The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-26
Isaac Shelby, One of the Leaders in the
och-MakingB Battle of Kings Mountain ant
FIRST Governor of Kentucky.

There Is a long list of men distinguished
for individual valor, patriotism and execu-
tive ability. In the history of the formative
period of our country. History. as 1t is too
often written to-day. has failed to mention
the names of many OF these men. and their
Tame has become a matter of local memory.
The history of the frontiersmen. OF the
men who conquered the West, Is a factor
OF our national development too often
neglected and forgotten. The part played
by individuals In this stirring drama was
of immense Importance. These men of the
border-between the more civilized stretch
OF land along the Atlantic seaboard and
the settlements which were just beginning
west Of the mountains. performed great
MISUNDERSTANDING deeds.
A glance backward a few score years will
show that there were two streams of emf
grafton which peopled the western country,
as 1t was called in early days. One came
from the Southern States. notably Virginia
and North and South Carolina, and their
nieghbors. and the other came from New
England. New York and Pennsylvania.
From the Southern country the pioneers
established themselves. ever pushing for
ward. to the West and Southwest. while the
northerly stream occupied the Northwest
Territory. as 1t was called. 1t was not I'M
til after the Revolution that this Northwest
srn stream began. but the men who fought
the wilderness. and the savage denizens
thereof, in Kentucky and Tennessee, whose
descendants eventually spread over Mis-
souri, and the Southwest. helped to make
the American War of Independence a great
| fact in history.
John Sewer. a leader in the foundation of
the Commonwealth of Tennessee. was one
who had to fight to the west and to the
east, and Isaac Shelby, first Governor of
Kentucky, was another.
Isaac Shelby was born December IL. 11J1.
near Hagerstown, Md, where his father
and grandfather had settled after their ar
rival In America from Wales. He obtained
the clements Of a good English education,
his schooling being Interrupted many times
on account of the Indian wars. Naturally.
under surroundings Of danger. he was
brought up to the use Of arms and the pur-
suit Of game. At the age Of 81 he removed
to Western Virginia, having previously ac-
CURED a knowledge Of surveying. The ex-
tensive INF of that region encouraged
cattle raising. and young Shelby kept large
herds Of cattle.
He was q Lieutenant in the company OF
his father. General Evan Shelby. in the
battle at the mouth Of the Kanawha. Oc-
tober 10. liza. where the officers Colonies
Lewis. Fleming and Field having been
killed or disabled. Evan Shelby became
commanding officer. The battle gave peace
to the frontier for several years.
In ITS young Shelby was in Kentucky
acting as surveyor for Henderson & Co.,
and in 11i6 he was appointed Captain OF a
minute company by the Committee OF
Safety of Virginia. The worth. nerve
and skill Of the young patriot were thus
early recognized by his fellows. In the
year Iii he was appointed by Governor
Henry a Commissary of Supplies for an ex-
tensive body of militia, posted at different
garrisons to guard the frontier settlements.
and for a treaty to be held at the Long
Island Of Holston River with the Chero-
kee Indians. These supplies could not have
been obtained nearer than Stanton. Va,
a distance of 800 miles; but by the most
indefatigable perseverance Zone Of the
most conspicuous traits of his character)
he accomplished the task to the satisfac-
ton of his country.
In ITS he was engaged In the Commissary
Department providing supplies for the
Continental Army and for an expedition,
by the way of Pittsburg, against the North
western Indians. In the early part of 1T79
he was appointed by Governor Henry to
furnish supplies for the campaign against
the Chickamauga Indians. AS there were
no Government funds for the service, Shell
by provided the supplies upon his individ-
ual credit. To feed an army at ones own
expense is a service great for any time
and age. and Shelby but proved his mettle
again and gave promise of what he would
do in the future.
The frontier was under the control of
John Sewer. "Nolichucky jack the terror
of the Indians. and Shelby was one of those
who had early settled near Watauga and
penetrated further westward into Ken
lucky. Shelby fought the Indians to the
west Of him and the British to the east
Of him.. He was with the Americans, and
In cor mand. at Cedar Spring. where over
fifty British were AIKEN. The next i'm
portant event was at Musgrove's Mill.
where 700 men. led by Colonies Shelby.
Clarke and Williams. routed the British.
they having sixty-three killed and 1sO
wounded and taken. while the American
oSS 'oS hooh Nikito tiio 1AihS bAit ~
Americans designed to make n stand be-
fore Ninety-six that evening. but an ex-
press, bearing dispatches from Governor
Caswell. informed the leaders of the defeat
of General Gates at Camden. The Ameri-
cans had to retreat in haste. but succeeded
in getting away with all their prisoners.
The brilliancy of this affair was obscured,
as indeed were all the minor events of the
war previous. by the deep gloom which
overspread the public mind after the dis
astrous defeat of Gates at Camden.
The British. who thought the rebellion
now nearly ended, began calling upon The
inhabitants of Virginia and the Carolinas to
come to their headquarters and declare their
loyalty. Colonel Ferguson, with a consider
able force. went to the westward. He sent
word to Shelby. then at Watauga, that he
and his men must come into his camp CT
he would proceed against them and scatter
them to the four winds. Encamped at Gill
bert-town, he sent these threatening mes
concluded that he would have a band in the
little game of scattering to the four
winds" so he went to see Sewer and pro-
posed that they collect j force and give
Ferguson a drubbing. This was one of the
most critical periods of the whole Revolu-
ton. CORVALLIS was at Charlotte, N. c..
and Ferguson, as before stated. was at Gill
bert-town. farther west. Shelby's PROPOSE
ton was that the Americans surprise Fergu-
son in the night and attack him. Colonel
Campbell of Virginia was also invited to
help with the expedition, and hi assisted