woman's entrance into broader life. Modest, womanly, sincere, solid, real, loyal, to be trusted, equal to affairs, and yet above them; a companion with the password of every science and all literature.” Mrs. Child's numerous books, published during a period of half a century, include, besides the works already mentioned, “The Rebels, or Boston before the Revolution,” a novel containing an imaginary speech of James Otis, and a sermon by Whitefield, both of which were received by many people as genuine (Boston, 1822); “The First Settlers of New England” (1829); “The American Frugal Housewife,” a book of kitchen economy and directions (1829; 33d ed., 1855); “The Mother's Book,” “The Girl's Own Book,” and the “Coronal,” a collection of verses (1831); “The Ladies' Family Library,” a series of biographies (5 vols., 1832-'5); “Philothea,” a romance of Greece in the days of Pericles (1835); “Letters from New York,” written to the Boston “Courier” (2 vols., 1843-'5); “Flowers for Children” (3 vols., 1844-'6); “Fact and Fiction” (1846); “The Power of Kindness” (Philadelphia, 1851); “Isaac T. Hopper, a True Life” (1853); “The Progress of Religious Ideas through Successive Ages,” an ambitious work, showing great diligence, but containing much that is inaccurate (3 vols., New York, 1855); “Autumnal Leaves” (1856); “Looking Toward Sunset” (1864); the “Freedman's Book” (1865); “Miria, a Romance of the Republic” (1867); and “Aspirations of the World” (1878). A volume of Mrs. Child's letters, with an introduction by John G. Whittier and an appendix by Wendell Phillips, was published after her death (Boston, 1882). Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 603-604. 


CHILDS, Orville Whitmore, engineer, born in Stillwater, Saratoga County, New York, 89 December, 1803; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 6 September, 1870. He was engaged in the survey and construction of the Champlain canal improvement in 1824-'5, and in building the Oswego canal in 1826-'8, and in 1829-'30 made the survey and plans for the improvement of the Oneida River, which were subsequently adopted, the work being finished in 1850. He aided in the construction of the Chenango canal in 1833-'6, and in 1836 began his labors on the enlargement of the Erie Canal, acting as chief engineer of the middle division, which extended from Syracuse to Rochester. He was chief engineer of New York state works in 1840-'7, and in 1848 was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the office of state engineer, then first created. He was chief engineer in the survey and construction of the New York Central Railroad, from Syracuse to Rochester, in 1848-'9, and in the latter year accepted a like position at the instance of the' American Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Co., of which Com. Cornelius Vanderbilt and others were the promoters, and which had a grant of land from the government of Nicaragua to build a ship canal across that country. Mr. Childs's reports, maps, surveys, and estimates for this work, made in 1850-2, attracted much attention in this country and in Europe, and have been of much use in subsequent surveys. His route is still regarded by many as the most feasible one for a ship canal across that isthmus. It extended from the harbor of Greytown on the Atlantic, through Lake Nicaragua, to Brito on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Childs was chief engineer of the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad in 1855-'8, and was afterward employed by the state to fix the boundaries of the city and county of New York. At the beginning of the Civil War he was chairman of the board of commissioners for providing proper harbor defences for New York. He moved in I860 from Syracuse, which had been his home up to that time, to Philadelphia, where he was interested in the manufacture of sleeping-cars, and in other railroad enterprises. He was president of the Central transportation company and of the Philadelphia car-works. Mr. Childs contributed much to the literature of his profession, and prepared most of the canal reports during his time. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. p. 605.


CHILDS, William H., New York, abolitionist leader, officer, Liberty Party, June 1848. (Sorin, 1971; Minutes, Convention of the Liberty Party, June 14, 15, 1848, Buffalo, New York)


CHILDSBURY, VIRGINIA, May 9, 1864. 6th Ohio and 1st New Jersey; Sheridan's raid.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 283.


CHIMNEYS, VIRGINIA, September 10, 1864. 3d Division, 2nd Army Corps. The Chimneys was a point on the Confederate lines near the Jerusalem plank road south of Petersburg, near two redoubts which the soldiers had named "Fort Hell" and "Fort Damnation." Brigadier-General Gershom Mott, commanding the 3d division, submitted a plan, which was approved by the commanding general, to drive the enemy from his rifle-pits in front of the Chimneys, and at midnight on the 9th massed his troops for that purpose. At 1 a. m. on the 10th the 20th Indiana, under Lieutenant-Colonel Meikel, made a rush and carried the rifle-pits, capturing about prisoners. The 2nd U. S. sharpshooters then advanced and perfected the connection between the captured pits and the Federal lines. Colonel Biles, with the 99th Pennsylvania, on the right of the plank road, became confused in the darkness and occupied a line somewhat in advance of the one intended, held it until daybreak, when he was forced to retire with some loss. The Union casualties were 8 killed, 14 wounded and 59 missing. Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona Territory, September 8-9, 1863. Detachment 5th California Infantry. Captain J. H. Whitlock, under date of September 12, 1863, sends the following report: "On the 8th I found them (the Indians) in force. A very spirited fight of about 15 minutes, and occasional shots for as much longer, ensued, in which I had one man and my guide severely wounded, and one horse mortally wounded. I routed them and destroyed their camps. On the 9th some of my skirmishers met some scattering Indians and exchanged a few shots."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 283-284.


CHISOLM, William Wallace, born in Morgan county, Georgia, 6 December, 1830; died in De Kalb, Mississippi, 13 May, 1877. In 1847 the family moved to Kemper County, Mississippi. In 1851 the father died, leaving William as the head of the family. In 1856 he married Emily, daughter of John W. Mann, of Florida, through whose aid he made good the deficiencies of his early education. In 1858 Mr. Chisolm was elected justice of the peace, and in 1860 probate judge, an office which he filled by successive re-elections till 1867. Until the secession of the slave states became an accomplished fact, Judge Chisolm, was a pronounced Union man, and only wavered for a short time during the height of the contagious excitement that prevailed in 1861. During the Civil War, although known as a “Whig and a unionist,” he was continued in office from term to term, a sure evidence of popular trust. But he was looked upon with suspicion by the Confederate authorities, to whom his unionist sentiments were well known. The local history of the period immediately following the cessation of hostilities embraces a series of violent crimes. The newly enfranchised Negroes naturally fraternized with the few white unionists, to form the nucleus of a Republican, or, as it was then known, a “radical” party; and by their votes Chisolm was elected sheriff. His duties often brought him into direct conflict with his political opponents, and his life was constantly in danger. In November, 1873, he was re-elected sheriff for two years, and the county, under his leadership, became the stronghold of the Republican Party in Mississippi. After the expiration of his term as sheriff he was nominated for Congress, but was defeated in 1876. In the spring of 1877, John W. Gully, a leading Democrat, was shot and killed not far from Judge Chisolm's house, and warrants were issued for Chisolm's arrest, with several of his Republican associates, as accessory to the crime. At this time the Ku-klux organization was at the height of its power, and all night preceding the expected arrest armed horsemen rode into the town of DeKalb. On the morning of Sunday, 30 April, 1877, the sheriff served the warrants, and Judge Chisolm's family, consisting of his wife, three sons, and a daughter, insisted upon accompanying him to jail. In the meantime Gilmer, one of the other arrested republicans, had been killed by the mob while on the way to the same jail in charge of a sheriff's deputy. A short time afterward a staunch friend of Chisolm's, Angus McLellan, who had resolutely guarded the Chisolm party on their way to jail, was in turn shot down as he left the prison, at the sheriff's request, to go to his own house. By this time the guards had withdrawn, leaving the jail undefended, and the mob, excited by the death of the sturdy Scotsman, began to batter in the doors to gain access to the chief victim. Chisolm armed himself with one of the guns left by his faithless guards. As the door gave way, his little son John, a boy of thirteen, threw himself into his father's arms, where he was killed by a shot from the leader of the assailants. Dropping his son's body, Chisolm instantly shot and killed the assassin, and the mob fell back panic-stricken for the time, and fired only random shots. Outside the cry was raised, " Burn them out!" and, believing that the jail was on fire, the Chisolm party descended the stairs, the mother and an elder son bearing the body of the boy between them, the father following with his daughter Cornelia, a girl of eighteen, who had already been wounded by chance shots. As soon as Chisolm came within sight of the mob he was fired upon, and fell so severely wounded that he was believed to be dead. The daughter received additional wounds at this time, and, with blood streaming from her face and arms, walked through the crowd, beside her father, who was borne to his house, not far distant, and died in about two weeks, from the effect of his wounds. The daughter died two days later, her wounds proving more serious than was at first supposed. At the September term of the county court the leaders of the mob were indicted, having in the meantime been at large, but none of them were ever punished for their part in these murders. No evidence was ever adduced connecting either Chisolm or his associates with the assassination of Gully; but the local newspapers repeatedly justified the mob. The commonly accepted explanation of the affair is, that Chisolm had so organized the recently freed and enfranchised Negroes that he controlled the elections in favor of the Republican Party—a state of things to which the Democrats of the vicinity refused to submit. In December, 1877, Walter Riley, a Negro, confessed the murder of Gully, and was hanged for the crime, but denied that Judge Chisolm and his associates instigated the act. See " The Chisolm Massacre, a Picture of Home Rule in Mississippi," by James M. Wells (Washington, 1878), giving the Republican view of the case, and " Kemper County Vindicated," giving the Democratic side.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1887, Vol. I, p.  607-608.


CHISOLM'S ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, December 17, 1861. U. S. Troops under Lieut Porter. Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens reports the following engagement on Chisolm's Island: "In pursuance of my directions Lieutenant Porter 8th Michigan, took a party last evening across the Coosaw river, and surprised a picket on Chisolm's island. I found an intelligent negro as guide. The party started at 9:30 o'clock, crossed the Coosaw, got in the rear of the picket, attacked it, and took the whole party of 6, prisoners. Two were wounded."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 284.


CHOCTAW BAYOU, LOUISIANA, April 28, 1863. Detachment of 9th Division, 13th Army Corps. During the expedition to Hard Times landing, Colonel James Keigwin, commanding this detachment, discovered that Major Isaac F. Harrison with the Confederate troops under his command had left the main road to Hard Times landing and taken position where Choctaw bayou empties into Lake Bruin. Two parties of cavalry were unable to dislodge the enemy from the position he had taken, so Keigwin with his main column left the road, fearing that should he leave Harrison undisturbed he would destroy the bridges which the Federal forces had just completed. The enemy had 4 pieces of artillery on the point of land where the bayou makes a right angle with the lake. Skirmishers were deployed and one of the two pieces of artillery was posted on the bank of the lake where it had good range; the other was in an open field After an hour's fighting the Confederates withdrew. No casualties were reported on either side.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 284.


CHOCTAW NATION, INDIAN TERRITORY, October 7-November 9. 1863. Christiana, Tennessee, March 6, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Army Corps. The brigade, commanded by Colonel Hans C. Heg of the 15th Wisconsin, moved out from camp near Murfreesboro at 7 a. m. on the Shelbyville pike. About 8 miles from Murfreesboro the enemy's pickets were driven in. At the house of a Captain Newman the Confederate cavalry dismounted and vainly endeavored to check the Federal advance After retreating for some distance the enemy again made a stand, this time along the crest of a high, rocky bluff not far from Christiana, posting his artillery. Heg doubled his skirmishers, pushed them forward, and after a sharp fight the Confederates were again forced from their position, the Union troops occupying the ridge. The enemy drew his artillery back some distance on the pike and continued to fire on the Federals, but Woodbury's 2nd Minnesota battery was brought up and quickly silenced the guns. Heg reported 1 man mortally wounded, which wa3 his only casualty. The enemy's loss was not learned.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 284.


CHOLERA. (See SANITARY PRECAUTIONS.)


CHRISTIANA, TENNESSEE, June 24, 1863. 3d Brigade, 3d Division, 20th Army Corps, and 3d Division, 14th Army Corps. This engagement was a series of skirmishers' fights. While on the march from Murfreesboro to Shelbyville the fighting commenced early and continued until the 3d brigade, 3d division, 20th corps, reached Christiana. About 2 p. m. the 3d division of the 14th corps relieved the troops of the 20th, and continued the skirmishing. The enemy used' some artillery, but the Federals refrained from bringing their pieces into action, preferring to conceal the strength of their force. No casualties were reported. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 284.


CHRISTIANA, TENNESSEE, October 5, 1863. 85th Indiana Infantry. On Monday, October 5, a Confederate force under Colonel Harrison appeared at Christiana and demanded of Captain James E. Brant, commanding the post, the surrender of the garrison, consisting of nearly 50 men. Brant at first refused to accede to the summons, but finally yielded upon being informed that the enemy had 2 pieces of artillery ready to open fire should he refuse. The Confederates remained in the town about an hour and retired after having burned the water tank, pump, warehouse and 2 cars loaded with forage.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 285.


CHRISTIANA, TENNESSEE, December 12, 1864. (See Murfreesboro, same date.)


CHRISTIANCY, Isaac Peckham, born 1812, Johnstown, New York. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. p. 611.

CHRISTIANCY, Isaac Peckham, senator, born in Johnstown (now Bleecker), New York, 12 March, 1812. He was educated at the academies of Kingsborough and Ovid, New York, and when thirteen years old became the main support of his father's family. After teaching school he studied law with John Maynard till 1836, when he moved to Monroe, Michigan, and, on the completion of his law studies, was admitted to the bar. He was prosecuting attorney for Monroe county from 1841 till 1846, and in 1848 was a delegate to the Buffalo Free-Soil Convention, having left the Democratic Party on the question of slavery. He was a member of the state senate from 1850 till 1852, and in the latter year was the Free-Soil candidate for governor. He was one of the founders of the Democratic Party in Michigan, and was a delegate to its first national convention in Philadelphia in 1856. He purchased the Monroe “Commercial” in 1857, and became its editor, and in the same year was an unsuccessful candidate for U. S. Senator. He was elected a judge of the State supreme court in 1857, re-elected in 1865 and 1873, both times without opposition, and became chief justice in January, 1872. He was elected U. S. Senator in 1875, and, resigning in February, 1879, on account of ill health, was sent as minister to Peru, where he remained for two years. During the Civil War Judge Christiancy was for a time on the staff of General Custer and that of General A. A. Humphreys. His judicial opinions, which are to be found in the “Michigan Reports” from volumes 5 to 31, inclusive, contain the best work of his life. Appletons’ Cylcopædia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. p. 611.


CHRISTIANSBURG, KENTUCKY, July 1, 1863. On July 1, 1863, General Burnside, then at Cincinnati, received the following message from A. C. Simpson at Louisville: "The rebel T. H. Hines and his party of 10 or 12 men captured the passenger train on the Louisville & Lexington railroad at Christianburg, 15 miles this side of Frankfort, this morning at 8:30 o'clock. He burned the baggage, one passenger car, and cut the telegraph lines. If there are any mounted men at Frankfort they should be sent after him, and at once. He is supposed to have gone to Owen county." A reward of $1,000 was offered for the capture of Hines. Chuckatuck, Virginia, April 22, 1863. Lieutenant Cushing, with 90 men and a howitzer, went ashore from one of the gunboats and advanced on the village of Chuckatuck, where a large force of Confederate cavalry was reported to be. He encountered 40 cavalry at the village and in a short but sharp skirmish defeated them, killing 2 and capturing 3 horses. His own loss was 1 man killed.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 285.


CHRISTY, David, born 1802, abolitionist. (Dictionary of American Biography, 1936, Vol. 2, pt. 2, p. 97)


CHRYSLER, Morgan Henry, soldier, born in Ghent, Columbia County, New York, 30 September, 1826. He received a common-school education in his native town, and has been a farmer nearly all his life. He enlisted as a private soldier in the 30th New York Volunteers on 17 April, 1861, was promoted to captain on 7 May, to major on 11 March, 1862, and to lieutenant-colonel on 30 August, serving in the Army of the Potomac. In 1863, went home, and in fifty-five days raised, by his own efforts, the 2d New York Veteran Cavalry, 1,176 men, three quarters of them being veterans from the old “Iron Brigade.” He was commissioned its colonel on 5 December, 1863, and till 8 November, 1865, served in the Army of the Gulf, commanding all the troops in northern Alabama, with headquarters at Talladega, and opening communication with Selma and Montgomery. He was present at the capture of Mobile, with its surrounding defences, was brevetted brigadier-general, 23 January, 1864, and made brigadier-general of volunteers and brevet major-general on 13 March, 1865. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 612.


CHUCKATUCK, VIRGINIA, May 3, 1863. U. S. Troops under Major Hiram B. Crosby. On Sunday morning, May 3, Major" Crosby, with the 21st Conn. infantry, a section of the 4th Wisconsin battery, and 10 men of the 1st New York mounted rifles, crossed the Nansemond river and marched on Chuckatuck. Half a mile beyond the river the Federal skirmishers encountered the enemy's pickets and drove them steadily back. When half a mile from the town a Confederate cavalry force was seen drawn up in line, but it was soon dispersed by the battery and retired to the farther side of the village. This position was not held long, however. The Union troops then passed through the village and up the Everett's Bridge road, for a distance of 50 rods, where the enemy's cavalry was again met and repulsed. The Reed's Ferry road was then taken, a sharp but short skirmish occurring near the west branch, the Union troops capturing 16 men. Bivouac was made that night on the Nansemond. The Federal casualties were 1 killed and 2 wounded. (See Suffolk.) Chulahoma, Mississippi, November 30, 1862.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 285.


CHUNKY CREEK, MISSISSIPPI, February 14, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3d Division, 17th Army Corps. As an incident of the Meridian expedition this brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General M. F. Force, surprised Wirt Adams' brigade, the rear-guard of General S. D. Lee's command, while the men were at breakfast near Chunky's station on the morning of the 14th. A slight skirmish occurred, in which the Confederates were driven across Chunky creek with some loss. Force then burned 7 wagons that he had captured, 3 railroad trestles and a warehouse filled with cotton, and destroyed the track of the Vicksburg & Meridian railroad for several hundred yards. The Union casualties were 3 men wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 285.


CHURCH, Pharcellus, clergyman, born in Seneca, near Geneva, New York, 11 August, 1801; died in Tarrytown, New York, 5 June, 1886. He was graduated at Madison University in 1824, where, in 1847, he received the degree of D. D. After studying theology, he was ordained and held pastorates in independence, Rhode Island, New Orleans, Louisiana, Rochester, New York, Boston, Massachusetts, and elsewhere. He edited the “New York Chronicle” from 1854 till 1865, and continued to the end of his life one of the proprietors of the “Examiner,” with which that paper was consolidated. He went to Europe in 1846 as a delegate to the Evangelical alliance, and resided abroad for several years. After his retirement as editor, he engaged in linguistic and other studies. While at Rochester he originated the movement that resulted in the establishment of Rochester University, and otherwise was a conspicuous figure in western New York. In Boston he was an associate editor of the “Watchman and Reflector.” Until his death he was busy with literary work, his efforts being directed more especially to the promotion of Christian union. Dr. Church's published works, besides many sermons and addresses, were “Philosophy of Benevolence” (New York, 1836); a prize essay on “Religious Dissensions: their Cause and Cure” (1838); 'Antioch; or Increase of Moral Power in the Church’” (Boston, 1843); “Life of Theodosia Dean” (1851); “Mapleton; or More Work for the Maine Law” (1852); and “Seed Truths; or Bible Views of Mind, Morals, and Religion” (New York and Edinburgh, 1871).— His son, William Conant, publisher, born in Rochester, New York, 11 August, 1836, moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1848, and completed his education at the Boston Latin-school in 1851. In 1853 he moved to New York and engaged with his father in editing and publishing the “New York Chronicle,” £"merged with the “Examiner,” in which he retained a proprietary interest. He became the publisher of the New York “Sun” in 1860, and served as war correspondent of the New York “Times” during 1861–2, until his appointment, on 4 October, 1862, as captain of U.S. volunteers. He received the brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel on 11 March, 1865. In 1882 he was appointed one of the commissioners to inspect the '' Pacific Railroad. In 1863, with his brother Francis, he established the “Army and Navy Journal,” of which he is at present editor and proprietor, and in 1866 the “Galaxy” magazine. ' £ contributed to the “Century” and other magazines.— Another son, Francis Pharcellus, editor, born in Rochester, New York, 22 February, 1839, was graduated at Columbia in 1859, and, after studying law, became one of the editors and publishers of the “Army and Navy Journal,” and later, with his brother, founded and edited the “Galaxy” magazine. He is also a leading editorial writer for New York daily journals. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 613.


CHUSTENAHLAH, INDIAN TERRITORY, December 26, 1861. Creek and Seminole Indians in U. S. Service. A Confederate force of 1,380, including a number of Cherokee Indians, attacked a combined force of Creeks and Seminoles. After a fight lasting nearly the whole day the latter were driven from the field. The only mention of the engagement is made in Confederate reports, which state that upwards of 250 of the Union force engaged were killed. The Confederate loss was 9 killed and 40 wounded. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 285.


CHUSTO-TALASAH, INDIAN TERRITORY, December 9, 1861. Indians in U. S. Service. This engagement was an attack by the combined Confederate force of Indians and whites, resulting in the defeat of the Federal forces. The only reports of the affair are Confederate, which state that their loss was 10 killed and 21 wounded; that 27 Union dead were found on the field, and 200 or 300 were wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CILLEY, Greenleaf,  naval officer, born in Thomaston, Maine, 27 October, 1829, was appointed midshipman in the ''. and attached to the frigate “Cumberland,” of the Mediterranean Squadron, in 1843–’5. In August, 1847, he was promoted to assed midshipman, and spent some time at the U. S. Naval Academy, after which he served on the frigate “Raritan” in 1849-'50, on the Coast Survey in 1851-'2, and on various vessels of the Pacific Squadron in 1852–5. He was commissioned as lieutenant in September, 1855, and connected with the sloop “Saratoga.” in 1856–8, and subsequently served on various other vessels. In July, 1862, he was made lieutenant-commander, and during the Civil War was in command of the “Unadilla,” and later of the monitor “Catskill.” At the close of the war he was retired and commissioned as commander. He now (1886) resides in Buenos Ayres. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 616


CILLEY, Jonathan Prince, soldier, born in Thomaston, Maine, 29 December, 1835, was graduated at Bowdoin in 1858, studied law with A. P. Gould in Thomaston, and, after admission to the bar, settled in his native town. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted 150 men for a light field-battery; but, that arm of the service not being required, he enlisted in the 1st Maine Cavalry, and was commissioned captain. During the retreat of General Banks from the Shenandoah valley he was wounded and made prisoner at Middletown on 24 May, 1862. Subsequently he was promoted to be major, and assigned to duty as judge-advocate and examining officer at the central guardhouse in Washington, D.C. In 1863 he rejoined his regiment with his wound still unhealed, and during 1864 was made lieutenant-colonel. He was placed in command of the regiment, and continued in this capacity until mustered out in 1865, when he received the brevet of brigadier-general for distinguished services at Five Forks, Farmville, and Appomattox Court-House. In his regiment, which was authorized to bear the names of three more battles upon its standards than any other regiment in the Army of the Potomac, General Cilley was “the first man that enlisted, the first man wounded, and nearly the last mustered out.” After the war he resumed his profession in Rockland, Maine, and since has been a member of the state legislature, deputy collector of customs, adjutant-general of the state, and commissioner of the U. S. Circuit Court. He is a member of the Maine Historical Society, and, besides addresses and memorial orations, has published a genealogy of the “Cilley Family.” Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 616


CINCINNATI, ARKANSAS, November 6, 1864. Detachments of 2nd Arkansas and 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition from Springfield, Missouri, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Federal command passed through Cincinnati and had several skirmishes with small squads of Major Buck Brown's command. Seven Confederates were killed, 1 wounded and 1 taken prisoner.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CINCINNATI, U. S. S., May 27, 1863. Charles A. Dana, special commissioner of the War Department, reported from Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the 28th: "The gunboat Cincinnati was disabled yesterday in a sharp engagement with the enemy's upper water battery, on Steele's front. She was compelled by discharges of grape to close her bow port-holes, and in endeavoring to get away swung her stern around toward the battery, when she was so badly hit that her commander ran her ashore, and she sank in shoal water. Some 20 odd lives were lost. She may be raised and saved."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CINQUE, born circa 1800, Caw-Mendi, Africa. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 617-618.

CINQUE, chief of the Mendi Africans, born in Caw-Mendi, Africa, about 1800. In the spring of 1839 he was captured by slave-traders, with a large company of his countrymen and women, and taken to Havana, Cuba. Fifty-two of them were purchased by Montes and Ruiz, two Cuban planters, and shipped for a port on the southern coast of Cuba, on the schooner “Amistad.” Cinque organized a plan for regaining the freedom of the captives, and, when four days out from Havana, gave the prearranged signal for revolt. The captain of the schooner was killed with one of his crew, and two others were wounded in the fight that followed, while the rest surrendered. The passengers and crew were treated kindly and sent ashore; but Montes and Ruiz; the nominal owners, were retained on board and given to understand that they must navigate the vessel to Africa. The Spaniards managed to steer northward by night and during foggy weather, and after a few days sighted Montauk Point, Long Island, where they anchored, and were presently taken in charge by the U. S. Coast Survey schooner “Washington,” whose commander, Lieutenant Gedney, claimed salvage for vessel and cargo, Montes and Ruiz, through the Spanish minister, claimed the Africans as their property. The whole company was sent to Farmington, Connecticut, where quarters were provided for them pending the decision of the courts. The philanthropists of New England took an active interest in the case, engaged Roger Sherman Baldwin and other eminent lawyers as counsel, and began energetically to educate and convert the heathen thus brought to their doors. It is noteworthy that the residents of the little village where this strange colony was planted soon outgrew their dread of the Africans, and during the months of their stay learned to regard them without apprehension. Cinque exercised a stern rule over them, and would permit no transgression. Many of them, including their chief, learned to read and write a little, and acquired some ideas of civilization. In the meantime the case came up before the U. S. District court for the state of Connecticut, the U. S. District attorney appearing on behalf of Montes and Ruiz as well as of the Spanish minister. Never before had the country been so sharply divided on a question touching slavery. All trials for violation of the law prohibiting the slave-trade had until this time been held before southern courts, and no one had been convicted. The pro-slavery party regarded with natural apprehension the result of such a trial on the soil of a free state. Mr. John Quincy Adams, who was the anti-slavery leader in the House of Representatives at the time, introduced resolutions calling on the president to communicate to Congress the process or authority by which these Africans, charged with no crime, were kept in custody. Further than this, it was held by the advanced anti-slavery leaders that slavery and slave-dealing constitute a perpetual war between the enslaver and the enslaved. They alleged the right of persons held as were the “‘Amistad’ captives,” not only to overpower their guards whenever they could do so, but to hold them as prisoners and the ship and cargo as their lawful prize. They held that the U. S. government had no right to interfere between the Africans and the Cuban planters, and that the former had a valid claim to the ship and her cargo. After a protracted investigation the Connecticut court decided against the libellants, who promptly appealed to the U. S. supreme court. The venerable John Quincy Adams appeared with Mr. Baldwin as counsel. The progress of the trial was watched with intense interest by the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions throughout the country. The court eventually declared in substance that these Africans were born free, that they had never been legally held as slaves, and that they were amenable to no punishment for anything they had done. They were sent back to their native land at the public expense, and a Mendi mission was established and is still maintained for their benefit by the American missionary association not far from Sierra Leone. Appletons’ Cylcopædia of American Biography, 1888.


CIRCLEVILLE, VIRGINIA, February 21, 1864. Detachments of 2nd Massachusetts and 16th New York Cavalry. This command on a raiding expedition met 70 of Mosby's men at Circleville post office. A brisk fight ensued, in which the Confederates were routed. Captain J. S. Reed commanded the Federal force.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CIRCUMVALLATION. Works made by besiegers around a besieged place facing outwards, to protect their camp from enterprises of the enemy. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 160).


CIST, Henry Martyn, lawyer, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 20 February, 1839, was graduated at Fanner's (now Belmont) College in 1858, and studied law. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 6th Ohio Infantry. He was promoted to second lieutenant in the 52d Ohio Infantry, and then to adjutant of the 74th Ohio, and was post-adjutant of Camp Chase during the confinement of the prisoners captured at Fort Donelson. In 1862 he was in the field with his. regiment, serving in middle Tennessee, in September promoted to acting assistant adjutant-general of Miller's brigade, during the Tullahoma Campaign appointed acting assistant, adjutant-general of the Department of the Cumberland, and served on the department staff under Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas until his resignation in January, 1866. Meanwhile he had attained the rank of major and assistant adjutant-general with the brevet of brigadier-general, having served in the Chickamauga and the Eastport Campaigns. General Cist remained in the service after the close of hostilities, at General Thomas's request, to give the necessary orders and to arrange the details providing for the mustering out and disbanding of over 100,000 troops. Subsequent to the war he returned to Cincinnati and resumed the practice of law, and in 1869 he was elected corresponding secretary of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, to which office he has been re-elected every year since. General Cist has contributed to periodicals many articles on the Civil War, among which are "Cincinnati with the War Fever " and " The Romance of Shiloh." He edited all but vols. ii. and iii. of " Reports of the Society of the Array of the Cumberland " (Cincinnati, 17 vols., 1868-85), and is the author of "The Army of the Cumberland" (New York, 1882). Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 617-618.


CITADEL. A citadel is a small strong fort, constructed either within the place, or on the most inaccessible part of its general outline, or very near to it; it is intended as a refuge for the garrison, in which to prolong the defence, after the place has fallen. (Scott, Military Dictionary, Van Nostrand, 1862, p. 160).


CITY BELLE (TRANSPORT), May 3, 1864. 120th Ohio Infantry. Lieutenant -Com. K. R. Breese of the fleet operating jointly with the army in the Red river campaign states in a report that the transport City Belle was captured and destroyed by the Confederates 30 miles above Fort de Russy. All the crew and' the detachment of the 120th Ohio on board with the exception of 6 were killed or captured.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, May 19, 1862. A Confederate account states that on this date a small boat, with some 20 men on board, left the Union fleet in the James river and landed at City Point, where they were attacked by the pickets of the 4th Georgia infantry. Four officers and 5 marines were captured and the remainder of the party regained the boat and headed for the gunboats, when they were called on to surrender, but they refused to heed the summons. They were then fired on and, according to the account mentioned, all were either killed or wounded. Federal records do not give any report of such an affair. City Point, Virginia, May 18, 1864 . Detachment of 2nd Brigade, 3d Division, 18th Army Corps. At 11 a. m. the Confederates made a demonstration against this place, issuing in force from the Petersburg road. The Federal pickets were at once disposed as skirmishers, but a few well-directed shots from the enemy's artillery caused them to fall back on their reserve. The Union gunboats came to the aid of the garrison, and between them and the Union artillery the enemy was forced to retire. The Federal casualties were 2 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CITY ROAD, VIRGINIA, June 19, 1862. 20th Indiana Infantry. The regiment was engaged in picketing the Charles City road near Richmond. About 4:30 a. m. a force of Confederate infantry and cavalry, numbering probably 300, made an attack on the left of the line. Colonel Brown ordered Captain Dick and Lieutenant Andrew to take 50 sharpshooters, who were under arms at the time, and assist in repelling the attack. After being driven from the left the enemy showed himself in front, where Lieutenant Carr, with a small squad, occupied a position slightly in advance. Carr and one of his men were wounded, but the enemy was repulsed. Next the center of the line was assailed and again the Confederates were driven off. No further demonstration was made. The Union casualties were 3 men wounded, 1 fatally. Brown reported several of the enemy wounded, some perhaps killed.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 258.


CIVIL AUTHORITY. (See AUTHORITY; CONTRACTS; EXECUTION OF LAWS; INJURIES; REMEDY.)


CIVIQUES FERRY, LOUISIANA, May 10, 1863. 14th and 24th Maine, and 177th New York Volunteers, and 21st New York Battery.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CLAFLIN, Horace Brigham, 1811-1885, Milford, Massachusetts, merchant, philanthropist, opponent of slavery.  (Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 618; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 110)

CLAFLIN, Horace Brigham, merchant, born in Milford, Massachusetts, 18 December, 1811; died in Fordham, New York, 14 November, 1885. He was the son of John Claflin, a general country storekeeper, farmer, and justice of the peace, and received his education at the common school and Milford Academy. His first business experience was as a clerk in his father's employ, and in 1831, with his brother Aaron and his brother-in-law, Samuel Daniels, he succeeded to his father's business. In 1832 they opened a dry-goods store in Worcester, in connection with their establishment in Milford. This venture proved successful, and in 1833 Aaron took the Milford store, leaving the other partners in exclusive possession of the Worcester business. In 1843 Horace moved to New York, and, with William F. Bulkley, organized the house of Bulkley & Claflin and began a wholesale dry-goods business at No. 46 Cedar street. In 1850 the firm built a store at No. 57 Broadway, which they occupied from January, 1851, until 1853. Mr. Bulkley retired from the partnership in July, 1851, when, with William H. Mellen and several of his principal clerks, he continued his business as Claflin, Mellen & County Meanwhile their trade increased very rapidly, and larger accommodation became necessary. Mr. Claflin, with others, then erected the Trinity building, at No. 111 Broadway, whither the business was transferred. In 1861 another change was necessary, and the enormous warehouse on Worth street, extending from Church street to West Broadway, was secured. The beginning of the Civil War, coming suddenly at this time, found the firm's assets largely locked up and rendered almost worthless, and they were compelled to ask from their creditors an extension of time in which to settle their accounts. These liabilities were subsequently paid with interest long before maturity, and the house entered upon a career of unparalleled prosperity. At the beginning of 1864 Mr. Mellen retired from the firm, which then adopted the style of H. B. Claflin & Company The panic of 1873 again caused the firm to ask their creditors for an extension of five months, with interest added in settlement of their open accounts. Notwithstanding the enormous amounts that they were unable to collect at that time, no paper with their name on it went to protest, and their notes were all paid in three months, sixty days before maturity. During a single year the sales of this house have amounted to $72,000,000; and the ability of Mr. Claflin may be judged by the magnitude of the business, which from 1865 to the time of his death far exceeded that of any other commercial house in the world. He was a man of domestic habits and of exemplary life, fond of books and of horses. Almost daily, no matter what the weather might be, he drove from ten to twenty miles. He was prominently associated with Mr. Beecher's Church in Brooklyn, where he resided during the winter. His acts of charity were frequent and unostentatious, and to many of the benevolent institutions of Brooklyn he was a liberal donor. It was a great satisfaction to him to assist young men, and probably no other person in the United States aided so many beginners with money and credit until they were able to sustain themselves. In politics he was a strong Republican until the canvass of 1884, when he supported the Democratic candidate for the presidency. Mr. Claflin was a man of very strong convictions, and in 1850, when it cost something to be known as an opponent of slavery, he was an uncompromising friend of freedom. See “Tribute of the Chamber of Commerce to the Memory of Horace B. Claflin” (New York, 1886). Appletons’ Cylcopædia of American Biography, 1888.


CLAFLIN, Jehiel C., abolitionist, West Brookfield, Vermont, American Anti-Slavery Society, Vice-President, 1855-1853.  Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, Vice President, 1841-1860.


CLAFLIN, William H., Newton, Massachusetts, Church Anti-Slavery Society, Vice-President, 1859-62


CLAIBORNE, John Herbert, physician, born in Brunswick county, Virginia, 16 March, 1828. He was graduated at the University of Virginia in 1849, and at the Jefferson Medical College in 1850, after which for a year he was connected with hospitals in Philadelphia, In 1851 he settled in Petersburg, Virginia, and there practised until 1861. In 1857 he was a member of the Virginia Senate. During the Civil War he was a surgeon in the Confederate Army, and in 1862 organized the general hospital in Petersburg, of which he became chief executive officer. He is member of several medical societies, has held the office of vice-president of the Virginia State Medical Society, and of the Confederate States Army and Navy Medical Association. Of late years he has made a specialty of diseases of women and children, and his published articles in medical journals are principally on these subjects. He has published essays on "Diphtheria" and "Dysmenorrhea," and a volume of "Clinical Reports from Private Practice" (1873). Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 619.


CLAPPER'S SAWMILL, Arkansas, March 31, 1863. Detachment 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Richard H. White of the 3d Wisconsin cavalry, with a detachment of his regiment, surprised the picket of a Confederate camp on Crooked creek and captured them without firing a shot. He then advanced on the camp itself near Clapper's sawmill, opening on it with his howitzers. The enemy fled in confusion.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 286.


CLARA BELL, STEAMER, July 24, 1864. Detachment 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery. The monthly return of Brigadier-General George H. Gordon, commanding an expedition up White river, says: "Four companies 6th Michigan heavy artillery, of this brigade, on the Clara Bell, having lagged behind, owing to the disobedience of orders of the lieutenant-colonel commanding, were fired upon by a rebel battery and the boat destroyed."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 287.


CLARA EAMES, U. S. TRANSPORT, May 30, 1864. On this date Confederate General Marmaduke reported from Smith's plantation, near Sunnyside: "This morning at daylight I attacked the transport (Clara Eames), cut her escape-pipe, penetrated her boilers, putting in 17 shots in all. She surrendered and came to shore. Her cargo was cotton. All the light articles were removed from her—everything of value * * * and burned the transport." In some of the reports the name of this vessel appears as "Clara Ames."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 287.


CLARENDON, ARKANSAS, EXPEDITION TO, August 4-17, 1862. 4th Division, Army of the Southwest. Brigadier-General Alvin P. Hovey left Helena on the 4th to make a demonstration in the direction of Little Rock. On the third day out the command shelled out a force of Texas Rangers in a grove near Uncle Billy Kendall's place on the Clarendon road. On the evening of the 7th Hovey arrived at Clarendon and found the enemy posted on the other side of the White river. The artillery was brought to bear and soon routed him. Hovey remained in Clarendon until the 13th, sending out small expeditions each day, which caused the Confederates to abandon Des Arc and Cotton Plant and move toward Little Rock. The Federal loss in the expedition was 3 killed and 2 wounded. The column returned to Helena on the 17th.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 287.


CLARENDON, ARKANSAS, JANUARY —, 1863. (See White River, Gorman's Expedition.)


CLARENDON, ARKANSAS, March 15, 1864. 8th Missouri Cavalry. Clarendon, Arkansas, June 24, 1864. Queen City, Fawn, Tyler and Naumkeag. During Shelby's operations on the White river he occupied Clarendon in the night and at daylight of the 24th opened an attack on the armed steamer Queen City lying in the river. After an engagement of about 20 minutes the vessel was badly disabled and the crew surrendered. The Confederates had removed 2 guns, one 12 and one 24-pounder, when the gunboats Tyler, Naumkeag and Fawn compelled them to scuttle and fire the Queen City. Two of the gunboats ran Shelby's batteries, which were thus subjected to a cross-fire and were rapidly withdrawn. A desultory fire was continued all day between the Confederate sharpshooters and the gunboats. The casualties were not reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 287.


CLARENDON, ARKANSAS, June 26, 1864. U. S. Troops under Brigadier-General Eugene A. Carr. On this day General Carr with a force of about 3,000 infantry and cavalry and a battery landed at Clarendon to attack Confederate General Joseph O. Shelby, who had taken possession of the town. Carr found that the enemy had retired to Pikeville, about a mile and a half from Clarendon where the Cotton Plant and Helena roads fork. Some sharp skirmishing was done here, the Confederates being compelled to retire. For two days the Federal forces followed, but were unable to come up with the fleeing enemy. Carr lost 1 killed and 16 wounded. Shelby reported his casualties at 30 killed and wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 287.


CLARENDON, ARKANSAS, October 11, 1864. U. S. Steamer Resolute. Brigadier-General Christopher C. Andrews, commanding the 2nd division of the 7th army corps, reporting under date of October 12, says: "The steamer Resolute, towing two barges, was fired into from east bank of White river, twelve miles above Clarendon, at 8 o'clock last night. Four men wounded; 1 mortally."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 287.


CLARK, Ambrose W., Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, voted for Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery (Congressional Globe)


CLARK, Daniel, 1809-1891, lawyer, jurist, organizer and founder of the Republican Party, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, ardent supporter of the Union.  Voted for Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery (Appletons’, 1888, Vol. I, p. 625; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 125; Congressional Globe)

CLARK, Daniel, senator, born in Stratham, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, 24 October, 1809. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1834 with the highest honors of his class, studied law, and began practice at Epping, New Hampshire, in 1837. He moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1839, and was a member of the legislature for five years. He was elected U. S. Senator in 1857 for the unexpired term of James Bell, deceased, and was re-elected in 1861, serving till he resigned in July, 1866. He was president pro tem. of the Senate for some time in 1864-'5. On 11 July, 1861, Senator Clark offered a resolution, which was adopted, expelling from the Senate the southern senators who had left their seats on the secession of their states. He took an active part in the debates of the Senate, and was a steadfast supporter of the government during the Civil War. On his resignation, he was appointed by President Johnson U. S. Judge for the District of New Hampshire. He was president of the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention of 1876. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 625. 


CLARK, John Bullock, lawyer, born in Madison county, Kentucky, 17 April, 1802; died in Fayette, Missouri, 29 October, 1885. He moved to Missouri with his father in 1818, was admitted to the bar in 1824, and began practice at Fayette, Missouri He was clerk of the Howard county courts from 1824 till 1834, commanded a regiment of Missouri volunteer Cavalry in the Black Hawk war of 1832, where he was twice wounded, and in 1848 was commissioned major-general of militia. He was a member of the legislature in 1850 and 1851, and was at the head of the force sent out to expel the Mormons from Missouri. He was elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1857, to fill a vacancy, and served till 1861, when he withdrew and joined the Confederates. He was formally expelled on 13 July, 1861. At the beginning of the war he was appointed brigadier-general by Governor Jackson, and commanded the Missouri troops till disabled at the battle of Springheld in August, 1861. Before his recovery he was elected to the first Confederate Congress, and was afterward senator from Missouri till the close of the war. He then resumed his law practice at Fayette. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 629


CLARK, John Bullock, lawyer, born in Fayette, Missouri, 14 January, 1831, spent two years in Missouri University, and then entered Harvard law school, where he was graduated in 1854. At the beginning of the Civil War he entered the Confederate Army as a lieutenant, and rose through the grades of captain, major, and colonel, to that of brigadier-general. He was elected to Congress as a Democrat, serving from 1 December, 1873, till 1883, and on 4 December, 1883, was chosen clerk of the House of Representatives. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 629


CLARK, John G., anti-slavery activist, S. Kingston, Rhode Island, American Anti-Slavery Society, Manager, 1836-40.


CLARK, Myron Holley, 1806-1892, Governor of New York State. Supported by the anti-slavery wings of the Democratic and Whig Parties.  (Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 630; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 138)

CLARK, Myron Holley, governor of New York, born in Naples, Ontario County, New York, 23 October, 1806. His grandfather, Colonel William Clark, moved from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, to Ontario county, New York, in 1790. Myron was educated in a District school at Naples, attending from three to four months annually, when between six and seventeen years old. After filling several offices in his native town, and becoming lieutenant-colonel of state militia, he was sheriff of Ontario county for two years, and, having moved to Canandaigua, was president of that village in 1850 and 1851, and state senator from 1852 till 1854. During Mr. Clark's first term as senator in 1852–’3, the law was consolidating the several railroads now forming the New York central, and it was largely by his persistent firmness that the provision limiting passenger fares to two cents a mile was adopted. As chairman of the committee on the subject he was influential in securing the of the prohibitory liquor law that was vetoed by Governor Seymour. In the anti-slavery wings of both the Whig and Democratic parties, the prohibitionists, and several independent organizations separately nominated Mr. Clark for governor, and he was elected by a small majority, his supporters in some of their state organizations taking the name of “Republicans" thus making him the earliest state candidate of that party. During his administration a new prohibitory law was passed, and signed by him. It remained in force about nine months, when it was set aside by the court of appeals. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 639.


CLARK, Peter H., 1829-1925, free African American, Ohio, abolitionist, publisher, editor, writer, orator.  Published anti-slavery newspaper, The Herald of Freedom, in Ohio. (Rodriguez, 2007, p. 58)


CLARK, William Smith, educator, born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, 31 July, 1826; died in Amherst, 9 March, 1886. He received his early education at Williston seminary, and was graduated at Amherst in 1848. For two years he taught the natural sciences at Williston seminary, after which he spent two years abroad studying chemistry and botany at Gottingen, where," in 1852, he received the degree of Ph. D. On his return to the United States, in 1852, he was elected to the chair of analytical and applied chemistry, and from 1854 till 1858 was professor of chemistry, botany, and zoology. From 1858 till 1867 he filled the chair of chemistry alone. He was commissioned major in the 21st Massachusetts Infantry in August, 1861, became colonel in May, 1862, and was recommended by General Burnside for a well-deserved promotion as brigadier-general. Colonel Clark participated in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newbern, Camden, North Carolina, the second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1867 he was elected to the presidency of the Massachusetts agricultural College. This office, with the chair of botany and horticulture, he held until 1879, except during 1876-'7. when he was in Japan, where he had been invited to establish and organize the Imperial College of agriculture at Sapporo. During his stay in Japan he examined the flora of that country, and was the means of introducing new species of shade-trees into the United States. He also sent to Massachusetts a large assortment of seeds, many of which proved of special value to his own state, on account of the high latitude from which they were selected. He discovered a new lichen on the side of Mt. Tieni, at an elevation of 3,200 feet, which was named Cetraria Clarkii, in his honor, by Professor Edward Tuckerman. Subsequent to his resignation from the agricultural college he became interested in a scientific floating college, projected by Mr. Woodruff, whose sudden death caused the abandonment of the scheme. After this Professor Clark resided in Amherst until his death, partly occupied with mining operations. From 1859 till 1861 he was a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, and a member ex officio from 1876 till 1879. He was one of the commission of three, appointed by Governor Andrew in 1863, to consider the expediency of establishing a state military academy. He was a presidential elector in 1864, and a representative to the Massachusetts legislature in 1864–75 and 1867. He was a fellow of the American Academy of arts and sciences, and also a member of other scientific societies. His published papers include following papers contributed to the annual reports of the Massachusetts state board of agriculture: “Report on Horses” (1859–60); “Professional Education the Present Want of Agriculture,” “The Work and the Wants of the Agricultural College” (1868); “The Cultivation of the Cereals” (1868): “Nature's Mode of Distributing Plants” (1870); “The Relations of Botany to Agriculture” (1872): “The Circulation of Sap in Plants” (1873): “Observations on the Phenomena of Plant-Life” (1874); and “Agriculture in Japan” (1878). In 1869 he translated, for use in the Agricultural College, Scheerer's “Blow-pipe Manual.” Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 631-632.


CLARKE, Augustine, 1771-1841, Danville, Vermont, attorney, banker, politician, abolitionist.  Manager, 1833-1836, and founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society, December 1833. (Abolitionist, Vol. I, No. XII, December, 1833)


CLARKE, Freeman, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, voted for Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery (Congressional Globe)


CLARKE, Henry Francis, soldier, born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, 9 November, 1820. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1843, entered the artillery, served in the military occupation of Texas in 1845-'6, and in the war with Mexico, he distinguished himself at Chapultepec, where he won the brevet of captain, and was present at the assault and capture of the city of Mexico. He was assistant instructor of artillery at the Military Academy in 1848-'9, assistant professor of mathematics in 1850-'l, was engaged with his regiment in the Seminole War of 1851-2, again assistant instructor of artillery at West Point in 1855-'6, made captain, 12 January, 1857, accompanied the Utah Expedition of 1857 as commissary of subsistence, and remained there as chief commissary till 1860, when he was assigned to duty in the office of the commissary-general, he ordered the expedition for the relief of Fort Pickens, 1 April, 1861, was appointed chief commissary of General McDowell's command, 2 July, 1861, served in the Manassas Campaign, was promoted major, 3 August, and served as chief commissary of subsistence of the Army of the Potomac from 20 August, 1861, till 5 January, 1864, being present at the siege of Yorktown, the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, 29 June, 1864, and had charge of purchase of supplies in New York City till 1867; was brevetted brigadier- general for gallantry at the battle of Gettysburg, and major-general for faithful services in the subsistence department during the Civil War. He served as chief of commissariat of the Division of the Missouri in 1868-'75, and of the Division of the Atlantic from 1879 until he was retired, 9 November, 1884, with the rank of colonel, having been advanced to that grade on 20 May, 1882. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 633.


CLARKE, James Freeman, 1779-1839, jurist, lawyer, opponent of slavery.  Governor of Kentucky.  U.S. Congressman.  (Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 628)


CLARKE, Lewis G., 1815-1897, African American, anti-slavery lecturer, author, escaped slave.  Dictated his recollections of slavery to abolitionist Joseph C. Lovejoy in 1845.  Published as Narratives of the Sufferings of Lewis and Milton Clarke… (Gates, Henry Louis, Jr., & Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, eds. African American National Biography. Oxford University Press, 2013, Vol. 3, p. 100; American National Biography, 2002, Vol. 4, p. 979)


CLARK'S BAYOU, LOUISIANA, April 26, 1863. Detachment of 9th Division, Page 288 12th Army Corps. During the Vicksburg campaign the expedition led by Colonel James Keigwin to Hard Times landing, came upon a Confederate force under Major Isaac Harrison on a strip of land between Phelps' and Clark's bayous. A few shells drove Harrison's men in confusion, leaving only a few dismounted men in a hedge near the bank of Clark's bayou. It took over an hour to drive these out, but it was finally done with the loss of i man wounded on the Confederate side.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARKSBURG, TENNESSEE, December 30, 1862. 122nd Illinois Infantry. This was a slight skirmish between the advance of the 3d brigade, Sullivan's division, and four companies of Forrest's command, during the latter's raid into West Tennessee. The Federal forces were victorious. No casualties were reported. Clark's Creek Church, Tennessee, September 13, 1863. Detachments 7th Illinois Mounted Infantry and 10th Missouri Cavalry. This engagement was an incident of an expedition from Corinth, Mississippi, to Henderson, Tennessee Major George H. Estabrook, commanding, learned that the Confederates were in force at the church and immediately pushed forward. The enemy's pickets were driven in, and the main column broke into small squads, scattering through the country. No casualties were reported.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARK'S HOLLOW, WEST VIRGINIA, May 1, 1862. Company C, 23d Ohio Volunteers. This action is described under the head of Camp creek, Clark's hollow being situated on that stream.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARK'S MILL, MISSOURI, July 30, 1862. 1st Missouri Militia Cavalry. This command, under Lieutenant-Colonel Alex. M. Woolfolk, while in pursuit of guerrillas, came across a band of 80 emerging from a piece of heavy timber about dusk. The Federal troops charged and drove most of the band back into the timber, those who attempted to escape being cut off by a detachment of Woolfolk's party. The enemy lost 8 killed and a number wounded. The only casualty in Woolfolk's command was 1 man wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARK'S MILL, MISSOURI, November 7, 1862. Detachments of 10th Illinois Cavalry and Missouri State Militia. The Confederates, 1,000 strong, attacked the Federal force, consisting of about 100 men under Captain Hiram E. Barstow, and after a fight lasting 6 hours the enemy called upon Barstow to surrender. After consultation with his officers and men the latter acceded, having lost 7 killed and 2 wounded. The enemy's loss was 34 killed and a number wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARK'S MOUNTAIN, VIRGINIA, August 18, 1862. Detachment of the 9th Army Corps. At 1 p. m. of the 17th Lieutenant-Colonel Duryea, 2nd Maryland infantry, with 250 men, left the Federal camp at Cedar creek to break up the Confederate signal station on the summit of Clark's mountain. A small mounted force of the enemy was encountered at daylight next morning and a slight skirmish resulted in the capture of 2 and the wounding of several more. No casualties were reported among the Union troops.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARK'S NECK, LAWRENCE COUNTY, Kentucky, August 27, 1863. 39th Kentucky Volunteers.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARKSON, Thomas, abolitionist (Basker, 2005, pp. 3, 57, 128, 132, 148, 162, 169 170, 241; Bruns, 1977, pp. 79, 145, 314; Goodell, 1852, pp. 56-59, 66, 355-360, 393, 444)


CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS, October 28, 1863. 3d Wisconsin Cavalry. Clarksville, Arkansas, November 8, 1863. 3d Wisconsin Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.


CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS, April 3, 1864. 2nd Arkansas Infantry. Lieut-Colonel Gideon M. Waugh of the 2nd Arkansas infantry (Union) sent the following report under date of April 4: "I surprised a guerrilla's camp yesterday, killed 3, wounded 10, captured 19 horses, 5 Sharps carbines, 5 Enfield rifles, and lots of small arms, blankets, and saddles. The captain was killed."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 288.

CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS, May 18. 1864.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p.


CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS, September 28, 1864. Detachments of 3d Wisconsin, 3d Arkansas, 1st Iowa, 3d Missouri, 3d U. S., and 4th Arkansas Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition from Little Rock to Fort Smith this command, under Major Thomas Derry of the 3d Wisconsin, came upon the Confederate pickets about 3 p. m. near Clarksville and drove them back upon their reserve. A rapid advance of the Federal column sent the enemy flying in every direction, leaving 7 dead upon the field. At the Union encampment for the night, 3 miles beyond Clarksville, some skirmishing was done with bushwhackers, the 3d Wisconsin losing 1 man.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 288-289.


CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS, October 9, 1864. Expedition under Major Thomas Derry. On the return of this expedition, consisting of the detachments of 3d Wisconsin, 3d Arkansas, 1st la., 3d Missouri, 3d U. S., and 4th Arkansas cavalry, the advance was fired upon by a party of Confederates at Clarksville. No damage was done the Union command, whose advance pursued the enemy across the bridge.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 289.

CLARKSVILLE, ARKANSAS, January 18, 1865. Clarksville, Tennessee, August 18, 1862. Part of the 71st Ohio Infantry. The . post at Clarksville was garrisoned by about 300 men of the 71st Ohio, commanded by Colonel Rodney Mason. On the 18th a force of Confederates, estimated at from 800 to 1,000 men, under Colonels A. R. Johnson and J. R. Woodward, appeared before the town and commenced making preparations to attack. Mason was temporarily absent from the Union works and Lieutenant-Colonel Andrews drew up the men in line of battle. About noon a flag of truce was seen approaching the Federal lines, and Mason having returned, a council was called, at which it was decided to surrender. Not a shot was fired. The Confederates also captured the steamer Fisher, loaded with stores for the garrison, and threw the cargo into the river. Mason and several of his officers were cashiered for not making an effort to hold the post against the enemy. Clarksville, Tennessee, September 5-10, 1862. Expedition from Fort Donelson. The expedition, made up of parts of the 11th Illinois, 13th Wisconsin, and 71st Ohio infantry, part of the 5th la. cavalry, one section of Flood's and one of Stenbeck's battery, numbering in all 1,030 men, commanded by Colonel William Love of the 5th la., left Fort Donelson on the morning of the 5th and the next morning was at Blue Springs, 16 miles from Clarksville. From this point the command moved slowly for the next 6 miles, keeping a constant lookout for the enemy. That afternoon a reconnoitering party of cavalry under Lieutenant Moreing came upon the Confederate pickets and immediately gave chase, pursuing them to near New Providence, where the Union troops were fired upon from an ambush. Although the enemy was within 15 yards of the road not a man of Moreing's party was injured, the only casualties being 1 horse killed and 3 disabled. Love then sent Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick, with four companies of cavalry, three companies of infantry and one cannon, to drive in the pickets and create the impression that the whole body was advancing to attack. The Confederates retired to Riggin's hill, about 3 miles from Clarksville, and took up a position, where Love encountered them about 10 o'clock the next morning. The artillery was ordered to the front a lively fire of shell and canister was opened on the enemy's lines. After half an hour this fire had the desired effect, for the enemy was completely routed, rapidly retreating toward Clarksville. Love pushed forward his whole command in pursuit, but the Confederates were making such good time that they could not be overtaken by the infantry. A detachment of cavalry was then sent forward to prevent the enemy from destroying the bridge over Red river, and came upon the Confederates just as they had begun the work of tearing up the flooring of the bridge. A charge drove them from their work and they retired precipitately through the town, scattering in all directions through the woods. Love then marched in and took possession, capturing 40 horses, a considerable quantity of arms and ammunition, some commissary stores, and several prisoners. About 1,000 bales of hay and 250 boxes of commissary stores, that could not be removed for want of transportation, were burned. Colonel Woodward, commanding the Confederate forces, reported a loss of 17 killed and 40 or 50 wounded. No casualties were reported on the Federal side.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, pp. 289-290.


CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE, November 25, 1862, and October 28, 1863.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 290.


CLARKTON, MISSOURI, October 23, 1862. Expedition under command of Captain Rodgers, 2nd Illinois Artillery. This Confederate post was surprised by a Federal force of 400 men under Captain B. F. Rodgers, consisting of detachments of the 2nd Illinois cavalry, 2nd Illinois artillery and the 72nd Illinois infantry. The first intimation the enemy had of the proximity of Rodgers' command was the bursting of several shells in the barracks. The post was surrounded and the garrison captured—38 men in all—besides 100 stands of arms, 67 horses and mules, 2 transportation wagons and a large amount of ammunition. The Confederates lost 11 in killed and wounded. The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 290.


CLARY, Robert Emmet, soldier, born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, 21 March, 1805. He was graduated at the U. S. Military Academy in 1828, was assigned to the 5th U.S. Infantry, and served on frontier duty till 7 July, 1838, when he was made assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain. He became captain on 3 April, 1839, served in the Florida War of 1840-'l, and at various posts till the Civil War. He was chief quartermaster of the Department of West Virginia from November, 1861, till July, 1862, of the Army of Virginia to October, 1862, and of the Department of the Northwest till 20 March, 1863. He was made colonel on the staff and additional aide-de-camp, 5 July, 1862. and was in charge of the Memphis military "depot from 1864 till 1866. On 13 March. 1865, he was brevetted brigadier-general for his services during the war. He was made assistant quartermaster-general on 29 July, 1866, and served as depot quartermaster at Boston, Massachusetts from 1867 till 1869. On 22 February of that year he was retired, being over sixty-two years of age. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 637.


CLAY, Cassius Marcellus, 1810-1903, Madison County, Kentucky, anti-slavery political leader, emancipationist, large landowner, statesman, lawyer, diplomat, soldier, newspaper publisher. Granted land for Berea College, Berea, Kentucky.  Prominent anti-slavery activist with Kentucky State legislature and member of the Republican Party.  Published anti-slavery paper, True American, in Lexington, Kentucky.

(Blue, 2005, pp. 151, 171; Clay, 1896; Dumond, 1961, p. 258; Filler, 1960, pp. 213, 221, 248, 256, 272; Mabee, 1970, pp. 4, 237, 258-259, 327, 336, 372; Mitchell, 2007, pp. 5, 63, 64, 71, 107, 147, 156, 199; Rodriguez, 2007, pp. 380, 619; Smiley, 1962; Wilson, 1872, pp. 628-635; Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 503, 577, 639-640; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 18; American Reformers: An H.W. Wilson Biographical Dictionary, New York, 1985, pp. 171-173; American National Biography, Oxford University Press, New York, 2002, Vol. 4; The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. II. New York: James T. White, 1892, pp. 311-312)

CLAY, Cassius Marcellus, politician, born in Madison county, Kentucky, 19 October, 1810, studied at Transylvania University, but afterward entered the junior class at Yale, and was graduated there in 1832. While in New Haven he heard William Lloyd Garrison, and, although his parents were slave-holders, became an earnest abolitionist. He began to practice law in his native county, and was elected to the legislature in 1835, but was defeated the next year on account of his advocacy of internal improvements. He was again elected in 1837, and in 1839 was a member of the convention that nominated General Harrison for the presidency. He then moved to Lexington, and was again a member of the legislature in 1840, but in 1841 was defeated, after an exciting canvass, on account of his anti-slavery views. The improved jury system and the common-school system of Kentucky are largely due to his efforts while in the legislature. Mr. Clay denounced the proposed annexation of Texas, as intended to extend slavery, and in 1844 actively supported Henry Clay for the presidency, speaking in his behalf in the northern states. On 3 June, 1845, he issued in Lexington the first number of an anti-slavery paper entitled “The True American.” Mob violence had been threatened, and the editor had prepared himself for it. He says in his memoirs: “I selected for my office a brick building, and lined the outside doors with sheet-iron, to prevent it being burned. I purchased two brass four-pounder cannon at Cincinnati, and placed them, loaded with shot and nails, on a table, breast high; had folding-doors secured with a chain, which could open upon the mob and give play to the cannon. I furnished my office with Mexican lances, and a limited number of guns. There were six or eight persons who stood ready to defend me. If defeated, they were to escape by a trap-door in the roof; and I had placed a keg of powder with a match, which I could set off and blow up the office and all my invaders; and this I should most certainly have done in case of the last extremity.” In August, while the editor was sick, his press was seized by the mob and taken to Cincinnati, and he himself was threatened with assassination; but, notwithstanding all opposition, he continued to publish the paper, printing it in Cincinnati and circulating it through Kentucky. This was not his only narrow escape. He was continually involved in quarrels, had several bloody personal encounters, and habitually spoke in political meetings, with a bowie knife concealed about him, and a brace of pistols in the mouth of his grip-sack, which he placed at his feet. When war with Mexico was declared, Mr. Clay entered the army as captain of a volunteer infantry company that had already distinguished itself at Tippecanoe in 1811. He took this course because he thought a military title necessary to political advancement in a “fighting state” like Kentucky. On 23 January, 1847, while in the van, more than 100 miles in advance of the main army, he was taken prisoner, with seventy-one others, at Encarnacion, and marched to the city of Mexico. On one occasion, after the escape of some of the captives, the lives of the remainder were saved by Captain Clay's gallantry and presence of mind. After being exchanged, he returned to Kentucky, and was presented by his fellow-citizens with a sword in honor of his services. He worked for General Taylor's nomination in the Convention of 1848, and carried Kentucky for him. He called a convention of emancipationists at Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1849, and in 1850, separating from the Whig Party, was an anti-slavery candidate for governor, receiving about 5,000 votes. He labored energetically for Frémont's election in 1856, and for Lincoln's in 1860, but took pains to separate himself from the “radical abolitionists,” holding that all interference with slavery should be by legal methods. On 28 March, 1861, he was appointed minister to Russia. He returned to this country in June, 1862, having been commissioned major-general of volunteers, and shortly afterward made a speech in Washington, declaring that he would never draw his sword while slavery was protected in the seceding states. He resigned on 11 March, 1863, and was again sent as minister to Russia, publicly supported the revolutionary movement in Cuba, and became president of the Cuban aid Society. In 1871 he delivered an address by invitation at the St. Louis fair, urging speedy reconciliation with the north, and at the same time attacking President Grant's administration. He was identified with the liberal republican movement in 1872, and supported his old friend Horace Greeley for the presidency. He afterward joined the Democratic Party, and actively supported Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, but advocated Blaine's election in 1884. In 1877 Mr. Clay shot and killed a Negro, Perry White, whom he had discharged from his service and who had threatened his life. Mr. Clay was tried, and the jury gave a verdict of “justifiable homicide.” A volume of his speeches was edited by Horace Greeley (1848), and he has published “The Life, Memoirs, Writings, and Speeches of Cassius M. Clay” (2 vols., Cincinnati, 1886). Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I. pp. 503, 577, 639-640.

Chapter: “Vermont and Massachusetts. --John P. Hale. -- Cassius M. Clay,” by Henry Wilson, in History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, 1872.

While Mr. Hale was making his gallant and successful fight in New Hampshire, by which he placed himself at once among the foremost advocates of liberty, freedom found another champion, on the very soil of slavery itself, in the person of Cassius M. Clay. Belonging to an eminent family, reared under the influences of slavery, he was identified with it by birth, inheritance, and position. From personal knowledge and his affiliations of family, party, and business, he had spoken during the presidential canvass of 1844 with authority upon the subject of slavery, revealing to thousands the inner life and workings of the system.

Mr. Clay was a native of Kentucky. Educated at Yale; he had soon learned to recognize the difference between the slave and the free States, while the antislavery discussions that were rife during his stay in New England greatly excited his feelings and changed his sentiments; and at an early day he determined to emancipate his slaves. Entering the Kentucky legislature in 1835, he at once introduced and became the champion of a common-school system for his native State. But he soon learned that such a system was incompatible with the presence and power of slavery wherever the latter was established, and was giving tone to the thought and feeling of society.

In 1841 an act was introduced into that legislature for the repeal of a law adopted in 1833 to prevent the importation of slaves into the State. He, of course, arrayed himself against the repeal, and denounced in fitting language this reactionary measure. Such a demonstration from one occupying his position naturally excited surprise, and provoked that kind and style of opposition in which the slave-masters were accustomed to indulge toward any who opposed their policy or condemned their cherished system. But he declared that denunciation could not silence him; that epithets and the cry of abolition had no terrors for him; and that bowie-knives, pistols, and mobs could not force him to desist. He said that his blood was ready for the sacrifice, though he warned gentlemen that he should not be "a tame victim of either force or denunciation." He affirmed that there was a party in the country which was .the advocate of perpetual slavery, and in favor of destroying the Union. He protested against what he termed the treasonable scheme of the disunionists; and he asserted that on the day when this should be seriously attempted or consummated there should be "one Kentuckian shrouded under the stars and stripes; one heart undesecrated with the faith that slavery is the basis of civil liberty; one being who could not exist in a government denying the right of petition, the liberty of speech and of the press; one man who would not be the outlaw of nations or the slave of a slave."

Entertaining such sentiments, and believing that the proposed annexation of Texas was for “the extension of slavery among men," he interposed a most determined opposition. In a speech in December, 1843, in reply to ex-Vice-President Richard M. Johnson, he made an impassioned appeal to the people of Kentucky to enter their solemn protest against this most unholy scheme. He reminded them, if this project was carried out for the purposes for which it was formed, they could no longer cover themselves, when reproached for the existence of slavery, under the plea that it was an entailed evil for which they could not be held responsible. If they supported this scheme, with this the real and avowed object, they would commit themselves anew to the system it was thus proposed to strengthen and extend.

Holding these ideas of annexation, and deeply impressed with the magnitude of the interests at stake and the gravity of the impending peril, he entered with great earnestness into the presidential contest of 1844. He traversed the free States, urging the claims of Henry Clay. He was especially urgent that antislavery men should give him their votes, as the only way by which annexation could be prevented. Affirming that Mr. Clay had virtually pledged himself to oppose the admission of Texas, by making the conditions of his “support such as could not be fulfilled, he contended that they themselves held the power in their hands to prevent it. Among those conditions was the “common consent of the Union." " So long, then," he said, in one of his speeches, "as the vestal flame of liberty shall burn in your bosoms, eternal and inextinguishable, so long is Mr. Clay, three several times, in the most solemn manner, before the nation and all mankind, irrevocably bound to oppose the annexation of Texas to the United States." " Of all men," he continued, " now present I have the greatest cause to take care that I am not deceived in this matter ; but I can go --I say it before God and man -- with a good conscience for him, because I believe it will save my country from ruin if we shall secure his election." His labors in the canvass were arduous, his feelings were deeply enlisted in the issues at stake, and his consequent disappointment in view of defeat was very great.

The defeat of Mr. Clay, however, while it made annexation certain, did not discourage him. His spirit rose with the occasion, and his purpose to war against the cause of all this scheming and plotting seemed to be strengthened.  Returning to Kentucky, he issued, in January, 1845, an address to the people of his State, in which he portrayed the baleful effects of slavery, even upon that " young and beautiful Commonwealth," to whose " Italian skies " and· " more than Sicilian verdure" he mournfully referred as being blighted and clouded by this terrible curse. " Her fields," he says, " relapse into primitive sterility; her population wastes away, manufactures recede from her infected border, trade languishes, decay trenches upon her meagre accumulations of taste or utility, gaunt famine stalks into the portals of the homestead, sullen despair begins to display itself in the careworn faces of men, the heavens and the earth cry aloud, the eternal laws of happiness and existence have been trampled underfoot …Agriculture drags along its slow pace with slovenly, ignorant, and reckless labor. Science, literature, and art are strangers here. Poets, historians, artists, and machinists; the lovers of the ideal, the great, the beautiful, the true, and the useful,--flourish where thought and action are untrammeled… A loose and inadequate respect for the rights of property, of necessity, follows in the wake of slavery. Duelling, bloodshed, and lynch-law leave but little security to person. A general demoralization has corrupted the first minds in the nation, its hot contagion has spread among the whole people; licentiousness, crime, and bitter hate infest us at home; repudiation and the forcible propagandism of slavery is arraying against us the world in arms."

He urged upon them to choose delegates to a convention for amending the Constitution, and to repeat the attempt "until victory shall perch on the standard of the free."

While the struggle was in progress in both Congress and the country for the expansion of slavery, he issued proposals for the establishment of a paper to advocate its “overthrow “in Kentucky. Its publication was commenced at Lexington, and on the 3d of June was issued the first number of the “True American." In it he discussed with great vigor the evils and remedies existing and proposed. The general tone and character of its utterances were very offensive to the slaveholders of the State, whose course he condemned, and whose interests, they felt, he was putting in peril. This indignation was specially increased and intensified by articles that appeared 11 the 12th of August, in which the writer referred not only to the general principles of the contest, but to certain contingencies and possibilities, and which very naturally and very greatly excited their ire.

In those articles not only was emancipation advocated, but the securing of the civil and political rights to the colored people was vindicated. The pride and selfishness of the slave-master, too, was referred to; and the charge was made that, in his esteem, national character, conscience of the people, and sense of duty weighed nothing against that pride and selfishness. The warning, too, was given that the Abolitionists were becoming quite as reckless as the slaveholders themselves; and, when provoked by injustice and wrong, they might manifest something of the same spirit. “It is in vain," it was said,” for the master to try to fence his dear slaves in from all intercourse with the great world, to create his little petty and tyrannical kingdom on his own plantation, and keep it for his exclusive reign. He cannot shut out the light of information any more than the light of heaven. It will penetrate all disguises, and shine upon the dark night of slavery. He must recollect that he is surrounded. The North, the East, the West, and the South border on him, --the free West-Indian, the free Mexican, the free Yankee, the more than free Abolitionists of his own country. Everything trenches upon his infected district, and the wolf looks calmly in upon his fold."

The slaveholders were greatly exasperated, too, by these words: "But we are told the enunciation of the soul-stirring principles of Revolutionary patriots is a lie; that slavery the most unmitigated, the lowest, basest that the world has· seen; is to be substituted forever for our better,, more glorious, holier aspirations. The Constitution.is torn and trampled underfoot, justice and good faith in a nation are divided, brute force -is substituted in the place of high moral tone, all the great principles of national liberty which we inherited from our British, ancestry are yielded up, and we are left without God or help in the world. When the great-hearted of our land weep, and the man of reflection maddens in the contemplation of our national apostasy, there are men, pursuing gain and pleasure, who smile with contempt and indifference at their appeals. But remember, you who dwell in marble palaces, that there are strong arms and fiery hearts and iron pikes in the streets, and panes of glass only between them and the silver plate on the board and the smooth-skinned woman on the ottoman. When you have mocked at virtue, deified the agency of God in the affairs of men, and made rapine your honeyed faith, tremble, for the day of retributio1ds at hand, and the masses will be avenged."

The establishment of such a paper by such a man, with views so radical and a purpose so determined, was naturally regarded by the slaveholders as a challenge to them to come to the defence of their cherished and menaced system. It was, therefore, doomed from the start. Probably no journal, however mildly and courteously conducted, that contemplated and advocated emancipation, would have remained unmolested. Certainly one with sentiments so decided and uncompromising might naturally expect resistance. It came in the form of a committee, which waited upon him on the 14th of' August, while confined to a bed of sickness, requiring him to suspend the publication of his paper, "as," they say in their note, "its further continuance, in our judgment, is dangerous to the peace of the community, and to the safety of our homes and families."

His reply was very decided and defiant. Alluding to the phrase in their letter that they had “been appointed as a committee on the part of a number of the respectable citizens of the city of Lexington," he wrote: "I say, in reply to your assertion that you are a committee appointed by a respectable portion of the community, that it cannot be true. Traitors to the laws and Constitution cannot be deemed respectable by any but assassins, pirates, and highway robbers." After reminding them that their meeting was unknown to the laws and Constitution, and that its “proceedings" were secret, and its purposes were “in direct violation of every known principle of honor, religion, or government," he added: "I treat them with the burning contempt of a brave heart and a loyal citizen. I deny their power and defy their action …Your advice with regard to my personal safety is worthy of the source whence it emanated, and meets with the same contempt from me which the purposes of your mission excite. Go, tell your secret conclave of cowardly assassins that Cassius M. Clay knows his rights, and how to defend them."

He then issued an appeal to the people of Kentucky to stand by him in his conflict with the enemies of law in the defence of the civil and political rights of all. On the 18th of August a meeting was called to consider the question of suppressing the “True American." To this meeting he sent a communication, in which he endeavored to remove some false constructions which had been placed upon the articles in question, and in which he made some further statements concerning the purposes and plans of his paper, concluding with the solemn and unequivocal averment that his constitutional rights he should never "abandon." 

The meeting, unmoved by his appeal, proceeded to the consummation of the purpose for which it was convened, by choosing a committee of sixty, which proceeded to the office of the offending journal, boxed up its press, and sent it out of the State. It also unanimously adopted an address to the people of Kentucky, reported by Thomas F. Marshall. In this address it was charged that a formidable party had arisen in the North which held that slavery was "opposed to religion, morals, and law," and that the Negro was entitled to his freedom. It asserted, too, that the aim of this party was the abolition of slavery in America. It charged Mr. Clay with being in full sympathy with this party; that he had visited the North, and, having been "received there in full communion by the abolition party, caressed and flattered and feasted, hailed in the stages of his triumphal progress by discharges of cannon, and heralded in the papers devoted to the cause as the boldest, the most intrepid, the most devoted of its champions, he returned to his native State, the organ and agent of an incendiary sect, to force upon her principles fatal to her domestic repose, at the risk of his own life and the peace of the community."

Stigmatizing an abolition paper in a slave State as a " nuisance of the most formidable character," a blazing brand in the hands 1of an incendiary or madman, which might scatter ruin, conflagration, revolution, crime unnamable over everything dear in domestic life, sacred in religion, or respectable in modesty, it denounced the " True American " as an example of the worst type of such papers. Representing Abolitionists as traitors to the Constitution, and abolition principles in a slave State as "fire in a magazine of powder," the address urged these considerations as the justification of its authors for the summary measures they adopted.

Mr. Clay also issued several appeals to the people of Kentucky, calling upon them to vindicate their rights, stricken down in his person. But though overpowered, he exhibited the same defiant spirit and unconquerable purpose, as he, dedicated himself anew to the liberty of his country and of mankind, and called upon Americans to “rise up in the omnipotency of the ballot, and peaceably overthrow the slave despotism of the nation."

He re-established his paper, which, though published in Lexington, was printed in Cincinnati. But when the war with Mexico opened, he, to the great regret of many and the sharp censures of others, entered the army; and, under the plea of standing by the flag of his country in the day of battle, volunteered his services for that most indefensible war. After his return he renewed and continued his warfare on slavery until it ceased to exist.

Source:  Wilson, Henry, History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America, Vol. 1.  Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1872, 628-635.


CLAY, Clement Claiborne, born in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1819; died there, 3 January, 1882, was graduated at the University of Alabama in 1835. When the elder Clay [Clemet Comer] was elected governor, he made his son his private secretary, in which capacity the boy continued his studies, and also contributed editorials to Alabama papers. When his father went to the Senate, young Clay completed his law studies at the University of Virginia, and was admitted to the bar in 1840. He served in the Alabama legislature in 1842, 1844, and 1845, and in 1846 became judge of the Madison county court He resigned in 1848, and in 1853 was elected U. S. Senator. In 1857 he delivered an eloquent eulogy on Senator Butler, of South Carolina, and in 1858 made a speech advocating the admission of Kansas to the Union under the Lecompton constitution. He also advocated a bill repealing the bounty on vessels engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries. As a senator, he regarded himself as the envoy of a sovereign state to the council of the nation, and lost no opportunity of asserting the rights of that state as defined by Mr. Calhoun and other southern statesmen. He was re-elected unanimously in 1859, but withdrew in February, 1861, his state having seceded from the Union. He was formally expelled from the Senate in March, 1861, and was chosen a senator in the Confederate Congress. He went to Canada in 1864 as a secret agent of the Confederate government, took part in planning the raids on the northern frontier, and made some futile attempts at negotiation with President Lincoln. He returned to the Confederacy, but took refuge in Canada at the close of the war. In May, 1865, hearing that a reward had been offered for his arrest, he gave himself up to the U. S. authorities and was for some time a prisoner in Fort Monroe with Jefferson Davis. He was released in April, 1866. and from that time practised his profession at Huntsville. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 638-639.


CLAY, Edward W., caricaturist, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1792; died in New York City, 31 December 1857. He was a relative of Henry Clay, had a liberal education, and served as a midshipman in the U. S. Navy. He then turned his attention to the law, and, though very young, was at once appointed prothonotary of Philadelphia. His artistic tastes, however, led him to Europe, and he studied the old masters there for five years. On his return to Philadelphia he sketched "The Rats Leaving the Falling House," on the dissolution of Jackson s cabinet. This brought him into notice, and for more than twenty years he was a noted caricaturist. After the failure of his eyesight he became clerk of the Chancery court, and of the Orphan's Court in Delaware.  Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, pp. 639


CLAY, Henry, 1777-1852, Kentucky, statesman, political leader, U.S. Senator, Congressman, Speaker of the House of Representatives, 12th, 13th, and 18th Congress, Presidential candidate.  Founder of the American Colonization Society and its President from 1837-1852, Vice President, 1833-1837. 

(Blue, 2005, pp. 11, 24, 27, 29, 47, 50-51, 55, 123-124, 166-167; Burin, 2005, pp. 1, 14, 17, 22, 23, 25, 27, 38; Campbell, 1971, pp. 7, 10, 203; Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 640; Dictionary of American Biography, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, Vol. 2, Pt. 2, p. 173; Staudenraus, P. J. The African Colonization Movement, 1816-1865. New York: Columbia University Press, 1961, pp. 27-29, 30, 113, 116, 139, 143, 174, 184-187, 207, 245)

Biography from Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography:

CLAY, Henry, statesman, born in Hanover county, Virginia, in a district known as “The Slashes,” 12 April, 1777; died in Washington, D. C., 29 June, 1852. His father, a Baptist clergyman, died when Henry was four years old, leaving no fortune. Henry received some elementary instruction in a log school-house, doing farm and house work when not at school. His mother married again and moved to Kentucky. When fourteen years of age he was placed in a small retail store at Richmond, and in 1792 obtained a place in the office of Peter Tinsley, clerk of the high court of chancery. There he attracted the attention of Chancellor Whyte, who employed him as an amanuensis, and directed his course of reading. In 1796 he began to study law with Robert Brooke, attorney-general of Virginia, and in 1797, having obtained a license to practise law from the judges of the court of appeals, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky. During his residence in Richmond he had made the acquaintance of several distinguished men of Virginia, and became a leading member of a debating club. At Lexington he achieved his first distinction in a similar society. He soon won a lucrative practice as an attorney, being especially successful in criminal cases and in suits growing out of the land laws. His captivating manners and his striking eloquence made him a general favorite. His political career began almost immediately after his arrival at Lexington. A convention was to be elected to revise the constitution of Kentucky, and in the canvass preceding the election Clay strongly advocated a constitutional provision for the gradual emancipation of the slaves in the state; but the movement was not successful. He also participated vigorously in the agitation against the alien and sedition laws, taking position as a member of the Democratic Party. Several of his speeches, delivered in mass meetings, astonished the hearers by their beauty and force. In 1799 he married Lucretia Hart, daughter of a prominent citizen of Kentucky. In 1803 he was elected to a seat in the state legislature, where he excelled as a debater. In 1806 Aaron Burr passed through Kentucky, where he was arrested on a charge of being engaged in an unlawful enterprise dangerous to the peace of the United States. He engaged Clay's professional services, and Clay, deceived by Burr as to the nature of his schemes, obtained his release.


In the winter of 1806 Clay was appointed to a seat in the U. S. Senate to serve out an unexpired term. He was at once placed on various committees, and took an active part in the debates, especially in favor of internal improvements. In the summer of 1807 his county sent him again to the legislature, where he was elected speaker of the assembly. He opposed and defeated a bill prohibiting the use of the decisions of British courts and of British works on jurisprudence as authority in the courts of Kentucky. In December, 1808, he introduced resolutions expressing approval of the embargo laid by the general government, denouncing the British orders in council, pledging the general government the active aid of Kentucky in anything determined upon to resist British exactions, and declaring that President Jefferson was entitled to the thanks of the country. He offered another resolution, recommending that the members of the legislature should wear only clothes that were the product of domestic manufacture. This was his first demonstration in favor of the encouragement of home industry. About this resolution he had a quarrel with Humphrey Marshall, which led to a duel, in which both parties were slightly wounded. In the winter of 1809 Clay was again sent to the U. S. Senate to fill an unexpired term of two years. He made a speech in favor of encouraging home industries, taking the ground that the country should be enabled to produce all it might need in time of war, and that, while agriculture would remain the dominant interest, it should be aided by the development of domestic manufactures. He also made a report on a bill granting a right of pre-emption to purchasers of public lands in certain cases, and introduced a bill to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, and to preserve peace on the frontier, a subject on which he expressed very wise and humane sentiments. During the session of 1810-’1 he defended the administration of Mr. Madison with regard to the occupation of West Florida by the United States by a strong historical argument, at the same time appealing, in glowing language, to the national pride of the American people. He opposed the renewal of the charter of the U. S. bank, notwithstanding Gallatin's recommendation, on the ground of the unconstitutionally of the bank, and contributed much to its defeat.

On the expiration of his term in the Senate, Clay was sent to the national House of Representatives by the Lexington District in Kentucky, and immediately upon taking his seat, 4 November, 1811, was elected speaker by a large majority. Not confining himself to his duties as presiding officer, he took a leading part in debate on almost all important occasions. The difficulties caused by British interference with neutral trade were then approaching a crisis, and Clay put himself at the head of the War Party in Congress, which was led in the second line by such voting statesmen as John C. Calhoun, William Lowndes, Felix Grundy, and Langdon Cheves, and supported by a strong feeling in the south and west. In a series of fiery speeches Clay advocated the calling out of volunteers to serve on land, and the construction of an efficient navy. He expected that the war with Great Britain would be decided by an easy conquest of Canada, and a peace dictated at Quebec. The Madison administration hesitated, but was finally swept along by the war furor created by the young Americans under Clay's lead, and war under the young Americans under Clay's lead, and war against Britain was declared in June, 1812. Clay spoke at a large number of popular meetings to fill volunteer regiments and to fire the national spirit. In Congress, while the events of the war were unfavorable to the United States in consequence of an utter lack of preparation and incompetent leadership, Clay vigorously sustained the administration and the war policy against the attacks of the federalists. Some of his speeches were of a high order of eloquence, and electrified the country. He was re-elected speaker in 1813. On 19 January, 1814, he resigned the speakership, having been appointed by President Madison a member of a commission, consisting of John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and Albert Gallatin, to negotiate peace with Great Britain. The American commissioners met the commissioners of Great Britain at Ghent. in the Netherlands, and, after five months of negotiation, during which Mr. Clay stoutly opposed the concession to the British of the right of navigating the Mississippi and of meddling with the Indians on territory of the United States, a treaty of peace was signed, 21 December, 1814. From Ghent Clay went to Paris, and thence with Adams and Gallatin to London, to negotiate a treaty of commerce with Great Britain.



After his return to the United States, Mr. Clay declined the mission to Russia, offered by the administration. Having been elected again to the House of Representatives, he took his seat on December 4, 1815, and was again chosen speaker. He favored the enactment of the protective tariff of 1816, and also advocated the establishment of a U. S. bank as the fiscal agent of the government, thus reversing his position with regard to that subject. He now pronounced the bank constitutional because it was necessary in order to carry on the fiscal concerns of the government. During the same session he voted to raise the pay of representatives from $6 a day to $1,500 a year, a measure that proved unpopular, and his vote for it came near costing him his seat. He was, however, re-elected, but then voted to make the pay of representatives per diem of $8, which it remained for a long period. In the session of 1816-’ he, together with Calhoun, actively supported an internal improvement bill, which President Madison vetoed. In December, 1817, Clay was re-elected speaker. In opposition to the doctrine laid down by Monroe in his first message, that Congress did not possess, under the constitution, the right to construct internal improvements, Clay strongly asserted that right in several speeches. With great vigor he advocated the recognition of the independence of the Spanish American colonies, then in a state of revolution, and severely censured what he considered the procrastinating policy of the administration in that respect. In the session of 1818-’9 he criticised, in an elaborate speech, the conduct of General Jackson in the Florida Campaign, especially the execution of Arbuthnot and Ambrister by Jackson's orders. This was the first collision between Clay and Jackson, and the ill feelings that it engendered in Jackson's mind were never extinguished. At the first session of the 16th Congress, in December, 1819, Clay was again elected speaker almost without opposition. In the debate on the treaty with Spain, by which Florida was ceded to the United States, he severely censured the administration for having given up Texas, which he held to belong to the United States as a part of the Louisiana purchase. He continued to urge the recognition of the South American colonies as independent republics.

In 1819-’20 he took an important part in the struggle in Congress concerning the admission of Missouri as a slave state, which created the first great political slavery excitement throughout the country. He opposed the “restriction” clause making the admission of Missouri dependent upon the exclusion of slavery from the state, but supported the compromise proposed by Senator Thomas, of Illinois, admitting Missouri with slavery, but excluding slavery from all the territory north of 30° 30', acquired by the Louisiana purchase. This was the first part of the Missouri compromise, which is often erroneously attributed to Clay. When Missouri then presented herself with a state constitution, not only recognizing slavery, but also making it the duty of the legislature to pass such laws as would be necessary to prevent free Negroes or mulattoes from coming into the state, the excitement broke out anew, and a majority in the House of Representatives refused to admit Missouri as a state with such a constitution. On Clay's motion, the subject was referred to a special committee, of which he was chairman. This committee of the house joined with a Senate committee, and the two unitedly reported in both houses a resolution that Missouri be admitted upon the fundamental condition that the state should never make any law to prevent from settling within its boundaries any description of persons who then or thereafter might become citizens of any state of the Union. This resolution was adopted, and the fundamental condition assented to by Missouri. This was Clay's part of the Missouri compromise, and he received general praise as “the great pacificator.”

After the adjournment of Congress, Clay retired to private life, to devote himself to his legal practice, but was elected to the 18th Congress, which met in December, 1823. and was again chosen speaker. He made speeches on internal improvements, advocating a liberal construction of constitutional powers, in favor of sending a commissioner to Greece, and in favor of the tariff law, which became known as the tariff of 1824, giving his policy of protection and internal improvements the name of the “American system.”

He was a candidate for the presidency at the election of 1824. His competitors were John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, and William H. Crawford, each of whom received a larger number of electoral votes than Clay. But, as none of them had received a majority of the electoral vote, the election devolved upon the House of Representatives. Clay, standing fourth in the number of electoral votes received, was excluded from the choice, and he used his influence in the house for John Quincy Adams, who was elected. The friends of Jackson and Crawford charged that there was a corrupt understanding between Adams and Clay, and this accusation received color from the fact that Adams promptly offered Clay the portfolio of Secretary of State, and Clay accepted it. This was the origin of the “bargain and corruption ” charge, which, constantly repeated, pursued Clay during the best part of his public life, although it was disproved by the well-established fact that Clay, immediately after the result of the presidential election in 1824 became known, had declared his determination to use his influence in the house for Adams and against Jackson. As Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams, Clay accepted an invitation, presented by the Mexican and Colombian ministers, to send commissioners of the United States to an international congress of American republics, which was to meet on the Isthmus of Panama, to deliberate upon subjects of common interest. The commissioners were appointed, but the Panama Congress adjourned before they could reach the appointed place of meeting. In the course of one of the debates on this subject, John Randolph, of Roanoke, denounced the administration, alluding to Adams and Clay as a “combination of the Puritan and the blackleg.” Clay thereupon challenged Randolph to a duel, which was fought on 8 April, 1826, without bloodshed. He negotiated and concluded treaties with Prussia, the Hanseatic republics, Denmark, Colombia, Central America, and Austria. His negotiations with Great Britain concerning the colonial trade resulted only in keeping in force the conventions of 1815 and 1818. He made another treaty with Great Britain, extending the joint occupation of the Oregon country provided for in the treaty of 1818; another referring the differences concerning the northeastern boundary to some friendly sovereign or state for arbitration; and still another concerning the indemnity to be paid by Great Britain for slaves carried off by British forces in the war of 1812. As to his commercial policy, Clay followed the accepted ideas of the times, to establish between the United States and foreign countries fair reciprocity as to trade and navigation. He was made president of the American Colonization Society, whose object it was to colonize free Negroes in Liberia on the coast of Africa.

In 1828 Andrew Jackson was elected president, and after his inauguration Clay retired to his farm of Ashland, near Lexington, Kentucky. But, although in private life, he was generally recognized as the leader of the party opposing Jackson, who called themselves “National Republicans,” and later “Whigs,” Clay, during the years 1829-’31, visited several places in the south as well as in the state of Ohio, was everywhere received with great honors, and made speeches attacking Jackson's administration, mainly on account of the sweeping removals from office for personal and partisan reasons, and denouncing the nullification movement, which in the meantime had been set on foot in South Carolina. Yielding to the urgent solicitation of his friends throughout the country, he consented in 1831 to be a candidate for the U. S. Senate, and was elected. In December, 1831, he was nominated as the candidate of the National Republicans for the presidency, with John Sergeant, of Pennsylvania, for the vice-presidency. As the impending extinguishment of the public debt rendered a reduction of the revenue necessary, Clay introduced in the Senate a tariff bill reducing duties on unprotected articles, but keeping them on protected articles, so as to preserve intact the “American system.” The reduction of the revenue thus effected was inadequate, and the anti-tariff excitement in the south grew more intense. The subject of public lands having, for the purpose of embarrassing him as a presidential candidate, been referred to the committee on manufactures, of which he was the leading spirit, he reported against reducing the price of public lands and in favor of distributing the proceeds of the lands' sales, after certain reductions, among the several states for a limited period. The bill passed the Senate, but failed to pass the house. As President Jackson, in his several messages, had attacked the U. S. bank. Clay induced the bank, whose charter was to expire in 1836, to apply for a renewal of the charter during the session of 1831-’2, so as to force the issue the presidential election. The bill renewing the charter passed both houses, but Jackson vetoed it, denouncing the bank in his message as a dangerous monopoly. In the presidential election Clay was disastrously defeated, Jackson receiving 219 electoral votes, and Clay only 49.

On 19 November, 1832, a state convention in South Carolina passed an ordinance nullifying the tariff laws of 1828 and 1832. On 10 December, President Jackson issued a proclamation against the nullifiers, which the governor of South Carolina answered with a counter-proclamation. On 12 February, 1833, Clay introduced, in behalf of union and peace, a compromise bill providing for a gradual reduction of the tariff until 1842, when it should be reduced to a horizontal rate of 20 per cent. This bill was accepted by the nullifiers, and became a law, known as the compromise of 1833. South Carolina rescinded the nullification ordinance, and Clay was again praised as the “great pacificator.” In the autumn of 1833, President Jackson, through the secretary of the treasury, ordered the removal of the public deposits from the U. S. bank. Clay, in December, 1833, introduced resolutions in the Senate censuring the president for having “assumed upon himself authority and power not conferred by the constitution and laws.” The resolutions were adopted, and President Jackson sent to the Senate an earnest protest against them, which was severely denounced by Clay. During the session of 1834-’5 Clay successfully opposed Jackson's recommendation that authority be conferred on him for making reprisals upon French property on account of the non-payment by the French government of an indemnity due to the United States. He also advocated the enactment of a law enabling Indians to defend their rights to their lands in the courts of the United States; also the restriction of the president's power to make removals from office, and the repeal of the four-years act. The slavery question having come to the front again, in consequence of the agitation carried on by the abolitionists, Clay, in the session of 1835-”6, pronounced himself favor of the reception by the Senate of anti-slavery petitions, and against the exclusion of anti-slavery literature from the mails. He declared, however, his opposition to the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. With regard to the recognition of Texas as an independent state, he maintained a somewhat cold and reserved attitude. In the session of 1836-’7 he reintroduced his land bill without success, and advocated international copyright. His resolutions censuring Jackson for the removal of the deposits, passed in 1834, were, on the motion of Thomas H. Benton, expunged from the records of the Senate, against solemn protest from the Whig minority in that body.

Martin Van Buren was elected president in 1836, and immediately after his inauguration the great financial crisis of 1837 broke out. At an extra session of Congress, in the summer of 1837, he recommended the introduction of the sub-treasury system. This was earnestly opposed by Clay, who denounced it as a scheme to “unite the power of the purse with the power of the sword.” He and his friends insisted upon the restoration of the U. S. bank. After a struggle of three sessions, the sub-treasury bill succeeded, and the long existence of the system has amply proved the groundlessness of the fears expressed by those who opposed it. Clay strongly desired to be the Whig candidate for the presidency in 1840, but failed. The Whig national Convention, in December, 1839, nominated Harrison and Tyler. Clay was very much incensed at his defeat, but supported Harrison with great energy, making many speeches in the famous “log-cabin and hard-cider ” campaign. After the triumphant election of Harrison and Tyler, Clay declined the office of Secretary of State offered to him. Harrison died soon after his inauguration. At the extra session of Congress in the summer of 1841, Clay was the recognized leader of the Whig majority. He moved the repeal of the sub-treasury act, and drove it through both houses. He then brought in a bill providing for the incorporation of a new bank of the United States, which also passed, but was vetoed by President Tyler, 16 August, 1841. Another bank bill, framed to meet what were supposed to be the president's objections, was also vetoed. Clay denounced Tyler instantly for what he called his faithlessness to Whig principles, and the Whig Party rallied under Clay's leadership in opposition to the president. At the same session Clay put through his land bill, containing the distribution clause, which, however, could not go into operation because the revenues of the government fell short of the necessary expenditures. At the next session Clay offered an amendment to the constitution limiting the veto power, which during Jackson's and Tyler's administrations had become very obnoxious to him; and also an amendment to the constitution providing that the secretary of the treasury and the treasurer should be appointed by Congress; and a third forbidding the appointment members of Congress, while in office, to executive positions. None of them passed. On 31 March, 1842, Clay took leave of the Senate and retired to private life, as he said in his farewell speech, never to return to the Senate.

During his retirement he visited different parts the country, and was everywhere received with great enthusiasm, delivering speeches, in some of which he pronounced himself in favor not of a “high tariff,” but of a revenue tariff with incidental protection repeatedly affirming that the protective system had been originally designed only a temporary arrangement to be maintained until the infant industries should have gained sufficient strength to sustain competition with foreign manufactures. It was generally looked upon as certain that he would be the Whig candidate for the presidency in 1844. In the meantime the administration had concluded a treaty of annexation with Texas. In an elaborate letter, dated 17 April, 1844, known as the “Raleigh letter,” Clay declared himself against annexation, mainly because it would bring on a war with Mexico, because it met with serious objection in a large part of the Union, and because it would compromise the national character. Van Buren, who expected to be the Democratic candidate for the presidency, also wrote a letter unfavorable to annexation. On 1 May, 1844, the Whig national Convention nominated Clay by acclamation. The Democratic National Convention animated not Van Buren, but James K. Polk for the presidency, with George M. Dallas for the vice-presidency, and adopted a resolution recommending the annexation of Texas. A convention of anti-slavery men was held at Buffalo, New York, which put forward as a candidate for the presidency James G. Birney. The Senate rejected the annexation treaty, and the Texas question became the main issue in the presidential canvass. As to the tariff and the currency question, the platforms of the Democrats and Whigs differed very little. Polk, who had the reputation of being a free-trader, wrote a letter apparently favoring a protective tariff, to propitiate Pennsylvania, where the cry was raised. “Polk, Dallas, and the tariff of 1842.” Clay, yielding to the entreaties of southern Whigs, who feared that his declaration against the annexation of Texas might injure his prospects in the south, wrote another letter, in which he said that, far from having any personal objection to the annexation of Texas, he would be “glad to see it without dishonor, without war, with the common consent of the Union, and upon fair terms.” This turned against him many anti-slavery men in the north, and greatly strengthened the Birney movement. It is believed that it cost him the vote of the state of New York, and with it the election. It was charged, apparently upon strong grounds, that extensive election frauds were committed by the Democrats in the city of New York and in the state of Louisiana, the latter becoming famous as the Plaquemines frauds; but had Clay kept the anti-slavery element on his side, as it was at the beginning of the canvass, these frauds could not have decided the election. His defeat cast the Whig Party into the deepest gloom, and was lamented by his supporters like a personal misfortune.

Texas was annexed by a joint resolution which passed the two houses of Congress in the session of 1844-’5, and the Mexican War followed. In 1846, Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, moved, as an amendment to a bill appropriating money for purposes connected with the war, a proviso that in all territories to be acquired from Mexico slavery should be forever prohibited, which, however, failed in the Senate. This became known as the “Wilmot proviso.” One of Clay's sons was killed in the battle of Buena Vista. In the autumn of 1847, when the Mexican Army was completely defeated, Clay made a speech at Lexington, Kentucky, warning the American people of the dangers that would follow if they gave themselves up to the ambition of conquest, and declaring that there should be a generous peace, requiring no dismemberment of the Mexican republic, but “only a just and proper fixation of the limits of Texas.” and that any desire to acquire any foreign territory whatever for the purpose of propagating slavery should be “positively and emphatically” disclaimed. In February and March, 1848, Clay was honored with great popular receptions in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, and his name was again brought forward for the presidential nomination. But the Whig national Convention, which met on 7 June, 1848, preferred General Zachary Taylor as a more available man, with Millard Fillmore for the vice-presidency. His defeat in the convention was a bitter disappointment to Clay. He declined to come forward to the support of Taylor, and maintained during the canvass an attitude of neutrality. The principal reason he gave was that Taylor had refused to pledge himself to the support of Whig principles and measures, and that Taylor had announced his purpose to remain in the field as a candidate, whoever might be nominated by the Whig Convention. He declined, on the other hand, to permit his name to be used by the dissatisfied Whigs. Taylor was elected, the Free-Soilers, whose candidate was Martin Van Buren, having assured the defeat of the Democratic candidate, General Cass, in the state of New York. In the spring of 1849 a convention was to be elected in Kentucky to revise the state constitution, and Clay published a letter recommending gradual emancipation of the slaves. By a unanimous vote of the legislature assembled in December, 1848, Clay was again elected a U. S. Senator, and he took his seat in December, 1849.

By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, New Mexico and California, including Utah, had been acquired by the United States. The discovery of gold had attracted a large immigration to California. Without waiting for an enabling act, the inhabitants of California, in convention, had framed a constitution by which slavery was prohibited, and applied to Congress for admission as a state. The question of the admission of California as a free state, and the other question whether slavery should be admitted into or excluded from New Mexico and Utah, created the intensest excitement in Congress and among the people. Leading southern men threatened a dissolution of the Union unless slavery were admitted into the territories acquired from Mexico. On 29 January, 1850, Clay, who was at heart in favor of the Wilmot proviso, brought forward in the Senate a “comprehensive scheme of compromise,” which included (1) the speedy admission of California as a state; (2) the establishment of territorial governments in New Mexico and Utah without any restriction as to slavery; (3) a settlement of the boundary-line between Texas and New Mexico substantially as it now stands; (4) an indemnity to be paid to Texas for the relinquishment of her claims to a large portion of New Mexico; (5) a declaration that slavery should not be abolished in the District of Columbia; (6) the prohibition of the slave-trade in the district; and (7) a more effective fugitive-slave law. These propositions were, on 18 April, 1850, referred to a special committee, of which Clay was elected chairman. He reported three bills embodying these different subjects, one of which, on account of its comprehensiveness, was called the “omnibus bill.” After a long struggle, the omnibus bill was defeated; but then its different parts wore taken up singly, and passed, covering substantially Clay's original propositions. This was the compromise of 1850. In the debate Clay declared in the strongest terms his allegiance to the Union as superior to his allegiance to his state, and denounced secession as treason. The compromise of 1850 added greatly to his renown; but, although it was followed by a short period of quiet, it satisfied neither the south nor the north. To the north the fugitive-slave law was especially distasteful. In January, 1851, forty-four senators and Representatives, Clay's name leading, published a manifesto declaring that they would not support for any office any man not known to be opposed to any disturbance of the matters settled by the compromise. In February, 1851, a recaptured fugitive slave having been liberated in Boston, Clay pronounced himself in favor of conferring upon the president extraordinary powers for the enforcement of the fugitive-slave law, his main object being to satisfy the south, and thus to disarm the disunion spirit.

After the adjournment of Congress, on 4 March, 1851, his health being much impaired, he went to Cuba for relief, and thence to Ashland. He peremptorily enjoined his friends not to bring forward his name again as that of a candidate for the presidency. To a committee of Whigs in New York he addressed a public letter containing an urgent and eloquent plea for the maintenance of the Union. He went to Washington to take his seat in the Senate in December, 1851, but, owing to failing health, he appeared there only once during the winter. His last public utterance was a short speech addressed to Louis Kossuth, who visited him in his room, deprecating the entanglement of the United States in the complications of European affairs. He favored the nomination of Fillmore for the presidency by the Whig national Convention, which met on 16 June, a few days before his death. Clay was unquestionably one of the greatest orators that America ever produced; a man of incorruptible personal integrity; of very great natural ability, but little study; of free and convivial habits; of singularly winning address and manners; not a cautious and safe political leader, but a splendid party chief, idolized by his followers. He was actuated by a lofty national spirit, proud of his country, and ardently devoted to the Union. It was mainly his anxiety to keep the Union intact that inspired his disposition to compromise contested questions. He had in his last hours the satisfaction of seeing his last great work, the compromise of 1850, accepted as a final settlement of the slavery question by the national conventions of both political parties. But only two years after his death it became evident that the compromise had settled nothing. The struggle about slavery broke out anew, and brought forth a Civil War, the calamity that Clay had been most anxious to prevent, leading to general emancipation, which Clay would have been glad to see peaceably accomplished. He was buried in the cemetery at Lexington, Kentucky, and a monument consisting of a tall column surmounted by a statue was erected over his tomb. The accompanying illustrations show his birthplace and tomb. See “Life of Henry Clay,” by George D. Prentice (Hartford, Connecticut, 1831); “Speeches,” collected by R. Chambers (Cincinnati, 1842); “Life and Speeches of Henry Clay,” by J. B. Swaim (New York, 1843); “Life of Henry Clay,” by Epes Sargent (1844, edited and completed by Horace Greeley, 1852); “Life and Speeches of Henry Clay,” by D. Mallory (1844; new ed., 1857); “Life and Times of Henry Clay,” by Reverend Calvin Colton (6 vols., containing speeches and correspondence, 1846-’57; revised ed., 1864); and “Henry Clay,” by Carl Schurz (2 vols., Boston, 1887). — His brother, Porter, clergyman, born in Virginia in March, 1779; died in 1850. He moved to Kentucky in early life, where he studied law, and was for a while auditor of public accounts. In 1815 he was converted and gave himself to the Baptist ministry, in which he was popular and useful. — Henry's son, Henry, lawyer, born in Ashland, Kentucky, 10 April, 1811; killed in action at Buena Vista, Mexico, 23 February, 1847, was graduated at Transylvania University in 1828, and at the U.S. Military Academy in 1831. He resigned from the army and studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1833, and was a member of the Kentucky legislature in 1835-’7. He went to the Mexican War in June, 1846, as lieutenant-colonel of the 2d Kentucky Volunteers, became extra aide-de-camp to General Taylor, 5 October, 1846, and was killed with a lance while gallantly leading a charge of his regiment. — Another son, James Brown, born in Washington, D. C., 9 November, 1817; died in Montreal, Canada, 26 January, 1864, was educated at Transylvania University, was two years in a counting-house in Boston, 1835-’6, emigrated to St. Louis, Missouri, which then contained only 8,000 inhabitants, settled on a farm, then engaged in manufacturing for two years in Kentucky, and afterward studied law in the Lexington law-school, and practised in partnership with his father till 1849, when he was appointed chargé d'affaires at Lisbon by President Taylor. In 1851-’3 he resided in Missouri, but returned to Kentucky upon becoming the proprietor of Ashland, after his father's death. In 1857 he was elected to represent his father's old district in Congress. He was a member of the peace Convention of 1861, but afterward embraced the secessionist cause, and died in exile.  [Appleton’s 1900].

Biography from National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans:

“If all this be as is now represented, he has acquired fame enough.”

DANIEL WEBSTER.

IN every country, an active politician must occupy a conspicuous place in the public eye. In every country, and in our own, especially, the more conspicuous he is rendered by his talents, energy, decision of character, or peculiar principles, the more will he become the favorite of some, and the object of reproach to others. Where men and principles must be tried at the bar of public opinion, as in our country, or in Great Britain, and we may now add, in France, it is impossible to prevent this result. Nor, is it desirable that it should be otherwise, saving, the bitterness and coarseness of invective, with which political opponents are too often assailed, in the eager strife of parties. To such an extent does this prevail in our land of free presses, that it is to moderate politicians often a subject of deep mortification and regret. To most of those who have been the prominent men of our country these remarks are applicable, and yet, no sooner are they removed from the stage of action, than their country remembers their services with a just regard. Is it right that public men should struggle through a life of anxious toil and unfaltering patriotism, with only the hope of posthumous justice to their integrity and their talents? Certainly not;—we shall therefore make our selections, alike from the distinguished living and the illustrious dead.

Among the names which belong to, and are interwoven with, the history of the United States, that of HENRY CLAY stands in bold relief. Like many others in our country, he has been the builder of his own fortunes; having risen from poverty and obscurity to professional eminence and political dignity, by the energetic and assiduous exercise of his intellectual powers.

HENRY CLAY was born on the 12th of April, 1777, in Hanover county, Virginia. His father, who was a respectable clergyman, died while HENRY was quite young; in consequence of which, he received no other education, than could be acquired at a common school. He was placed at an early age in the office of Mr. Tinsley, clerk of the high court of chancery, at Richmond, where his talents and amiable deportment won for him, the friendship of some of the most respectable and influential gentlemen in the state. At nineteen, he commenced the study of the law, and was admitted to practice when twenty years of age. He soon after moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and continued his studies there about a year longer; during which time he practised public speaking in a debating society. In his first attempt he was much embarrassed, and saluted the president of the society with the technical phrase, gentlemen of the jury; but gaining confidence as he proceeded, he burst the trammels of his youthful diffidence, and clothing his thoughts in appropriate language, gave utterance to an animated and eloquent address. He soon obtained an extensive and lucrative practice; and the reputation which the superiority of his genius acquired, was maintained by his legal knowledge and practical accuracy.

Mr. CLAY’S political and professional career began nearly at the same time; but as we cannot give the details of his varied and busy life within the limits of this sketch, we shall only mark the most prominent points, particularly, where he has taken a stand in support of his favorite principles and measures.

In 1798, when the people of Kentucky were preparing to frame a constitution for the state, a plan was proposed for the gradual emancipation of slaves. Mr. CLAY zealously exerted his talents in favor of it; he wrote for the journals, and declaimed at the public meetings, but his efforts failed of success.

The next great question of a public character in which he took a part, found him arrayed with the popular party, in vindicating the freedom of the press, and in opposition to the sedition law, which was viewed by one political party, as an attempt to control it. His speeches on the subject are said to have exhibited much of that energy of character and power of eloquence, which have since distinguished him on all great public occasions.

In 1803, he was elected a member of the legislature, and soon took rank among the ablest men of the state. In 1806, General Adair resigned his seat in the Senate of the United States, and Mr. CLAY was elected to fill the vacancy for one year. He made his debut, in a speech in favor of the erection of a bridge over the Potomac at Georgetown, which is said to have decided the question in favor of the measure, and is the first of his efforts in support of his favorite principle of internal improvement. On his return to Kentucky, he was reëlected to the state legislature, and at the next session was chosen speaker, by a large majority. He held that station for several years, during which he frequently took a part in the debates. He particularly distinguished himself at the first session after his return from Congress, by a powerful speech in defence of the common law. A resolution had been introduced to forbid the reading of any British decision, or elementary work on law, in the Kentucky courts. The prejudices of the people, and of a majority of the assembly, were believed to be in favor of the motion; Mr. CLAY moved an amendment, the effect of which was, to exclude those British decisions only, which are of a subsequent date to the declaration of independence. The prejudices against which he contended, were removed by his masterly exposition of the subject. The common law, which viewed in the darkness of ignorance, appeared mysterious and inexplicable; locked up, as was supposed, in a thousand musty volumes; was shown to be simple and easy of comprehension, by the application of a few plain principles. On this occasion, by one of the most extraordinary efforts of his genius, and a brilliant exhibition of his legal knowledge and oratorical powers, Mr. CLAY succeeded in carrying his amendment, by an almost unanimous vote.

In 1809, Mr. CLAY was again elected to the United States’ Senate for two years, in the place of Mr. Thurston. At this time, the country had arrived at one of those periods, when the strength of its institutions was to be tried, by the menaces and impositions of foreign powers. The policy of the United States has ever been, a noninterference in the affairs of Europe; but notwithstanding the neutrality of the government, to such a height had the animosity of the belligerent European powers arrived, that each strove to injure the other, even at the expense of justice, and by a violation of our neutral rights. Several expedients had been resorted to, by which it was hoped an appeal to arms might be averted, our commercial rights respected, and our national honor remain untarnished; but at the same time a just apprehension was felt, that after all, our pacific measures might prove abortive, and that it was necessary to prepare for war. To this end, a bill was brought into the Senate, to appropriate a sum of money for the purchase of cordage, sail cloth, and other articles; to which an amendment was offered giving the preference to American productions and manufactures. It was on this occasion Mr. CLAY first publicly appeared as the advocate of domestic manufactures, and of the protective policy which has since been called “the American system.” Mr. CLAY also participated in other important questions before the Senate, and amongst them, that respecting the title of the United States to Florida, which he sustained with his usual ability.

His term of service in the Senate having expired, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives, and in the winter of 1811 took his seat in that body, of which he was chosen speaker, by a vote that left no doubt of the extent of his influence, or of the degree of respect entertained for his abilities. This station he continued to hold until 1814. Previous to the time when the preparations for war, before alluded to, became a subject of interest, Mr. CLAY had been rather a participator in the discussion of affairs, than a leader, or originator of any great measures, such as have since characterized the national policy; but from that period, he is to be held responsible as a principal, for the impulse which he has given to such of them, as will probably be left to the calm judgment of posterity. As early as 1811, we find him in his place advocating the raising of a respectable military force. War he conceived inevitable,—that in fact, England had begun it already; and the only question was, he said, whether it was to be “a war of vigor, or a war of languor and imbecility.” “He was in favor of the display of an energy correspondent to the feelings and spirit of the country.” Shortly afterward, with equal fervor, he recommended the gradual increase of the navy; a course of national policy, which has fortunately retained its popularity, and still remains unchanged.

In 1814, Mr. CLAY was appointed one of the commissioners, who negotiated the treaty of Ghent. When he resigned the speaker’s chair on the eve of his departure to Europe, he addressed the house in a speech, “which touched every heart in the assembly, and unsealed many a fountain of tears”; to which the house responded by passing a resolution, almost unanimously, thanking him for the impartiality, with which he had administered the arduous duties of his office. In the spring, after the termination of the negotiations at Ghent, he went to London with two of his former colleagues, Messrs. Adams and Gallatin; and there entered upon a highly important negotiation, which resulted in the commercial convention, which has been made the basis of most of our subsequent commercial arrangements with foreign powers. On his return to his own country, he was every where greeted with applause, and was again elected to the House of Representatives in Congress, of which he continued to be a member until 1825, when he accepted the appointment of Secretary of State under President Adams.

One of the great results of our foreign policy, after the war, was the recognition of the independence of the Spanish colonies. On this subject, Mr. CLAY entered with all his heart and soul, and mind and strength,—he saw “the glorious spectacle of eighteen millions of people struggling to burst their chains and to be free”; and he called to mind the language of the venerated father of his country: “Born in a land of liberty, my anxious recollections, my sympathetic feelings, and my best wishes, are irresistibly excited, whensoever, in my country, I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of freedom.” We regret that we cannot enter into the details of his efforts in that cause; it must suffice to notice, that at first they were not successful, yet he was not discouraged, but renewed them the following year, when he carried the measure through the House of Representatives. The president immediately thereafter, appointed five ministers plenipotentiary to the principal Spanish American states. While on this subject, we must not permit the occasion to pass without remarking; that much as we admire those British statesmen, who are bending the powers of their noble minds and splendid talents, to the great cause of human liberty and human happiness, we cannot allow them, nor one of them, to appropriate to himself the honor of having “called a new world into existence.” That honor belongs not to George Canning, as a reference to dates will show. If there be glory due to any one mortal man more than to others, for rousing the sympathies of freemen for a people struggling to be free, that glory is due to HENRY CLAY; although he has never had the vanity to say so himself. His exertions won the consent of the American people, to sustain the president in the decisive stand which HE took, when the great European powers contemplated an intervention on behalf of Spain; and it was THAT which decided Great Britain, in the course which she pursued. The Spanish American states have acknowledged their gratitude to Mr. CLAY by public acts; his speeches have been read at the head of their armies; and his name will find as durable a place in the history of the South American republics, as in the records of his native land.

In the domestic policy of the government, there have been two points, to which Mr. CLAY’S attention has been particularly directed, since the late war; both of them, in some degree, resting their claims on the country, from circumstances developed by that war. We are not about to discuss them, but merely to indicate them as his favorite principles, to support which his splendid talents have been directed. These are internal improvements, and the protection of domestic manufactures by means of an adequate tariff. With regard to these measures, the statesmen, and the people of the country, have been much divided,—sometimes, there has been a difference of opinion as to the expediency of them, and sometimes, constitutional objections have been advanced. He has been, however, their steadfast champion, and has been supposed to have connected them, with the settled policy of the country. How far this may prove true, time only can decide.

The right, claimed by South Carolina, to nullify an Act of Congress, the warlike preparations made by that state to resist compulsion, and the excitement throughout the country, occasioned by the conflict of interests and opinions, and the hopes and fears of the community, will never be forgotten by the present generation. A Civil War and the dissolution of the union, or the destruction of the manufacturing interests, which had grown up to an immense value under the protective system; for a time seemed the only alternatives. During the short session of Congress in 1832-3, various propositions were made to remove the threatened evils, by a rëadjustment of the tariff; but the time passed on in high debate, and the country looked on in anxious hope, that some measure would be devised, by which harmony and security might be restored. Two weeks only remained to the end of the session, and nothing had been effected; when Mr. CLAY, “the father of the American system,” himself brought in the olive branch. On the 12th of February, he arose in his place in the Senate, and asked leave to introduce a bill, to modify the various acts, imposing duties on imports; he at the same time addressed the Senate in explanation of his course, and of the bill proposed. “The basis,” Mr. CLAY said, “on which I wish to found this modification, is one of time; and the several parts of the bill to which I am about to call the attention of the Senate, are founded on this basis. I propose to give protection to our manufactured articles, adequate protection, for a length of time, which, compared with the length of human life, is very long, but which is short, in proportion to the legitimate discretion of every wise and parental system of government—securing the stability of legislation, and allowing time for a gradual reduction, on one side; and on the other, proposing to reduce the rate of duties to that revenue standard for which the opponents of the system have so long contended.”

The bill was read, referred to a committee, reported on, and brought to its final passage in the Senate within a few days. In the meantime, it had been made the substitute for a bill under discussion, in the House of Representatives, and was adopted in that body by a large majority and sent to the Senate, where it had its final reading on the 26th, and when approved by the president became a law.

We should not, in this place, have alluded to the course pursued by one of the states, to effect a modification of the tariff, had it not been so inseparably connected with, what we doubt not, will be hereafter considered one of the most important acts of Mr. CLAY’S public life. “He expressly declared that he thought the protective system in extreme danger; and that it would be far better for the manufacturers, for whose interests he felt the greatest solicitude, to secure themselves by the bill, than take the chances of the next session of Congress, when, from the constitution of both houses, it was probable a worse one would be passed.” On the other hand, he urged the proposition “as a measure of mutual concession,—of peace, of harmony. He wanted to see no Civil War; no sacked cities; no embattled armies; no streams of American blood shed by American arms.” We trust, that the crisis is passed, and that we shall continue forever a united, prosperous, and happy people.

The tariff has had its effect so far, that a new era has commenced, and it is very probable, that the revenue of the country will finally be settled down to a standard, only sufficient, to meet the expenses of the government. In connection with this subject, we wish to preserve the following extract from the speech of Mr. Verplanck, in January, 1833, in support of a bill to reduce the tariff, reported by him to Congress:

“The last war left the nation laboring under a weight of public debt. The payment of that war debt was one of the great objects of the arrangement of our revenue system at the peace, and it was never lost sight of in any subsequent arrangement of our tariff system. Since 1815, we have annually derived a revenue from several sources, but by far the largest part from duties on imports, of sometimes twenty, sometimes twenty-five, and recently thirty-two and thirty three millions of dollars a year.

“Of this sum, ten millions always, but of late a much larger proportion, has been devoted to the payment of the interest and principal of the public debt. At last that debt has been extinguished. The manner in which those burthens were distributed under former laws, has been, heretofore, a subject of complaint and remonstrance. I do not propose to inquire into the wisdom or justice of those laws. The debt has been extinguished by them—let us be grateful for the past.”

Many other interesting incidents are presented in the public life of Mr. CLAY, to which we shall only advert; such, as the part he took in the Missouri question; in the election of Mr. Adams; on the subject of sending a commissioner to Greece; on the colonization of the Negroes; and more recently, his labors in favor of rechartering the United States Bank, and for the distribution of the proceeds of the public lands for the purposes of internal improvement, education, &c.

Mr. CLAY received from Mr. Madison the successive offers of a mission to Russia, and a place in the cabinet; and from Mr. Monroe a situation in his cabinet, and the mission to England; all of which he declined.

On the great Cumberland road, there has been erected a large and beautiful monument, surmounted by a figure of Liberty, and inscribed “HENRY CLAY.” These are evidences of the estimation in which Mr. CLAY has been held by his contemporaries; others might be adduced, but they would be superfluous.

Twice he has been nominated for the presidency, but without success. We trust that he is too firm in his republican principles to murmur, and that his friends will in some measure be consoled, by reflections similar to that, which we have adopted as a motto to this article.


Source: National Portrait Gallery of Distinguished Americans, 1839, Vol. 1.


CLAY COUNTY, MISSOURI, July 4, 1864. 9th Missouri Militia Cavalry.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 290.


CLAYSVILLE, ALABAMA, March 14, 1864. Detachment of 32nd Missouri Infantry. This engagement was the surprise of the Union garrison at Claysville, commanded by Captain William T. House, by a Confederate cavalry force (dismounted) under Captain Smith. The attack occurred at 3 a.m. and threw House's command into disorder. A summons was made to surrender, some of the garrison acceding to it, while others escaped and joined another Union force near Reed's plantation. The garrison's casualties were 1 killed, 2 wounded and 55 missing. The attacking party, by House's estimate, lost 5 killed and 6 wounded.  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 290.

CLAY VILLAGE, KENTUCKY, October 4. 1862. 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. Army of the Ohio. Brigadier-General Joshua W. Sill, under date of October 5, reports as follows to Major-General D. C. Buell: "Yesterday, at 11 a. m., the advanced guard of the Fifth Brigade (Colonel Kirk) engaged Scott's cavalry, estimated at 600, 3 miles beyond Clay Village, and took 13 prisoners, killing and wounding 7 or 8."  The Union Army, 1908, Vol. 5, p. 290.


CLAYTON, John Middleton, jurist, born in Dagsborough, Sussex County, Del., 24 July, 1796; died in Dover, Del., 9 November, 1856. He was the eldest son of James Clayton (a descendant of Joshua of that name, who came to America with William Penn) and Sarah Middleton, of Virginian ancestry. The pecuniary disasters consequent upon the war of 1812 reduced his father from affluence to comparative poverty, and it was only by making the greatest sacrifices that he was able to send his son to college. He was graduated at Yale in 1815, studied law at the Litchfield Law-School, began to practise in 1818, and soon attained eminence in is profession. In 1824 he was sent to the Delaware Legislature, and was Secretary of State. In 1829 he was sent to the U. S. Senate, and in 1831 appointed a member of the convention to revise the constitution of Delaware. In 1835 he was again returned to the Senate as a Whig, but resigned in 1837 to become Chief Justice of Delaware, an office which he held for three years. From 1845 till 1849 he was again U. S. Senator, and at the latter date became Secretary of State under President Taylor. He was elected a senator for the third time, and served in that capacity from March, 1851, until his death. He early distinguished himself in the Senate by a speech the debate on the Foote resolution, which, thou merely relating to the survey of the public lands, introduced into the discussion the whole question of nullification. His argument in favor of paying the claims for French spoliations was also a fine instance of senatorial oratory. One of his most noted speeches delivered in the Senate was that made in 1855 against the message of President Pierce vetoing the act ceding public lands for an insane asylum. While Secretary of State he negotiated in 1850 the treaty with the British government, known as the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, which guaranteed the neutrality and encouragement of lines of interoceanic travel across the American isthmus. In 1851 he zealously defended that treaty in the Senate and vindicated President Taylor's administration. From 1844 Mr. Clayton cultivated a tract of land near Newcastle, which in a few years he made one of the most fruitful estates in that fertile region. Mr. Clayton was always accessible, and was noted for his genial disposition and brilliant conversational powers. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1887, Vol. I, p. 646.


CLAYTON, Powell, governor of Arkansas, born in Bethel, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, 7 August, 1833. He was educated in the common schools and in an academy at Bristol, Pennsylvania, studied civil engineering at Wilmington, Delaware, and in 1859 was chosen engineer and surveyor of Leavenworth, Kansas. When the Civil War began he entered the National Army is captain in the 1st Kansas Infantry, 29 May, 1861. He was appointed, 27 February, 1862, lieutenant-colonel of the Kansas cavalry, and was made colonel on 30 March, 1862. On 6 May, 1863, he commanded a successful expedition from Helena, Arkansas, to the White River to break up a band of guerillas and destroy Confederate stores, and later an expedition from Pine Bluff in March, 1864, which inflicted severe loss on the enemy. On 1 August, 1864, he was commissioned a brigadier-general. He settled in Arkansas as a planter after the war, was elected governor, and entered upon the office in June, 1868. He was U.S. Senator from 25 March, 1871, till 3 March, 1877. Afterward he resided at Eureka Springs, and became president of the Eureka improvement Company. Appletons’ Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1888, Vol. I, p. 646.