The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1871-11-22
Col. Jack Allen.


From the Louisville Courier Journal, Nov. 6l
A letter announces the impending death OF
Col. Jack Allen, at Bright Star. Hopkins
county, Texas. He was widely known in
the Southwest. In his young manhood he
had the misfortune to slay man in Shelby
county, but the jury adjudged it clear case
of self defence and he was acquitted. Shortly
afterwards. he left for Missouri, and with a
single companion. made his way through the
Indian Territory. aud then into Texas.
! That people were then at war with the Mex
leans. He was with Sam Honston at the
battle of San Jacinto. which ended the war
He returned home, and engaged in farming.
but when the wer broke out on the Rio
Grande. Allen raised cavalry company and
was with Gen. Humphrey Marshals regi-
ment at Buena Vista.
The conclusion of the Mexican war le,
loose q set of resslessspen. eager for any
J --..i:I~ ~.-sn-r-s.>sEA>--.1-: o-I-
attracted their attention, as it did. indeed
many leading men in the South. Jack Alien
was Of course among the number. He raised
band of men 10 kentucky. and was PROM
inent among these who composed what may
be called the first Cuban expedition Sail
ing from = Southern port in a small vessel.
by orders: e act in concert with the Creoles
of Cuba, who were said to be ready to revolt,
the ffbusters. as they we're termed. pro :
ceeGed to the Island of Contoy, near the
coast Of Yacatan. A sojourn of three
weeks. with exposure disgusted the men, un-
! til orders were given to leave, when their
spirits revived. The We sssl made it's way
to Cardenas. on the northern part of the
island, where they were landed. Their
rebel friends to their chagrin, informed them
that their force was too small to throw the
island into revolution. und declined to give
any assistance. The authorities had been
advised of the plans of the filibusters. and
had force close at hand to meet them.
They charged on the filibusters who gallant
ly repulsed the assault, and, knowing dis
cretion to be. the better part of valor. retired
to their little vessels. Allen fought bravely
in this fight. The filibusters then headed
for Key West, and when within few miles
of that place. discovered the Spanish man.
of-war. Pizzaro. bearing down on them un-
der full head of steam. She approached
near enough to fire few shots at the YES
sci, but the boys escaped and scattered over
the place.
The year following. 1851. the filibusters
were again at work under Lopez. and Jack
Allen was with them, He raised several
hundred men in Kentucky and took them
to New Orleans. Lopez. with the lamented
Maj. VIM. Crittenden. had also left for the
island. Their fate is known. Crittenden's
little band of fifty men were captured. and
with himself. shot. and Lopez was garroted.
In the meanwhile. the Kentuckians in New
Orleans beseeched the Cuban aid society for
transportation, but in vain. When the fate
Of the the expedition was known. the fiji
busters in New Orleans disbanded, and Allen
and others returned to Kentucky. Several
expeditions sof similar character were pro
jected between that time and the year 1856
OF the leaders, bu. all of them tailed. Gen.
Walker and bis fihbusters, however, had
met with more success in Nicaragua, and
Jack Allen determined to join him. H.
chartered the steamer Sultaua, and left
Portland wharf. May II. 1856. with nearly
two hundred men. for this expedition. Few.
alas were destined to return. Half of the
number reached Grenada. where Allen was
appointed Colonel Of the regiment. He sub
sequently returned to Kentucky on the plea
Of ill-healtb. He believed the cause of
Walker as lost, and while here he ar
ranged for another Cuban expedition. en-
brscing the enlistment Of his own men in
Nicaragua. as well a. others who desired to
leave Nicaragua. but who were restrained
therefrom by force. Goicouria was to send
a vessel from San Juan del Norte, to bring
away the men. Gen Loekridge. who was
subsequently the commander on San Jua,
river, wasin the secret. Allen returned
to Nicara -ua, but successful operation of
the Costa Ricans in capturing from Walker
the steamships on Lake Nicaragua, defeated
the Allen. Goicouria descent on Cubs. Col.
Allen left Nicaragua in October, 1856, and
came home. He lived in quiet on his farm
in Shelby county, until the Inauguration of
the late civil war. when he espeused the
cause of the Confederates. He was the
leader of several hundred men who left
Kentucky in 1861. He served in the Con-
federste army for short time, and then
retired, remaining South. however. until
hestiiieiss osased, when he again rstsrned
homo aad rssums1 bis agricultural parsuits.
He went to Texas some months. ago but for
what particular purpose We are not advised.
Col. Allen was restless and adventurous
man. and no enterprise was too hazardous
for his reckless spirit. ''+