Old Walton Road

The Old Walton Road was one of the first pioneer trails leading out of North Carolina and into Tennessee. It was completed in 1801 and connected Nashville with Knoxville. It was named in honor of Capt. William Walton, a Revolutionary War veteran. Most of the Walton Road had already been cut out by Native Americans long before the settlers arrived. Peter Avery, a long hunter, came to the Cumberland Gap in 1787, and assisted in forming the pioneer road. The portion of the road that Avery helped cut is known as Avery's Trace. This portion is what is now present day Highway 70 between Cookeville and Crossville. At various points along the road there were forts, or stations set up. Most of these places later became towns. The most notable station was White Plains. Perhaps the most challenging portions of the Walton Road were Buffalo Valley Hill and Monterey Mountain. Even though the Native Americans had already cut portions of the road, they were still subject to persecution by the settlers. Today remnants of the Walton Road can still be seen, note the picture above. Just between the small community of Mayland and Crossville, one is able, if looking close enough, to see an old stone covered bridge at the bottom of the Obed River, when crossing on Highway 70 or Interstate 40. The Walton Road was traveled by many famous people. Those people include the likes of Andrew Jackson, William Blount, and Francis Asbury. When the Tennessee Central Railroad was created, it followed the Walton Road. The Walton Road can still be traveled by way of Highway 70. Even the modern Interstate 40 follows the route of the Walton Road.

The beginning of the old Avery's Trace.

The White Plains Plantation was the most popular stop along the Walton Road.

Map of the Upper Cumberland portion of the Walton Road and Avery's Trace.

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14th Tennessee Colored Infantry

The 14th Tennessee Colored Infantry was organized during the month of November 1864, in Gallatin, Tennessee. The men were commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Jefferson Morgan. Most of the recruits for the 14th Tennessee were former slaves from towns throughout Middle Tennessee. Morgan went all across Middle Tennessee looking for slaves that were willing to join this regiment. Morgan did not want to force men to join, he only wanted those that would voluntarily serve. In order for a slave to enlist, the owner had to provide consent. By providing consent, the owner was given a $300 bounty. By the time Morgan was finished recruiting, he had 120 men. Most new recruits were subjected to a thorough medical examination, but the 120 initial men were exempt. It is not known how many of the 120 were actually accepted into the regiment. The headquarters for recruiting, by this time, had been moved to Sparta, Tennessee. It is unknown how many of these recruits came to Sparta from surrounding counties in order to join up. Morgan had much success recruiting in Sparta, due to the high percentage of free blacks that lived there. The 14th Tennessee saw their first battle action during the Battle of Nashville. They were first ordered to charge up Overton Hill, in order to test the Confederate defenses, but were forced to retreat. They later charged up Shy's Hill, this time they forced the enemy to retreat, successfully turning John Bell Hood's left flank. In mid-January they were forced to retreat to Chattanooga. The troops had to wait a year before they were mustered. By volunteering to fight, and doing it well, it proved Morgan's theory that "negroes will fight." After the Civil War finally ended, most of the soldiers left the Upper Cumberland. The 14 Tennessee Colored Infantry will go down in history as being the only known group of colored troops that were able to take up arms against their masters and win.

Lt. Col. Thomas Jefferson Morgan

The above information is from research done by Dr. Troy D. Smith, I'm using it for the purpose of promoting Moore Historical Consulting, and doing some research for the Cookeville History Museum. The picture above is not the 14th Tennessee Colored Infantry, but a generic picture of a group of colored troops. 

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John Brown's Raid

John Brown was an abolitionist, from New York, that vehemently opposed slavery. He hated slavery so much, that he led one of the most deadly raids in U.S. History. Before his infamous raid, he commanded troops in Kansas. His goal while in Kansas was to prevent the spread of slavery by any means possible. As a result of his actions in Kansas, his homestead was destroyed, and his sons were killed. Brown later returned to New England, where he worked for two years gathering troops, and raising funds. The Massachusetts Committee provided Brown and his men with 200 Sharps Rifles. Charles Blair of Connecticut provided them with 1,000 pikes. The target of this raid was Harper's Ferry, Virginia. They wanted to raid the armory there, confiscate guns, and then give those guns to slaves to use against their masters. Harriet Tubman actually helped Brown out with some of his scouting. Brown asked her to gather up slaves that would be willing to help him in this raid. When Brown and his men reached Harper's Ferry the first thing they did was cut telegraph wires. When they got to the armory, they found it easily conquerable. They then gathered up hostages, and went around telling slaves that they were about to be liberated. Brown and his raiders did not think about the possibility of getting stuck in the armory, and needless to say they did. By the next morning the raiders were trapped in the fort, by local farmers, shopkeepers, and militia. The militia barged into the engine house, engaging the raiders in fighting. Brown eventually sent out his sons Watson, and Oliver, to wave the white flag. They were met with gunfire and shot dead. The back and forth fighting lasted throughout the day. By the next morning (October 18th), U.S. Marines surrounded the engine house. The engine house later became known as John Brown's fort. Future Civil War commander J.E.B. Stuart told the raider that their lives would be spared if they surrendered. Brown refused, so the door of the armory was broken down. Brown was wounded in the head during the brief fighting and was cornered. He was taken prisoner, tried, and later hanged. Brown and his men managed to kill four people, they also suffered ten casualties. Along with Brown, seven were captured, and five escaped. The John Brown Raid on Harper's Ferry has gone down as one of the deadliest and most brutal raids in U.S. history. Most historians believe that the raid was the breaking point that eventually led to the Civil War. What do you think?

John Brown, the mastermind behind the raid on Harper's Ferry.

The inside of the armory right before the walls were broken down.

John Brown being led to the gallows.

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