GENERAL BEN HARDIN HELM CAMP #1703
Confederates of Hardin County
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Confederates Of Hardin County

During the War Between the States, Hardin County men aligned Themselves with the Confederacy, with the majority serving in John Hunt Morgan’s Cavalry and the First Kentucky Brigade, also known as "The Orphan Brigade." This brigade fought in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, Stones River, Jackson, Chickamauga, and Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta Campaign. The Brigade had such a reputation for hard fighting that its services were sought after by various Confederate generals. As a result, the Orphans found themselves in the thick of many bloody battles. One of the last Confederate units in the East to surrender, the soldiers of the Orphan Brigade laid down their arms in the first week of May 1865, at Washington, GA. Only 500 of the original 4,000 members of the brigade remained. The majority of Hardin County Soldiers who served in the brigade comprised companies’ B and H of the Sixth Kentucky Infantry. The remaining soldiers served in various other Kentucky units and those from other states.  In 1910 the Elizabethtown News reported that there were over 500 Confederate veterans living in Hardin County.

There were no official Union regiments formed in Hardin County. There were, however, several Union regiments from various states camped in the county during the war.  A few men of the county did join these regiments.

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Martin Hardin Cofer Camp #543
United Confederate Veterans
 
In 1891 the Hardin County Confederate Veterans established a UCV Camp in Elizabethtown.  The veterans named their camp for Hardin County native, Colonel Martin Hardin Cofer of the 6th Kentucky Infantry Regiment.  The charter members included:
Squire Helm Bush
James W. Smith
James Montgomery, Commander
Luke Kennedy
James E. Brian
John J. Edlin
Mike Bennett
Horace Branham
James F. Branham
Joseph S. Gray
William E. Fullilove
Archy Woods
Emmerson Tillery
William H. Warren
James W. Mason
Phil Coleman
James D. Bennett
Jesse D. Shacklette
Cincinnatus Williams
Achilles M. Stith
J.D. Lane
Henry Clay Hays
Ferdinand M. Joplin
James Reynolds
 
Ben Hardin Helm Chapter #126
United Daughters of the Confederacy
 
The Elizabethtown Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy formed in 1897 with Mrs. Ben Hardin Helm serving as the first president.  The charter members included:
Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson
Miss Kate Helm
Miss Elodie Helm
Mrs. Ben Hardin Helm
Miss Jane Helm
Mrs. Emily Helm Marriott
Mrs. Isabella V. Shacklette
Mrs. Hallie Bush
Mrs. Robert Melton
Mrs. A.M. Stith
Miss Florence Hall
Miss Maggie Hall
Mrs. S. Carpenter
Miss Emily Payne
Miss Linda Payne
Mrs. Harry Sommers
Mrs. Sally Culley
Miss Annie Nourse
Miss Mary Emma Montgomery
Miss Cora Lee Smith
Mrs. I. Gray
Mrs. M.H. Sanders
Mrs. Emma Collins
Miss Nora Thomas
 
The chapter folded in the 1940s.  Several items belonging to the chapter are on display in the Brown-Pusey House.

Historical Sites In Hardin County
 
The Brown-Pusey House
The Pusey Room Museum contains much of the professional memorabilia and cherished family mementos of Dr. William Allen Pusey, who was a preeminent physician of the late 1800's and early 1900's. The room, in part, is a replica of his medical office with most of his furnishings and professional related literature on display. Although his practice was centered in Chicago and national in scope, he remembered, in a special way, his native community and family origins.
 
Aside from Pusey memorabilia, the Museum contains other historically significant items such as an original picture of General Custer, which is signed and dated by Mrs. Custer. Other artifacts include Civil War related items associated with Confederates General Ben Hardin Helm, Captain Martin Hardin Cofer and Lieutenant John Augustus Warfield.

The genealogical library is available to visitors and others by way of mail for research as to ancestry or history. Among the resources are near complete collections of Hardin County, Kentucky records dating from 1793 to roughly 1900. These records include marriages, wills, tax lists, court orders, settlement records, deeds, censuses, cemetery inscriptions, family files, bible records, and other items of genealogical interest. Nominal fees are charged for use of the library and research services.

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The original wood gravemarker for Gen. Helm

The original wooden gravemarker that is thought to be the one that marked Gen. Helm's grave in Atlanta is on display at the Brown-Pusey House in Elizabethtown. The headboard belonged to the Ben Hardin Helm Chapter, UDC where Mrs. Emilie Todd Helm served as president for a number of years.

Brown-Pusey House Museum

Hardin County History Museum
Since opening its doors in the fall of 2003, the Hardin County History Museum has been collecting and preserving artifacts, documents and other memorabilia that tells the story of Hardin County from its early Indian inhabitants to modern times. Through a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits, as well as speakers, tours and promotions, the history museum strives to promote knowledge and appreciation for area heritage.
 
There are also displays on the War Between The States. Many artificats surrounding the famed Kentucky Confederate Orphan Brigade and Gen. John Hunt Morgan's Men can be seen in the museum. 
 
Several GBHHelm Camp members are involved and serve on the museum board.

Hardin County History Museum

The Elizabethtown City Cemetery

Elizabethtown Confederate Graves

Elizabethtown City Cemetery Data Search Engine

The Elizabethtown City Cemetery was used by Confederate Forces under General John Hunt Morgan as the position for an artillery attack upon the Federal troops on December 27, 1862. Confederate cannons atop cemetery hill fired into the downtown area. The Union surrendered to the Confederates. 

Battle of Elizabethtown 1862
 

On December 27, 1862 General John Hunt Morgan and his 3,000-man cavalry sought to free Elizabethtown, Ky of Union occupation. During the battle more than 100 cannon balls were fired into the town. Although he successfully captured Elizabethtown, his goal was to disrupt the railroad. He proceeded north along the route of the railroad burning trestles and destroying sections of the track. After the battle, one cannon ball was lodged in the side of a building on the Public Square. The building later burned in 1887 and when it was rebuilt the cannon ball was replaced in the side of the building, as close to its original impact as possible, where it remains in the present day.

Battle Of Elizabethtown Brochure

Confederate Congressmen
 
Henry English Read (1824-1868) Born in Hardin (LaRue) County, Ky., December 25, 1824. Representative from Kentucky in the Confederate Congress, 1862-65. Committed suicide, November 9, 1868. Interment at Elizabethtown City Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Ky.
 

William Parish Chilton (1810-1871) Born near Elizabethtown Ky., August 10, 1810. Moved to Alabama later and served in the state legislature and supreme court. Representative from Alabama in the Confederate Congress, 1862-65. Died on January 20, 1871. Buried in Oakland Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

HELM BROCHURES

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Two brochures have been created for the Elizabthtown Tourism Center by Joey Oller

Hardin Countians who served the Confederacy

W. C. Adams Buckner Guards Henry Ament Co. A 15th Ky. Cavalry

Frank Anderson General Staff-Assistant Surgeon

Samuel Anderson 4th Kentucky Cavalry Surgeon

William Anderson Confederate Surgeon

Joseph M. Applegate Co. H 3rd Arkansas

J. W. Applegate Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

John C. Bailey Co. H 3rd Kentucky Cavalry

T.M.. Barna Co. A 8th Georgia Infantry

W.L. Barnes Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

William Franklin Bell Captain/ 9th Kentucky Cavalry

James D. Bennett Co. H 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Mike S. Bennett Co. B 6th Kentucky Cavalry

David P. Bethel Co. A 8th Kentucky Infantry

James D. Bibb Co. E 35th Alabama

Thomas Bibb Co. C 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

Benjamin T. Bishop Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

James E. Bohannon Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Booher 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

M.L. Bogard Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Jedediah Branch Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Cyrus Wayne Branham Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Horace C. Branham

James F. Branham Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

James E. Branin Co. E 6th Kentucky Infantry

Alonzo Brashear Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Thomas G. Brashear Co. F 7th Kentucky Cavalry

Elias Bristol Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Edward Brown Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

George W. Brown Taylor's Kentucky Cavalry

Henry O. Brown Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

J. E. Bruner Morgan's Cavalry

Joseph Horace Buckler Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Abraham C. Buford Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Thomas Buford Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

James W. Burba Co. B 9th Kentucky Infantry

C. K. Burnett 1st Arkansas

John Burnett Buckner Guards

Benjamin Jackson Bush Co. I 5th Tennessee Infantry

Squire Helm Bush Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Joseph Campbell Co. G 8th Kentucky Cavalry

R.E. Bosley Co. E/F 6th Kentucky Infantry

William Carlise Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Abraham Carlton Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Isaac N. Carlton Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

George Alfred Carpenter Co. C 22nd Texas Cavalry

John T. Cecil Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

A. Chenault Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Luke Chenault Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

William Chilton Confederate Congress (Alabama

John S. Churchill Co. C 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

John Clark Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Richard Miles Clark Co. D 6th Kentucky Cavalry

Hill Clemens Co. F 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Henry Cloud Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

Martin Hardin Cofer Colonel/ 6th Kentucky Infantry

Philip Coleman Co. G 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Ben F. Collins Co. G 3rd Kentucky Infantry

James M. Cooper Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

John Crawford Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Crutcher 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Freeland H. Culley Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

Horace Culley Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

E. Wood Cunningham Co. F 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Washington W. Cunningham Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry

John Darnell Co. A 13th Kentucky Cavalry (Chenoweth)

Robert Darst Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

James B. Davenport Co. K 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Jerry Davis Co. G 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Robert Benton Davis Co. D 12th Mississippi Infantry

John L. Dillard Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

W. J. Dugan Co. A 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Dewitt J. Duncan Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

Housan H. Duncan Co. A 1st Kentucky Mtd. Rifles

Miles A. Duvall Co. D 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Butlers)

Robert Slaughter Duvall Captain, 15th Kentucky Cavalry Owsley's Batt.

John J. Edlin Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Horace W. English Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

John M. English Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

John M. English Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

Woodson English 8th Kentucky Cavalry

William Q. Fairleigh Co. K 8th Kentucky Infantry

Robert S. Ford Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

Christopher M. Fraize 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Edwin J. Freeman Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

George Dent French 7th Kentucky Cavalry (Loyns)

William F. Fullilove 6th Kentucky Cavalry

Thomas Funk Co. H 12th Missouri Cavalry

C. l. Glasgow Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

William Glasgow Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

John S. Graham Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Jeffery Simeon Gray 7th Kentucky Cavalry ?

Joseph S. Gray Co. E 9th Kentucky Cavalry

Solomon Grubb Co. D 3rd North Carolina Infantry

Lum Hagan Co. C 3rd Kentucky Cavalry?

Orville Joseph Hall Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Joseph Hamon Co. G 1st Georgia Cavalry

John S. Hansbrough Co. E 3rd Kentucky Cavalry?

Joseph Harbolt Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Hargan Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

William Lee Harned Captain/ Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

William Harrington Co. G 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Andrew Harris Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

George Harris Co. B 7th Kentucky Cavalry

William Haycraft Co. G 8th Kentucky Cavalry

George W. Hayden Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Joseph A. Hayden Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Henry C. Hays Co. D 5th Kentucky Cavalry

Hercules Hays Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Clay Hays Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

John C. Hays Co. C 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)?

Thomas Hays Major/ 6th Kentucky Infantry

Benjamin Hardin Helm General/ 1st Kentucky Brigade

Benjamin Helms R. l. Preston's Brigade

George W. Helms Co. D 54th Va. Infantry

Thomas L. Henry Co. B 4th Kentucky Infantry

Albert Herron Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Fayette Hewitt Captain/ Helm's Staff Officer

Foxworthy Hewitt Co. F 3rd Va. Infantry.

Virgil Hewitt Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Downey Hibbs Co. G 8th Kentucky Cavalry

William H. Hibbs Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Ben C. Hill Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Jefferson T. Holland Cavalry

William A. Holt Co. H 4th Tennessee Infantry

John Hoskins Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

A.G. Hoskinson Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

William B. Hubbs Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

John S. Hughes Co. A 6th Kentucky Cavalry

Lum Humble Kentucky Cavalry

B.F. Hutcherson Co. B 8th Kentucky Cavalry

William A. Hutcherson Co. H 6th Kentucky Cavalry

Z. R. Hutcherson Co. K 8th Kentucky Cavalry

T. R. Hutchinson Co. E 4th Kentucky Infantry

Lawrence P. Jenkins Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

J. B. Johnson Co. K 2nd Kentucky Infantry

Mike Jones 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Ferdinand M. Joplin Co. A 2nd Virginia Cavalry

George W. Kelly Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Luke Kennady Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Francis Marion Klinglesmith Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Franklin P. Klinglesmith Co. A 11th Kentucky Cavalry

Henry Klinglesmith Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)?

Horace Klinglesmith Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Jesse Lane 15th Kentucky Cavalry

James W. Lansdale 23rd Arkansas Infantry

George Lawson Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Edmund T. Lee 6th Kentucky Infantry

Clinton Augustus Lewis Co. C 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

James M. Lewis Co. A 3rd Louisiana. Cavalry

Samuel Lewis * Army Northern Virginia

W.A. Ligdon Co. I 8th Kentucky Infantry

Felix Loeb Captain/ Co. A 6th Alabama Waddell's Artillery

J. E. Lusby * 6th Kentucky Infantry

Al Lyle Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

James W. Mason Co. M 2nd Kentucky Cavalry?

Pascal Mason Co. E 3rd Kentucky Cavalry?

Richard May Co. G 7th Kentucky Cavalry ?

Stephen S. May Morgan's Command?

William May Co. B 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Butlers)

J. R. Mays 8th Kentucky Cavalry ?

C.H. Mays Co. F 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Richard Mays Co. D 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Thomas Mays Co. D 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Cyrus McCracken Co. B 2nd Kentucky Infantry?

Willis P. McCracken Co. G 8th Kentucky Cavalry

William McCullom Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Thomas B. Mcintire Co. B 2nd Kentucky Cavalry

J. Miles Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Christopher W. Miller Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Joel G. Miller Co. C 7th Kentucky Cavalry?

William H. Miller Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

William W. Miller Co. C 7th Kentucky Cavalry

Frank D. Moffitt Captain/ Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Montgomery Co. E 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Achilles J. Moreman Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

George Washington Nall 15th Kentucky Cavalry

J. W. Nall 3rd Kentucky Cavalry

James Nall Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Lloyd Nall Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Rufus Nall Co. E 8th Kentucky Cavalry

Thomas L. Nall Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

John Robert Nantz Co. A 6th Kentucky Infantry

Henry Nevitt Co. K 8th Kentucky Cavalry?

George Pate Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

James B. Payne Co. A 2nd Kentucky Cavalry

Melville Peterson Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry

R. G. Phillips 5th Kentucky Cavalry

J. B. Pike Co. C 4th Kentucky Infantry

Louis F. Porter Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

John B. Quiggins Co. H 1st Kentucky Infantry

John R. Rachford Co. A 6th Kentucky Infantry

James W. Raine Colonel/ 8th Texas Cavalry

Henry Read Confederate Congressman (Kentucky)

J. H. Read Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

J. O. Read Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Lloyd H. Read Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Edward W. Reed Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

James Reynolds Co. H 4th Kentucky Infantry

Herod Rhodes Co. E 13th Kentucky Cavalry

William Rhodes Co. K 8th Kentucky Cavalry?

W.L. Rose Co. C 44th/55th Tennessee Infantry

Samuel H. Runner Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Samuel Sadler 4th Kentucky Cavalry

Thomas Payne Saunders* Co. F 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Butlers)

Claiborne W. Scifres Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

J. Wesley Scifres Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

J. M. Sr. Scifres Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Joseph M. Jr. Scifres Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Matthias D. Scifres Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

R.H. Scifres Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Jesse D. Shacklette Co. A 1st Kentucky Cavalry

John W. Shaw Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry

Alexander C. Shean Co. H 3rd Arkansas Infantry

John L. Shehan Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

William Warren Shelton 4th Kentucky Cavalry

Henry M. Showers Teamster

Wyllys Skaggs Co. B 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Richard Skees 13th Kentucky Cavalry

J.D. Smith Co. D 1st Kentucky Cavalry?

James W. Smith Co. D 1st Kentucky Cavalry

John Smoot Co. G 1st Kentucky Cavalry

John W. Spaulding Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Isaac Spillman Co. F 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Augustus W. Stith * Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Achilles M. Stith Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

David G. Stith Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

George H. Stith Co. E 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

J.P. Stith Co. F 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Butlers)

Joseph D Stith Co. H/A 5th Missouri Infantry

Learner Stith Co. E 6th Kentucky Cavalry

Hezekiah Stovall Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Henderson J. Street Captain/ Co. D 6th Kentucky Infantry

Joseph Sullivan Co. G 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Butlers)

John Tabb Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

David B. Tate Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Manlius Taylor Captain/ Co. A 13th Kentucky Cavalry

James G. Terhune Co. A 6th Kentucky Cavalry

Oscar Tharp Co. F 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Woodwards)

Charles H. Thomas Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

Peter Thomas Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Francis Marion Thomas Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

Alexander Thompson Co. F 4th Kentucky Infantry

Gabriel K. Tichenor Co. B 14th Kentucky Cavalry

Emerson Tillery Co. B 1st Missouri Sharpshooters

John W. Twyman Co. I 6th Tennessee. Cavalry

William H. Vanmeter Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Eljeptha J. Vertress Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

John H. Vessels Co. C 15th Kentucky Cavalry

John Viers Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

John Augustus Warfield Co. E 9th Kentucky Cavalry

Delaware Warren Co. C 7th Kentucky Cavalry

William H. Warren Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

Thomas Wathen Co. A 3rd Tennessee Cavalry

Samuel Watkins Morgan's Cavalry

William Watkins Co. B 6th Kentucky Infantry

David F.C. Weller Co. C 2nd Kentucky Infantry

John H. Weller Captain/ Co. F 4th Kentucky Infantry ?

Daniel Whelan 1st Kentucky Cavalry

Cincinnatus Williams Co. E Dalton Guards

H.C. Williams 50th North Carolina

Noah Preston Williams Captain/ Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Ralph P. Williams Co. C 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

William Dixon Wilson * Co. A 15th Kentucky Cavalry

Charles Horace Wintersmith Morgan's Command?

Francis Marion Wintersmith Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

James D. Wintersmith Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

Richard C. Wintersmith Major/ Gen. Buckner's Staff

Richard M. Wintersmith Co. D 2nd Kentucky Cavalry (Dukes)

Archibald Woods Co. K 54th Virginia Infantry

William E. Younger Co. H 6th Kentucky Infantry

The following soldiers served the Confederacy, but their regiment has not been found:

Thomas B. Bennett, Nicholas Brashear, Samuel Bush, William Bush, William Stephen Clark, James Cofer, Benjamin Flint Cofer, Matt Cowley, J. L Cook, Charles Dunn, Louis Faurest, Randolph French, William W. Gannaway, Dee Hays, John Hornback, James Hutchinson, Daniel Thomas Keith, George Karr, Abraham Kendall, T. R. Mcbeath, James Mercer, Robert Miller, W.A. Myers, John C. Newton, A.C. Overton, Henry W. Patterson, J. G. Porter, Charles W. Ray, D. W. Rider, William R. Ross, Daniel Runyon, S.M. Sanders, William Spaulding, Ben Stith, John B. Stith, Alex Sweat, John R. Thompson, John Turner, James Tweedle,