Pollard Gowin & Francis Gowin - War of 1812 Kentucky Mounted Volunteers

                                                                     Pollard Gowin & Francis Gowin
                                                            War of 1812 – Kentucky Mounted Volunteers

 

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States against the British forces and their Indian allies.  At this period, there were still many unresolved issues from the War of Independence and the War of 1812 helped resolve them.  The United States declared war on Britain after it had taken hold of many U.S. ships bound for Britain and other European countries where they were trading goods.  They forced these sailors to join their military after taking hold of their ships.  The British forces also worked with the Native Americans to play them against the U.S. over territorial disputes and encroachment.  The British forces supported and encouraged raids on the American colonies by their Native American allies.

On January 18, 1813, a Kentucky militia consisting of about 900 men engaged the British forces at the Battle of River Raisin or aka “The Battle of Frenchtown” since it was in Frenchtown, Michigan.  This was a battle for all of Michigan and the Lower Great Lakes.  There is a great description of this battle provided at this site (http://www.riverraisinbattlefield.org/the_battles.htm).  It was during this battle that the Kentucky forces were overtaken and ultimately surrendered.  Shortly after their surrender, the Native Americans aiding the British decided to massacre the men taken captive.  They started with the wounded and then went on to slaughter all of those taken captive.  Word about the massacre reached home to Kentucky where the legislature authorized Gov. Shelby to personally take charge of the reinforcements.   The request was for 2,000 men, but 4,000 Kentucky volunteers were formed in Newport and immediately sent to General Harrison’s aid. 

A young sixteen year old man named Pollard Gowin was still living with his parents, Joseph and Judith, farming the land in Madison County, Kentucky.  From our records, he appears to be the youngest son of the family at the time.  His older brother, Francis, was about thirty-five years of age and married with three young children at home when the news came to Madison County.  Their father, Joseph, had fought against the British in the American Revolution under the 14^th Virginia Regiment. 

A local man, Colonel William Williams, lived in Madison County and was searching for volunteers to march against the British forces that just created this outrage.  Col. Williams was the commander of the Eleventh Regiment attached to the 2^nd Division, unabridged that soon totaled 423 officers and enlisted.  The Eleventh Regiment consisted of nine companies of men (approximately 35-75 men each) from Madison, Harrison, Clay, and Rockcastle Counties.  The Eleventh Regiment, along with the Second and Fifth Brigades, made up the 2^nd Division commanded by Major Gen. Joseph Desha of Mason County, Kentucky. 

Francis and Pollard must have felt compelled to volunteer because the records show their unit was officially mustered on August 13, 1813 in Madison County, KY under the company command of Capt. John C. McWilliams of Madison County, Kentucky.  John C. McWilliams was a local farmer of Scottish decent and he had previously served as a Sergeant under the command of Capt. Morrison’s Company and was commissioned March 14, 1812.  He was now leading a company of mounted (cavalry horsemen) volunteers.  They were known as the 6^th Company of the Kentucky Volunteer Light Dragoons.   

On September 9, 1813 these brave Kentuckians began their journey up to Urbana, Ohio and then further on to Manary’s Blockhouse (now the town of Bellefontaine) where they arrived the next day.  The morning of September 11^th, they marched on to Fort McArthur staying the night then continued on to Upper Sandusky before reaching Fort Ball on the 13^th.  On the 14^th, they reached the Portage, on the shores of Lake Erie, where they rested for a period. 

Tecumseh and his 1,200 men had been fighting alongside Gen. Proctor, the British General, for a long period of time and they were now at Chatham on the River Thames.  There were no more than 700 British regulars and Canadian militia under his command.  They were running from Gen. Harrison and it was at the River Thames were they decided they would fight the American forces to the end. 

Prior to the battle, Gen. Desha’s unit (of which Francis and Pollard belonged) was formed on the left of the front line so as to hold the Indians in check and to ensure they didn’t flank the Americans.  It was from this particular line that the American leaders felt that they needed to draw out the Indians and asked for 20 volunteers of what was called a “forlorn hope” to charge the Indians and draw their fire when the rest of the men could then advance.  Twenty brave men stepped forward and knew the consequences of their decision.  Their leader was William Whitley of Lincoln County, 63 years of age at the time, who was well known in Kentucky as an Indian hunter.  These men charged ahead and took the volley of over 500 Indians.  Fifteen were killed immediately, four were wounded, and one somehow escaped injury. 

Among those who perished was William Whitley.  A county was later named in his honor and for his bravery on that day.

Gen. Harrison had 3,000 men under his command with nearly all of them but 120 regulars of the 19^th United States Infantry were mixed Kentuckians and Ohioans.  There were a number of men that had remained back at the Portage to guard prisoners that had arrived on ships.  But those that had marched on to the River Thames took part in a glorious victory that left Tecumseh dead, his men scattered running, nearly all of the British and Canadian military captured, and Gen. Proctor fleeing the scene on carriage and then eventually on bareback.  The men from Kentucky yelled the war cry “Remember the River Raisin” as they charged forward into battle. 

After the battle, on 7 October, they began their journey back to Kentucky.  They finally reached Maysville, Kentucky on 20 October, where on November 4^th, 1813; most were honorably discharged from their service.  Just sixty-five days after being mustered in Newport.  Their journey had them march as little as 995 miles and as many as 1,100 miles for some.  Never before had a unit of men journeyed this far to fight in battle.

On the muster documents for the company of Capt. John C. McWilliams, it indicates that this unit was discharged on November 8^th, 1813. Listed on the muster are “Francis Goen” and “Pollard Goen” as privates. 

They both returned home to Madison County, KY.  Pollard probably remained as a farmer with his father until on 6 Oct 1817, at the age of 20, his father signed for him to marry Mary or Margaret “Polly” Conner, of Madison County.  Together, Pollard and Polly, went on to have seven children of whom many went on to serve on the side of the North in the Civil War.  Francis Gowin went home to live a wonderful life in Madison and Garrard counties.  He became the father of six children and died at the age of 75.