The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-07-22
To Save Gov. Jefferson
From Capture.
A CHAPTER OF TRAGIC HISTORY
Anent the Early Days Of Our
Republic-ShOuld Be In.
tereSting To All.
A KENTUCKY HORSE HIS MOUNT


finds himself more or less familiar
with every object to be seen there,
due to his reading or to what he has
heard. There is one thing at Jeffer-
sons home, however, that rarely
fails to puzzle the visitor; and
strangely enough, too. because it
has perhaps the greatest historical
significance of all.
II is the tunnel through which
Jefferson, then Governor of Virgin
ia, crawied on his hands and knees
in response to Jack Jouetts warning
and successfully eluded the British
soldiers who were after him.
The story of Jack Jouett's ride is
not generally known. and is rarely
if ever mentioned in text books or
histories. But for the important
happenings connected with it. it
possesses great historical interest.
and for thrilling features it equals
the widest flights of fiction. Jouett
was directly responsible for prevent
ing the capture of the Virginia as
sembly and the detainment of many
eminent men of that body, and he
also enabled Jefferson to escape
capture from Tarleton's dragons
who had raided Monticello.
Jack Jouett kept the Old Swan
Tavern in Charlottesville He did
not attend particularly to business,
spending a great deal of his time on
his plantation in the neighboring
Louisa county and in driving fast
horses. But the tavern was so ably
conducted by his housekeeper that
ii became famous, and the members
of the legislature in Albemarle
county who lived too far away to
ride to the meeting place from their
own plantations, always put up
there.
At the time of the ride Cornwall |
lis was ravaging parts of Virginia,
and, aided by Tarleton's cavalry. was
striking terror into the hearts of |
the country people. Because the
capital, Richmond, was threatened |
by this force, the assembly hastily |
adjourned to Charlottesville. Among
the distinguished members of the |
assembly We're Patrick Henry, Rich
ard Lee, Benjamin Harrison and |
many others almost as prominent,
whose capture would have been !
severe blow to the nation. Thomas
Jefferson was at the time Governor
of Virginia. and his term of Office
expired four days after his narrow
escape from capture.
Jouett was riding to his planta-
tion one day when he saw a CLINT of
color through the trees. He cleared
the fence and caught sight of a
trooper of Tarleton's command. Jou-
EFT drove him to a farm house and
though he threatened the cavalry
mans life. he could learn only that
Tarleton himself was in the neigh
borhood. Determined to find out
Tarleton's plan. Jouett changed
clothes with the Dragon and rode
on to the Cuckoo Tavern. He arriv-
ed very late and lay down for few
hours sleep.
The noise made by TarletOn and
his men dismounting and entering
awakened JOuett, who slipped out
and listened through the blind to
the conversation carried OH by the
onlcers in the dining room. In inn
minent danger of detection, even
though protected by British uni
form, he listened only long enough
TO md out that the British leader
intended to wait for the rest of the
troops to come up to have breakfast
and then push on to capture the
members of the assembly, who were
then in session in Charlottesville.
Jouett's horse was tired from eX-
srtions OF the day before and so he
lecided to take a longer but desert
I'd road in preference to the short
)ne, as he knew that the landlords
resi- horses could outdistance him.
At one place the new road crossed
he old one and here some troopers
'spied him. They pursued him for
wenty minutes. but he ended them
md reached Monticello at 8 O'Clock \
lie had made twenty-seven miles in y
m hour and three-quarters. In
moment he had warned jefferson .
hat the British We're near at hand.
obtained fresh horse and had n
tarted on his way for Charlottes- /,
lille. "a
Jouett made this place his desti- e
alton in order to warn the mem
ers of the legislature, who were a
repairing for an early session. Char