 |
| 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.
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.