Bullets and Bayonets, Buttons and Thread

Bullets and Bayonets

Buttons and Thread

A Letter from Home With a Few Unkind Words.

Like most military spouses, when one is away on active duty the other assumes all the duties of maintain hearth and home.  The Pogues owned several thousand acres of farmland and wife Jane was responsible for running the family business while Robert was away.  On Monday, Nov. 30, 1812, Jane wrote the following letter to her husband.  In it she writes about business dealings with a local businessman who apparently was not happy about something in the contract and had threatened to sue the Pogues and was spreading malicious rumors among the neighbors about the issue..  Of particular interest are Janes comments about General Edward Tupper of the Ohio militia. 

Seems General Tupper, an effective general was not all that skilled in administrative duties.  He had not only failed to keep his troops, namely the Kentucky troops well supplied, the Kentuckians viewed him as a coward.  It’s obvious her comment in bold and underline is meant as sarcasm.

 She went on to say that as when some of the mounted troops from her town (Mayslick, Ky.) returned home, they were heard to say that they thought General Tupper should be shot.  Others said that they would rather kill him (Tupper) than an Indian. 

This letter was one of many sent from Jane to Robert and is now preserved in the Mason County Kentucky Public Library.  Note:  the spelling is exactly as written and not changed.

“My dear husband I sent Edwin to see Mr. Marshall and showed him the agreement beetween Walker and yourself. I have enclosed his letter to you that he has writen to me. I sent Edwin to see the man that was owing you wheet a soon as the milldam and race was finished with a request to diliver there load. I would not have been so uneasy, but Mr. Walker has been threatening you with heavy damages. He has not said an illnatured word to me yet. But has talked very short to Bill and some of the neighbors. He wishes me to borrow the wheet and says he must start again Chrismes. Before wheet took a reise I purchased 200 bushels lest there should be some failurs, same I got for half a crown A bushell but It cannot be got for less then three shillings in cash and will soon be three and sixpence.

I have been reading of the gallent conduct of G. Tupper and
I am much gratifide that, when our Mayslick horsmen came home, many of them said he ought to be shot, others that they would Rather kill him than an indian. But that is Mayslick patriotism you know.

We are all in health and long very much to see you again. The children join in love to you and their brothers.  I Add no more But remain your loving wife untill death.   P.S. we have not got all our corn in yet But we shall quit it and git our wheet out. I have done everything in my power to fulfill the contract with walker indeed more than was convenient. Your contract says as soon as you conveniently can after water comes But I will still persevere.”

Bullets and Bayonets / Buttons and Thread

 Normally one would think that a political figure writing a militia officer during wartime about supplies, would be writing about things like bullets, bayonets, wagons or horses, etc. however it seems there was an equally important item that was in short supply.  Short enough that on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1812 George Madison, Auditor of Public Accounts for the State of Kentucky wrote to Pogue looking for a bag of thread. 

Apparently Pogues quartermaster Bodley was to deliver a bag of thread to the Auditor so he could disperse to units needing to make clothing.  He asked Pogue to have someone check his blockhouses to see it the bag was there.  Seems they had enough to make cloth but they were in dire need for buttons and thread. 

Gov. of Kentucky

December 2, 1812

Dear Col.

Major Bodley  informs me he had a bag of thread for the use of the troops.  I understood him it was here, but suppose I must have been mistaken as it can’t be found.  If General Payne has come away from your place will you be so kind as to examine the good in your Blockhouses and if find it send it on by the first opportunity.  We have cloth but can’t make it up without thread.  If you can find and Major Bodley should be at St. Marys or at your fort will you be so good as to let him know we can’t find neither buttons nor thread. 

Whether or not there were ever able to find the allusive bag of thread, is unknown.

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