Garrard County Men Part of War of 1812 Mutiny

Contributed by Sandra Hurt Norris.

Volunteers streamed from Garrard, Madison and Lincoln to respond to Governor Shelby’s September 8th, 1812 proclamation calling for men to protect the settlements of Illinois and Indiana territories. They formed at Louisville and then repaired to Vincennes, Indiana, under the command of Brig. General Samuel Hopkins, who had served in the Revolutionary War as a Colonel in the Virginia Line. So many Kentuckians responded from all parts of the state that hundreds were turned away.

There were approximately 2500 men in five regiments of mounted militia, under Colonels Samuel South, James Allen, Young Ewing, Samuel Caldwell and John Thomas. Along with these regiments were a battalion under Major Henry Renick and a battalion of spies under Major Toussaint Dubois. On October 10, they set out for Indian country by way of Ft. Harrison, crossed the Wabash on the 14th, and then when the food became scarce and lurking Indians set the grass on fire, the troops mutinied and on October 20, they refused to march any further. The men had lost their faith in the leadership and the caliber of the spies. General Hopkins called for 500 volunteers to follow him to the Indian towns but not a man stepped up. General Hopkins followed his troops back to Vincennes where they disbanded on October 25.

Roll of Captain Thomas Kennedy’s Company, Kentucky Mounted Volunteer Militia - Commanded by Colonel Samuel South. Terms of enlistment September 18 to October 18.