Chapter 1

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BIRD AND RHODA SMITH IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE

The last known record of Bird Bowker Smith in Virginia was in 1807 [137]. Four years later, in 1809, Bird was elected to the Tennessee General Assembly representing the middle Tennessee counties of White, Franklin, Jackson, Overton and Warren.[138] The Smiths settled in White County, which had been formed three years before in 1806. Smith County had been the parent county of White County, and Smith County had been formed mostly out of Sumner County. For almost 40 years, White County itself would be the donor county for newly formed counties in its area.

            It is readily apparent that William Ingles Smith, Bird and Rhoda’s eldest child, was in White County with them. It seems that William I. Smith may well have preceded them to Tennessee. A William Smith appears in the White County Deed books on August 8, 1803, when William I. Smith would have been 20 years old. William Smith was one of the witnesses to a deed when Robert King of Roane County sold 100 acres of land on the Cumberland River to Jonathan Wood and James Osburn of Russell, a southwestern Virginia county.[139]

            The husband of Bird and Rhoda’s second child, Janie, was William Jones. This name appears in the White County deed books twice, once regarding a salt works, and once in conjunction with the purchase of two lots in Sparta. This is a common name, so it is difficult to say that this was Janie’s husband. James Reed was the husband of the third married child, Susannah. There are no records in White County for James Reed, and there is some indication that the Reeds may have gone to South Carolina, at least for a while. The remaining 10 children were too young to have married, and so it is assumed that they had accompanied their parents to White County.

            Evidently Bird and Rhoda Smith were not in Tennessee without relatives of one degree or another. Just by noting surnames and distinctive given names, it is obvious that many descendants of the Rev. Ralph Bowker and Rev. Guy Smith were in Tennessee by the early 1800s. For example, there were numerous Triggs in Franklin County, which is in south central Tennessee. The Triggs in Franklin County appear to be the descendants of Abraham Trigg, one of the sons of U.S. Congressman

Abraham Trigg and his wife, Susannah Ingles Trigg, Rhoda Ingles Smith’s sister. There was even a Bird Smith living in Davidson County, the county in which Nashville is located.[140]

            White County is located in middle Tennessee. The eastern part of the county “lies on the Cumberland tableland.” This tableland is “a level or gently rolling surface with mountain slopes on the face of the tableland, which occupies a large part of the county. The valley of Calf Killer River occupies a wide belt across the county, gradually widening, and is on an average four miles wide through White County.” [141] There are other valleys like this one, including Hickory Valley and Cherry Creek Valley in the northern part of the county. The soil of the valleys is suitable for growing a variety of crops. The third area of the county, besides the tableland and its mountains and the valleys, is the barrens on the west side of the county. These lands are unsuitable for growing crops.

            When the first settlers came to White County around 1800, “the country was nothing more than a wilderness of canebrake and forest...and a single tribe of Cherokee Indians was found here.” The land in the area had been granted by North Carolina to “the survivors, or their assignees, of the Revolutionary War, for military services in the line, but very few of the original owners ever became settlers of the county. Among those to whom land was thus granted, in tracts from 640 to 1,000 acres, were Robert King.” [142]

            Bird Bowker Smith’s name began appearing on the White County deed records the same year that he was elected to the Tennessee Assembly. On December 27, 1809, Bird was a witness for a land deed involving Herron King & Co., which seems to have been a land company. About six months later on June 2, 1810, Bird again was a witness for a land deed involving the same land company.

            The history of America and later of the United States, is the history of land speculation. The idea was simple: get land cheap or free and sell it for a profit. There were many ways to get the land under favorable conditions. In early Virginia history land was available for importing indentured servants. In other cases a veteran of the regular armed forces or militia was frequently able to get large amounts of free land from the various states in return for his military service. Others were also able to persuade state governments to give them grants to enormous tracts of land in return for bringing in settlers. Even surveyors were able to acquire land, since in most cases, they were given a set number of acres in return for surveying the land. If cash was scarce, land was plentiful and state governments were more than willing to use land in place of cash. There were, in other words, countless

countless opportunities for making money, perhaps big money. Groups of land speculators formed companies to acquire land and sell it, hopefully, at a profit. One of the first deed records in White County lists several men from New York and Boston and some 44,160 acres of land granted by the state of North Carolina.

            The Herron King & Co. appears to have been one of these speculative land companies so common to American history of the early ninetieth century. The very first page of the White County, Tennessee deed book relates the land transactions of Robert King and William King, presumably relatives, most likely brothers. The Kings, including a Robert King,  were also listed in records concerning the New River area in Virginia.

            The Kings were very early settlers into middle Tennessee. In 1804 Robert is described as being from Roane County, which is to the east of White County, while William King is noted as being from Sullivan County. In the late 1790s North Carolina had granted huge amounts of land to Robert King, some of which landed in court cases in later years. The Kings were connected to the Smith family through the marriages of three of Anne Smith Trigg’s children into the King family. Anne Smith Trigg was Bird Smith’s older sister. One of Anne’s sons, John Trigg, married Elsie King. Anne’s daughter, Mary Trigg. married William King, while Anne’s son, James Trigg, married Anne King. Another of Anne Trigg’s sons, William, and his wife Rachel Findlay/Finley Trigg appeared in White County records concerning a King estate settlement.

            Bird appears in the White County, Tennessee, deed records only a few times, all between December 27, 1809, and July 18, 1812. For the most part, Bird was listed as a witness for deed transactions. August 14, 1810, however, Bird and four other men seem to have received a sheriff’s deed for some land against which a judgment had been entered. The next day, August 15, Bird bought a half-acre lot in Sparta, the county seat of White County. Sparta was located in the Calf Killer Valley where most of the early settlement took place. Two years later, July 18, 1812, Bird paid $18 for Lot 90 in Sparta. Being the county seat, Sparta was the site of the first courthouse, a building of logs that stood until 1815 when it was replaced by a “small, square-shaped, two story structure.” [143] In 1810 Sparta had a population of 4,028 and would have been the location of trade days and court days when people would come from the outlying areas to conduct business, trade and barter. Here they would hear political speeches, run their horses, and hear the latest news. The news now was that a war was coming with Great Britain, who was thumbing her nose at the infant nation.

            Bird’s son, William, was commissioned a captain in the 34th Regiment of the Tennessee militia on February 20, 1810. Nine months later, on November 24, 1810, Bird Smith was commissioned brigadier general of the 7th Brigade of the Tennessee militia.[144] “The operation of the militia and the selection of the commanding officers were essentially democratic processes. Regimental and company officers were elected by members of the militia regardless of rank; brigadier generals were elected by

the field officers of each of the three militia districts within Tennessee; and the field officers of all three districts plus the brigadier generals elected a major general who commanded the militia of the entire state.” [145]

            The commission of brigadier general and the election to the state legislature were notable accomplishments for Bird Smith in the short time he had been in Tennessee. This might indicate that some of his prestige had been gained back in Virginia, and that that record of experience served him well in frontier Tennessee.

            Within two years of Bird’s commission, the War of 1812 with Great Britain broke out. To the war effort “White County contributed two full companies.” [146] After declaration of war in June 1812, Andrew Jackson, [147] as commander of the Tennessee militia, offered the service of the Tennessee volunteers. There is a letter dated August 25, 1813, in the Jackson papers from Andrew Jackson to John Williams, where in Jackson wrote: “I have recd no return from the Seventh Brigade—I have taken the necessary steps to enforce a return from the Brigadier General (Bird Smith) commanding said Brigade at an Early day—I am advised that his quota is ready for the field—but not officially from him, therefore cannot notice it—as soon as I receive his return shall forwarded it without delay.” Jackson had written a scathing letter to Bird Smith on August 13 concerning muster rolls, taking him to task for the delay in following his orders of June 19th. On September 8 Jackson wrote a short note to Bird Smith again on this matter of the muster rolls and inspection returns, referring to a notice of the division’s orders published in the newspaper Clarion.[148] There is no indication why Bird Smith was so late with the muster rolls and inspections, unless the orders for some reason never got to him.

            In November 1812, the governor of Tennessee ordered Andrew Jackson to mobilize 1,500 men for a southern expedition, and Second Division troops mustered in Nashville for an expedition to New Orleans in December 1812. The United States Secretary of War, however, ordered Jackson’s troops dismissed. By March 1813 Jackson’s volunteers began the return march to Tennessee.

             Ten months later, in late August 1813, led by Andrew Jackson the Tennessee militia volunteers were headed south to Creek country and the ensuing Creek War (August 1813–March 1814).[149]

On December 13, 1813, from McMinnville in Warren County, Bird Smith wrote Jackson,[150] saying that Captain Smith, presumably his son William I. Smith, was marching new “drafts” and deserters to Jackson.[151]

            It is not known if Bird Smith led his Seventh Brigade in the Creek War, but one possible clue of military service early in the war was a land grant given to Bird September 13, 1813, for 100 acres of land in White County. This could have been given for military service.[152] What is more definitely known is Bird Smith’s part in the Battle of New Orleans.

            Knowing that the British were planning to attack New Orleans, General Jackson “sent out urgent demands for troops from Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.” [153] The Adjutant General’s office directed Major General William Carroll to “call out and organize 3,000 militia infantry of his division to rendezvous in Nashville (on the) 13th of Nov., as well as to take under his command 2,000 more raised in East Tennessee.”[154] In response to this order on November 14 at Nashville, Carroll “issued a proclamation calling for volunteers. It was a well-judged composition appealing to self-interest. ‘The exigency of the times require our immediate march to the lower country there to protect that section of our union which is so important to the people westward of the Alleghany (sic) mountains. The City of New Orleans is the grand depot of the products of our country and every one of us ought to feel a strong interest in defending this great Mart of trade and source of Wealth to the upper country’.” [155]

            On November 13, 1814, the day before Carroll’s proclamation calling for volunteers, Bird Smith had been commissioned Brigadier General of the 2nd Brigade of the West Tennessee Militia, on

the staff of Major General William Carroll’s Division of West Tennessee Militia Infantry. His son, William I. Smith, was commissioned Quarter Master General on the same staff.[156]

            Within four weeks of the Adjutant General’s order, there were 45 boats ready to float the Tennessee militia down the rivers to New Orleans. With no recent rain, however, the rivers were too low to float the boats. Then “the clouds thicken—the rains descended, and the water rushed down their channels with rapidity.” Finally on the 24th of November the “General and staff stepped on board “the Cecilia”-the flotilla was put in motion-martial music was struck up on board and those on shore with loud acclamation waved a last adieu, while a band of music from the bank answered that from the fleet.” As the boats floated down the rivers sandbanks were a constant hazard. Three days into the voyage, they struck a sand bar and “twelve to fifteen men leaped from boats and with their united effort set us to floating again.” [157] The event would be repeated as the boats wend their way down the rivers.

            The boats floated down the Cumberland River to the Ohio River where the Tennessee militia saw the Kentucky troops encamped on the opposite shore, “far from being in a state of preparation to descend the river.” [158] Yet, for the Tennessee troops it was sometimes a quiet journey and traveling by night they could watch moonlight on the river and ponder the beauty of their western country.

            By November 29 the boats had come to the Mississippi River, the “Father of Waters” where “the confluence of the mighty streams was marked by the foam which was lashed by the currents contending for supremacy.” As they passed towns and small villages, the citizens sometimes would salute the militia as the boats floated past. On December 14 the militia’s boats had reached Natchez where they lay over a day to care for their sick and repair their clothing. Casting off the next day, the troops beat their way onward against strong headwinds and eventually reached St. Francisville where Carroll received a letter informing him that the British had appeared off the coast and were moving toward New Orleans.

            “Orders were issued that all the muskets and rifles should be immediately put into the hands of the men fit for service” [159] and the boats pressed on, again hitting headwinds. Taking to the oars and towing the boats when necessary the militia finally arrived on December 20 and moored four miles above New Orleans. The Tennessee militia had accomplished a remarkable feat, coming 1,339 miles in one month.

            Three days later Carroll received orders from Jackson at two o’clock in the afternoon to march his troops “immediately to New Orleans, the enemy having landed in considerable force at Canal de Villere, seven miles below....The Division reached the City before sun-down.” [160] Jackson had to stay

prepared as he did not know where the British were going to attack. Carroll sent Brigadier General Bird Smith with part of his division out about seven miles east[161] of New Orleans to make sure that the British did not attack from that direction. The rest of the division remained in New Orleans under arms. That night there was a feint below New Orleans, and Carroll rushed his troops in, but it was over before they could join the others in combat.

            The next morning[162] Jackson withdrew his troops two miles closer to New Orleans and started building breastworks. For the next month the soldiers labored to build the fortification. On New Year’s Day, January 1, 1815, the British attacked the American breastworks. It was a horrible defeat for the veteran British forces and they staggered back to their ships and sailed away.

            Bird Smith never fought in the final encounter with the British. Bird fell, not in battle, but from the other enemy of soldiers on the battlefield, disease. Soldiers face not only human enemies, but also diseases like “chronic diarrhea and dysentery brought on by (war) conditions, lack of adequate food and medicine.” [163] “I acknowledge,” Carroll wrote the governor of Tennessee on February 21, 1815, “many obligations to Brg. Gen. Smith for his zeal & industry in getting forward the boats while on the river, & I was a witness of his anxiety to render service in the field, when the enemy were before our works—but the affection of a severe illness prevented his exercising his wishes, & I have to announce to you and the people of Tennessee the loss of this brave gen’l who has fallen a victim to the diseases of the country.”

            On March 14, 1815 the Tennessee newspaper, Whig, announced “with regret that we learn that our gallant fellow citizen, General Byrd (sic) Smith departed this life on the 29th (sic), Instant, at New Orleans, General Smith was an early settler in this state, had been a member of the Legislature and at the time of his death commanded the west Tennessee brigade of militia which acted so conspicuous a part in the several battles below N.O. (New Orleans).” [164]

            Bird’s son, William I. Smith, was with his father when Bird died at age 53. As William Ingles Smith wrote, “I...was in the family of...Genl. Bird Smith from the day we were mustered into Service until the day of his death.” [165] It is possible that other Smith sons were there since there is an account that even the youngest son, Thomas Ingles Smith, 14, was in New Orleans. Thomas was a “member of

the Second Brigade of West Tennessee Militia...we find him at New Orleans discouraging (sic) martial music to his comrades during that memorable battle.” [166] Additional evidence of the presence of other Smith sons at the Battle of New Orleans comes from a newspaper story about William Robert McClellan, son of Juliet Smith McClellan and nephew to the Smith sons. The newspaper article states that there were five sons of Bird Smith at the Battle of New Orleans. Since there were six sons, this would mean that all but one of the sons were present in New Orleans.[167]

            Bird’s widow, Rhoda Ingles Smith, remained in White County, Tennessee least for a while after Bird’s death. On May 25, 1816, Rhoda appointed her son, William I. Smith, who was a justice of the peace in White County, as her attorney-in-fact to pursue claims for monies owed to Bird for his military services. Three days later, on May 28, 1816, one of her sons-in-law, Jordon G. Stokes, of Davidson County (Nashville), had to appear before his local justice of the peace court to take an oath that Rhoda was indeed the widow of General Bird Smith. William I. Smith testified that Bird “furnished himself, and on his own individual account with all the rations he used while in Service, and that he did not receive from the United States or their agents any rations wither for himself, a Servant, and after his death the Servant was furnished by the rest of the family with rations without receiving any from the United States.” Rhoda received $676.35 from the United States government for the expenses that Bird incurred during the New Orleans campaign.

            In October of 1817 there were two land records recorded in White County involving Rhoda. On October 8 Rhoda and James Carter paid $1,000 for 202 acres on “Cane creek of falling water.” James Townsend acting as attorney in fact for James Carter conveyed Ten days later 20 acres to Rhoda.[168] Concerning land, however, the most important thing was the right the Smith family had to claim land granted to the estate of Bird Smith in return for his military service

In 1818 the U. S. government signed a treaty was signed with the Chickasaw Indians that opened the western part of Tennessee to settlement. The land turned over by the Chickasaws, in what was known as the Western District, was a favored land. Bound on the east by the Tennessee River and on the west by the Mississippi River, transportation in the interior of the area was accessible by flat bottomed keel boats. This meant that the region could, with relative ease, get its crops to market.

            The Western District was made up of three parts, “the western part of the valley of the Tennessee River, the plateau, extending westward and divided from that valley by the Tennessee River ridge and the Mississippi bottom....The plateau constituted by far the largest part of the country...and is comparatively level, though river and creek bottoms abound...The whole country was covered by a dense primeval forest, including...poplars of enormous size, oaks of different varieties, the gums, walnut, hickory, beech and ash predominated.” [169] There had been accounts published about the Western District as early as 1793. Now with the Chickasaw Treaty, the way was open to settlement, and the land rush was under way. This rush was abetted by the Panic of 1819 that especially affected the older states, including North Carolina, which saw a large part of its population head west. “In 1825, a Knoxville newspaper (in the eastern part of Tennessee) noted that wagons, carts and carriages passing to the West through that town amounted to from four to five thousand, annually.” [170]

            “A turnpike road was surveyed and constructed from Nashville to Knoxville, running through Lebanon, Sparta and Kingston in about 1815, and Sparta (in White County) sprung into prominence, as the road became the great thoroughfare from east to west....long wagon trains of emigrants passed over it daily seeking homes in the West, and four and six-horse stage coaches loaded with passengers passed each way uninterruptedly. A train of from fifty to one hundred emigrant wagons, winding down the side of the mountain, was a common sight in those days.” [171]

            In this heady world of westward migration, the younger children of Bird and Rhoda were growing up. The seventh child, John Smith, was 21 years old in 1815. The next three children, Bird Bowker Smith Jr.,[172] Abraham “Abram” Trigg Smith and Thomas Ingles Smith, were19, 18 and 15 respectively. The three youngest children, Rhoda, Juliet and Mary ranged from 13 to five.

Five years later Rhoda Smith, who was in her late fifties, was living in Giles County,[173] in south Middle Tennessee, on the border of Alabama. She had two sons, probably Tom and Abram, and one daughter, probably Mary, living with her. There were no slaves in the household, but there were four free “colored” people, a woman aged 26 to 45, and probably her three children, a boy and two girls under age14. Three members of the household were involved in agriculture. Why Rhoda and her family were living in Giles County is unknown.  There was a Patterson Crockett living nearby, and the Ingles were related by marriage to a branch of the Crockett family, but this seems a tenuous possibility.

            Where the other 10 Smith children were in 1820 is difficult to say, since their surnames were common (Smith, Jones, Reed), and their given names usually were of no help either (William, John). Since census records list only the head of household by name, and only wide ranges of ages for the adults in 1820, it is hard to pin down the older Smith children. It does appear, nevertheless, that in 1820 they were in middle Tennessee for the most part. By the end of this decade, however, the younger generation was moving into western Tennessee.

            One of these children, Juliet Lewis Smith, would join in the move to western Tennessee with her new husband, William Beavers McClellan, the son of John D. McClellan, whom she married in about 1822 at about age 18.[174]