Three Forks of the Kentucky River Historical Association

T. T. Garrard

August 10, 1898 (Pg 2437 - 2444)

I made my first race for the Lower House of the Kentucky Legislature in 1841 against Daugh WlllTE and was defeated, also in 1842. In 1843 I was elected over General Elijah COMBS, and in 1844 was elected without opposition. In 1857 I was elected to the Senate and in 1859 I resigned and ran for congress and was defeated by Greene ADAMS, uncle of Little Matt, who was the son of Richard. Again in 1861 I was elected to the Senate over Carlo BRITTAIN. I am not certain whether BRITTAIN was in 1857 'or in 1861.

I was enrolled as Col. July 27, 1861. I had my appointment as Col. of 3rd Kentucky from President Lincoln under the State authority. I was made Col. of the 7th. Col. BRAMLETTE was Col. of the 1st Key. General FRY of the 2nd. I of the 3rd. Adjutant General John W. FINNELL made the change to the 7th. I raised the first troops in the state. I got my appointment from the President. As soon as it was made, General WOLFORD was the 1st Key. Cavalry. The letter from Simon CAMERON, Sec. of War, is dated Sept. 16, 1861. It states that I was appointed Col. July 27, 1861 of the 3rd Key. Volunteers. (I read tlhe letter today, J.J.D.) I received notice of my appointment as soon as it was made and began at once to enlist men. I raised two companies in Clay, two in Laurel and two in Knox and two in Whitely. I was elected to the Senate Aug. 4, 1861. I was Col. about two years before I was appointed Brigadier General. I was with General OSTERHOUSE in Mississippi. I was in half dozen engagements around Vicksburg in one day. Lost some of my men in these fights. Daniel GARRARD, son of my brother James GARRARD, was killed around Vicksburg in the 22nd Key. Col. Dan LINDSAY, he became Adj. General of Key. during the war. John LUCAS was first Captain, also Elisha B. TREADWAY of Co. A. of troops from Owsley and Lee. He was the father of Capt. Joseph B. TREADWAY with the 4th Key... [next two lines illegible] My regiment was the only regiment at Wildcat until the morning of the fight. I had cut down timber falling it toward the enemy and had made pits. I wrote to Gen. George M. THOMAS that if he did not send me reinforcements, I would retreat. 300 of my men were sick at Mt. Vernon. After the battle had been raging two hours with mine and 3rd Infantry Col. [blank] commanding and a splendid officer, SCHAOFF came to me before or during the battle with one or two men. He ran during the fight. During the battle Col. CONWELL with 8 companies made up of the 17th Ohio, the other two were behind with the wagons. SLEADMEN brought one battery of artillery and as soon as that was put in action the Rebels began retreating. The Rebels had a battery of artillery and 7,000 men. 13 Rebels were killed and fewer of ours, only 6 or 7, I think. There was an old cabin on top of the hill and ---------[illegible]

Railroad proposed in 1838
In 1838 the State of South Carolina proposed to the State of Kentucky that she would build a railroad from Charleston to Cincinnati via Cumberland Gap. Thomas F. MARSHALL was a member of the Legislature ) when the proposition came up and threw the force of his great personality against it. It was defeated by. one vote. Col. William McKEE who fell at Buena Vista was a member of the surveying party when they passed here. I saw him in 1824 when he and I and one of my brothers were students at Centre College. He graduated that year then went to West Point and graduated. Only for Thomas F. MARSHALL we might have had a railroad here fifty years ago. I had not seen Col. McKEE from the day of his graduation in 1824 till 1838 when he passed here with the Corps of Engineers.

Mexican War
I left Manchester April 5, 1847 a soldier in the Mexican War though I was in no engagement. Four companies of our Regiment, the 16th U. S. Infantry Key. volunteers, (I was Capt. of Co. E.) were stationed at Ceralvo, Mexico on the Rio Grande to hold the subjugated territory. Part of the regiment was there and part, 6 companies, at Monterey. I think the 8 months I stayed there was the most pleasant part of my life. The Mexicans were fond of us. We had no trouble with them. The climate was pleasant and everything went well. Old Richard LUCAS was the drummer. He was drummer in the War of 1812 also.

Bal. HOWARD'S Failure
My son, James GARRARD, was the Auditor's Agent when Bal. HOWARD failed as Sheriff. As such, he sold HOWARD'S property and the State bid it in. It was the timber off his land that Tom BAKER and the HOWARDS fell out over. I understand James HOWARD has threatened to kill my son James since this feud has come up because of his official work.

Battle of Bear Creek. 1862
I was in command of 400 soldiers from the command of General George W. MORGAN carrying dispatches from him to General NELSON at Lexington. At the mouth of Bear Creek we met some rebels and had an engagement for half an hour. One of our men was killed and three or four died from their wounds. One of them lived near McMinnville, Tenn. I think there were 500 rebels, 3 or 4 rebels were killed. One name LUCAS recovered. Young CLAY from Huntsville, Ala. was wounded and died. He was a nice young man. I talked to him. Our command was coming down Goose Creek and heard that the rebels were in our route. We crossed over to Red Bird going down Double Creek. We were on the opposite or east side of Red Bird. The rebels on this side. Capt. CLARK crossed over with his company. Col. MUNDEY had 200 cavalry. I was in the Legislature when my Regiment was mustered in and I was ordered by Gen. George M. THOMAS to meet it at Camp Wild Cat. Reinforcements were to follow at once but did not reach me until the day of battle or the day before. My regiment was the 3rd Key. at the start but was changed to the 7th Key. by General FINNELL, Adj, Gen. of Key. Some regiments recruited in Ohio were named 1st, 2nd, etc. putting us 5th, 6th and 7th. This was unjust and grew out of favoritism. And my men were on artillery and wagon horses. One of our Captains climbed a mountain, a very high one, with his company. When the rebels saw that we were regular soldiers they retreated going up Laurel Branch and over on to Goose Creek. We kept down Red Bird to Clark's Salt Works and through McKee to within 12 miles of Richmond. Then I left my command there under Maj. (I. N.) CARDWELL while Col. MUNDEY commanded the Cavalry. The Battle of Big Hill or Richmond occurred a few days afterwards. The rebels had come in through Prews' Gap and Williamsburg and part of them came by Goose Creek, perhaps to get supplies. Gen. George MORGAN with several regiments came down Goose Creek from Cumberland Gap, camped at the salt works and at Dr. BURCHELL'S. They went through Booneville to the Ohio River.

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