Litha Mae Reagan

Other Events:

• Census: 1910, District 5, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1920, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1940, District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 28.
"The Townsend Heritage", Kathy Townsend, 1984, p 28, 36.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 42, 98, 150, 156, 231.
Social Security Death Index.

Litha married June Westly Townsend 27 Apr 1924, Sevier County, Tennessee. June (son of Rev. William Duett "Uncle Billy" Townsend and Nancy Caroline Emert) was born 1 Jun 1896, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 12 Feb 1994; was buried Island Home Cemetery, Knox County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

0019476 Marriage performed by John W. McMahan, Justice of the Peace.

1. Velma Ruth Townsend was born 29 Jun 1925, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 9 Feb 2016; was buried 13 Feb 2016, Island Home Cemetery, Knox County, Tennessee.
2. Edna Mae Townsend was born 9 Aug 1927, Tennessee.
3. June Allie Townsend was born 17 May 1931, Tennessee; died 6 Jun 2016; was buried 10 Jun 2016, Mattox Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee.

Other Events:

• AFN: 183V-0g
• Residence: West O Reagan homestead, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1900, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1910, District 5, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1920, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1940, District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

The "O" in West's name was used only to distinguish him from others of same name according to his family. Buried in West O. Reagan's Family Cemetery with his second wife.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 27-28.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 64, 165.

Westley married Louisa Watson 6 Jan 1901, Sevier County, Tennessee. Louisa (daughter of David Joel Watson and Mary Charity Ownby) was born 24 Mar 1878, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 25 Jan 1963; was buried West O. Reagan's Family Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: B71N-7V
• Residence: West O Reagan homestead, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1910, District 5, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1920, Sevier County, Tennessee
• Census: 1940, District 13, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 28.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 165.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 83.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 42, 98, 132, 150, 160, 231.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 106.

Other Events:

• AFN: 183T-2N

Notes:

Ephraim was born in Gatlinburg and lived in the area all his life. He is not listed in the 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census. He was a farmer and served from 27 June 1866 to 12 December 1871 and from 25 January 1886 to 13 July 1888 as a postmaster in Gatlinburg.

A story is told of his skill with a gun and his knowledge of the woods. It seems he was going in home late one night. Along about the old swimming hole in the Park, he heard a noise in the hemlocks overhead. The night was very dark and he could barely see an outline of something crouched in the tree above the river road. Knowing he had only one chance to shoot at whatever it was, he decided to risk it and fired. It fell to the road with a crash. Waiting a few minutes to be sure it was more that just stunned, Ephraim went up to it, examined a paw and knew at once "it" was a "painter". Knowing the panthers usually traveled in pairs, he made tracks for home, Next morning he returned and found his panther still stretched across the road.

During the Civil War Ephraim served with the Union army in Company G, 6th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry. He enrolled 16 Sep 1862 and was mustered out 30 June 1865. He was described then as being 5 feet 7 inches tall, with dark hair, fair complexion and blue eyes.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 16, 23.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 10, 12, 129.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 105, 153.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 198.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 289.

Ephraim married Cynthia Jane Whaley 9 Jun 1853, Sevier County, Tennessee. Cynthia (daughter of John H. "Bullhead" Whaley and Mourning Ownbey) was born 1840, Trentville, Jefferson County, Tennessee; died 23 Mar 1888, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried Forks of the River Cemetery, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 183T-3T

Notes:

Listed in 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census as Synthia with parents attending school.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 23.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 10, 12, 129.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 198.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, p 289.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/sevier/census/1850/pg0396a.txt

Notes:

Joel Watson's barn was on Dudley.

On 14 August 1916, David Joel Watson made a will in which he disposed of his property in the 11th Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee.

Death certificate record number #106.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 28, 285.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 163.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 80, 83.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 158, 271.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 106.

David married Mary Charity Ownby 10 Feb 1870, Sevier County, Tennessee. Mary (daughter of David Ownby and Eliza Ogle) was born 31 Dec 1854, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 20 Aug 1947, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried 21 Aug 1947, White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

At the Sixth Annual Old Timers' Day held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on 6 June 1931, "Aunt Chattie" won a silk scarf and fifty cents as prize for being the "Best Looking Old Lady" present. Seven years later she received recognition for being the oldest woman attending the 1938 Old Timers' Day.

When asked for her recipe for raising good children, she replied that she "talked a lot, prayed a lot, and whipped a little."
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 28, 285.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 163.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 80, 83.
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 13, 71, 160, 231, 271.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 106.

Other Events:

• AFN: 2DDT-XD

Notes:

Daniel moved with his parents to White Oak Flats (Gatlinburg) when he was about four years old. He lived all of his life here or on various other tracts of land in the area.

Listed as Ragan in 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census as farmer with $1000 property unable to read or write.

An industrious man, Daniel began acquiring land before he married. In theTennessee State Library and Archives there are records of eight entries in his name, dating from 1824 to 1872. The state archivist says this was all purchased land. He is listed in the 1837 tax lists of Sevier County, Tennessee.

An 1859 grant, previously surveyed land, was resurveyed and entered probably because of Gatlin's extensive claim in the area and the Courthouse fire. This 1859 grant was for 600 acres up both sides of the river from Baskins Creek to the Two Mile Branch. In May 1866, he added another 640 acres to this holding. There are also grants for 1,000, 600, and 4,000 acres on Roaring Fork granted in 1839, 1868 and 1872. Most of this land was divided among his children - no will has been found. Daniel moved around and lived on several of his farms - his wife said after his death that she wanted to spend the rest of her years in one spot, she was so tired of moving. She spent her remaining years with her stepdaughter and her husband, Mariah and Thomas H. McCarter.

Daniel was a blacksmith as well as a farmer. Tradition says he built the first wagon in the settlement, making the wheels of one piece of split white oak. His son, Charles C. Reagan, built the first wagon that crossed the Smokies. Although no record has been found to verify it, Daniel probably served as a Justice of Peace. He did keep the community post office. When the settlement officially became Gatlinburg and the post office was established, Daniel and Joel Conner received the contract to carry the mail from Sevierville to Casher's Valley, South Carolina. Daniel's sons, Richard R. and Ephraim Reagan, served as postmaster in the village.

Definitely a Union man but too old to go to service during the Civil War, Daniel served as "muster" officer and drilled the men of the village out in the "Flats". He also served the community as food distributor. Because of his activities and his three oldest sons being in the Union army, he often had to hide out in the mountains to escape the Confederates. The youngest son, Charles C., often told of his father taking him to the woods and showing him the meat and food supplies he had hidden. Daniel didn't think the Rebels would bother the women and children and if he did have to hide out, then Charles must see that food was brought in for the people as it was needed---a big responsibility for a seven year old boy.

A civic minded man, Daniel furnished the meeting house for the village--the five sided building used for the school, church and "voting place". According to one of the land grants, this was located at the "mouth of the lane", now Reagan Lane, near the old River Road. Although he furnished the meeting place for the Baptist Church for many years, Daniel was not found on the membership roll of the church and did not give the land for the present building site, as has been stated by many sources.

Daniel Wesley Reagan did give the land for the oldest part of the White Oak Flats Cemetery (Gatlinburg Cemetery) to the community. This was originally a family plot on the farm of his father, Richard Reagan. The first burial there was a child of Daniel Milsaps, the first school teacher in Gatlinburg.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6a, 15-16.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 45.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37.

Daniel married Nancy Ogle 30 Jan 1830, Sevier County, Tennessee. Nancy (daughter of Thomas J. Ogle and Sophia Bosley) was born 24 Aug 1810, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 18 Feb 1844, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: 2DDT-ZK

Notes:

Listed in the 1830 and 1840 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 6a, 16, 167.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 51.
"The Book of Ragan/Reagan", Donald B. Reagan, 1993, p 37.

Other Events:

• AFN: B71M-KG
• Census: 1900, District 11, Sevier County, Tennessee

Notes:

Listed in 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census as farmer $300 property able to read and write.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 180, 288.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 5, 10, 69, 71, 106, 129.
"Ownby-Watson Family History", Percival David Park, May 1985, p .
"Smoky Mountain Family Album," Gladys Trentham Russell, 1984, p 30, 307.
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, 186.
"Mountain Ways", Gene Aiken, 1983, p 227.

John married Mourning Ownbey Abt 1834, Sevier County, Tennessee. Mourning (daughter of John Ownby, Jr. and Elizabeth Hill) was born 11 Aug 1817, Buncombe County, North Carolina; died 21 Apr 1870, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• AFN: B71M-LM

Notes:

Listed in the 1850 Sevier County, Tennessee census able to read and write.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 180, 288.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 5, 10, 106, 129.
"Ownby-Watson Family History", Percival David Park, May 1985, p .
"Sevier County, Tennessee and Its Heritage", 1994, 186.

Notes:

David C. Watson is listed in the 1850 Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina, and in the 1850 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.

Serving with the Union army during the Civil War, David C. Watson enlisted in 1 October 1861 at Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee in Company H, 9th East Tennessee Cavalry and served as a private.

David C. Watson fought in a number of battles. He fought at Knoxville, Blue Springs, Morristown, and two battles at Rutledge and Johnson City. He was also in the battles at Bulls Gap, Watagua and Panther Springs. He was wounded by gunshot in the neck at Greeneville. He was discharged 11 September 1865 at Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee.

9th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry

Organized at Knoxville, Tenn., August 13, 1863. Joined DeCourcy at Crab Orchard, Ky., September 24, 1863. Attached to District of North Central Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to April, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to November, 1864. District of East Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to March, 1865. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of East Tennessee, to July, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, District of East Tenneseee, to September, 1865.

SERVICE.-Duty at Crab Orchard, Ky., till October, 1863. (A Detachment on march to Cumberland Gap September 24-October 3, 1863, and operations about there.) Duty in District of East Tennessee, at Knoxville, Nashville and on line of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, and at Bull's Gap, Tenn., till October, 1864. Rogersville August 21, 1864. Pursuit to Greenville August 21-23. Blue Springs August 23. Operations in East Tennessee August 29-September 4. Park Gap and Greenville September 4. Death of Gen. J. H. Morgan. Gillem's Expedition from East Tennessee toward Southwest Virginia September 20-October 17. Rheatown September 28. Watauga River September 29. Carter's Station September 29-October 1. Operations in East Tennessee October 10-28. Greenville October 12. Bull's Gap October 16. Clinch Mountain October 18. Clinch Valley, near Sneedsville, October 21. Mossy Creek and Panther Gap October 27. Morristown and Russellville October 28. Operations against Breckenridge's advance into East Tennessee November 4-17. Russellville November 11. Bull's Gap November 11-14. Russellville November 14. Strawberry Plains November 16-17. Flat Creek November 17. Stoneman's Expedition to Saltsville, Va., December 10-29. Big Spring, near Rogersville, December 12. Kingsport December 13. Glade Springs December 15. Marion and capture of Wytheville December 16. Mt. Airy December 17. Engagement near Marion December 17-18. Capture and destruction of Saltville December 20-21. Duty in East Tennessee till March, 1865. Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina March 21-April 25. Wytheville April 6. Shallow Ford and near Mocksville, N.C., April 11. Salisbury April 12. Catawba River April 17. Swannanoa Gap, N. C., April 20. Near Hendersonville April 23. Duty in East Tennessee till September. Mustered out September 11, 1865.

On 21 September 1897 the Shady Grove Baptist Church in Sevier County, Tennessee adopted a church house site at the corner of Brother D. C. Watson's fields between the forks of the public road and the graveyard. It was ordered by the church that a committee procure a title for the house site. To which the following deed is recorded, 27 September 1897:

"We, D. C. Watson and wife Mary Watson have this day bargained and sold and do hearby transfer and convey to the Baptist Church at Shady Grove and their successors in office for the consideration of the love we have for said church. We make this deed as a gift. The following described parcel of land lying in the 13th District of said County (Sevier) and on the waters of Birds Creek -- Also said Church is to have the use of a spring on the South side of said branch"

On 9 August 1907, David C. Watson made a will to dispose of his property in the 13th Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee. In the will, he gave each one of his children "1/14 interest out of my estate, both real and personal."

There is a David Watson death cert. #73578.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 263, 285.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 2", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 163, 187.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 141.
"The Townsend Heritage", Kathy Townsend, 1984, p 60.
David C. Watson Civil War pension papers, US National Archives.
"9th Tennessee Cavalry Reg.", http://www.tngenweb.org/civilwar/usa9cav.html.

Civil War Details:

9th TN Cavalry
Organized: on 8/13/63
Mustered Out: 9/11/65


From
To
Brigade
Division
Corps
Army
Comment

Apr '64
Oct '64
3
4
Cavalry
Dept and Army of Ohio and Cumberland


Oct '64
Nov '64
3
4
Cavalry
Military Division of the Mississippi


Mar '65
Jul '65
3
Gillem's Cav
District East TN
Department of Cumberland


Jul '65
Sep '65
Cavalry

District East TN
Department of Cumberland
Mustered Out

9TH TENNESSEE CAVALRY REGIMENT, U.S.A.

Organization begun in August 1863; 11th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment merged into regiment March 24, 1864; mustered out at Knoxville, September 11, 1865.

FIELD OFFICERS
Colonel-Joseph H. Parsons.
Lieutenant Colonels-John B. Browniow, Pleasant C. Rutherford.
Majors-Ethelred W. Armstrong, Samuel Hunt, Jr., James H. Hornsby, Pleasant C. Rutherford, Edward Black, John C. Wright, David C. Dossett.

CAPTAINS-T. Hopkins Bunch, John Haynes, La Fayette Jones, Co. "A". Mustered at Nashville, Tennessee, August 13 1863. Most men from 1st, 3rd and 5th Congressional Districts.


John A. Thornhill, David M. Caldwell, Co. "B". Mustered at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, August 15, 1863. Men from Union, Jefferson, Knox, Claiborne and Rhea Counties.

Pleasant C. Rutherford, Rufus McSpadden, Co. "C". Mustered at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, August 15, 1863.

James S. Fain, John Haines, James W. Bell, Co. "D". Organized at Knoxville, October 11, 1863.

Robert Cochrane, Henry E. Warren, Co. "E". Organized at Knoxville, October 16, 1863.

Isaac A. Duncan, James B. Shurp, Co. "F". Organized at Knoxville, October 17, 1863.

Aaron W. Armstrong, John C. Wright, John W. Harrington, Co. "G". Organized at Knoxville, October 17, 1863.

William J. Trotter, Andrew L. Scruggs, William C. Peterson, Jacob Fritts, Co. "H". Organized at Knoxville, October 28, 1863.

E. S. Hollingsworth, David C. Dossett, Co. "I". Organized at Knoxville, October 30, 1863.

La Fayette Jones, Thomas McDermott, Co. "K". Organized at Knoxville, November 9, 1863. Men from Jefferson, Sevier and Knox Counties.

Mathew J. Dunford, Benjamin F. Green, Co. "L". Mustered at Nashville, February 29, 1864. Men from Knox, Jefferson, Hancock, Sevier, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Monroe, Sullivan and Grainger Counties.

Guilford C. Duggan (1st Lt.), John Wilson, Richard Ellis, Co. "M". Mustered at Nashville, June 28, 1864. Men from Jefferson, Claiborne, Washington, McMinn, Sevier, Marion, Hamilton, Knox and Hancock Counties.

Some of the officers shown had served with the 11th Tennessee Cavalry until the merger was effected on March 24, 1865.

The first mention of this regiment in the Official Records was in a note dated July 25, 1863, to Brigadier General W. S. Rosecrans with regard to a set of plans of the defenses of Mobile drawn up by Captain T. H. Bunch. The note stated that Bunch had been seized in East Tennessee, while trying to reach the Federal lines, and conscripted into an Alabama Confederate regiment which served for a while at Mobile, but was later transferred to General Braxton Bragg's army. When Bragg retreated from Tullahoma, Bunch managed to escape, and promptly raised a company for the 9th Tennessee Cavalry, U. S. A.
On August 15, 1863, Colonel John F. DeCourcy was ordered to organize a brigade at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and report to Major General I. G. Parke, Commanding IX Army Corps. Colonel Parsons' 9th East Tennessee Cavalry was assigned to the brigade. On August 24, at Crab Orchard, Kentucky, Colonel DeCourcy reported: "The 9th and 11th Tennessee Cavalry joined today." Colonel DeCourcy was at the time enroute to Cumberland Gap, where he arrived on September 8, and took part in the operation resulting in the capture of Cumberland Gap on September 9, 1863.

On October 1, 1863, Secretary of War Stanton was advised: "Colonel Parsons' 9th Tennessee Cavalry, 800 strong, at Camp Nelson, has neither arms nor horses, and is ordered forward. General Burnside gave them orders for horses and arms, but they are not here." On October 5, 1863, Colonel W. C. Lemert, at Cumberland Gap, reported: "Colonel Parsons is anxious to move his regiment to East Tennessee to recruit." On November 18, 1863, it was reported: "The Sevierville road is strongly guarded by a detachment of the 9th Tennessee Cavalry about 332' miles from the bridge."

No further reports on the regiment were found until April 30, 1864, when the 9th, along with the 8th, and 13th Tennessee Cavalry Regiments, were assigned to Colonel John K. Miller's 3rd Brigade, of Brigadier General Alvan C. Gillem's 4th Division, Cavalry Corps, Department of the Cumberland. This brigade was assigned to duty guarding the railroads in the Middle Tennesseee area. On May 31, 1864 it was reported at Gallatin where it remained until August 4, 1864. At that time, General Gillem, with the 9th and 13th regiments, started on a march of 128 miles to Strawberry Plains, in East Tennessee, where they arrived on August 18. The 8th regiment rejoined the brigade in October. General Gillem reported seven companies of the 9th Tennessee, under Lieutenant Colonel Brownlow, took part in a fight at Blue Springs on August 23, 1864, with Confederate General John H. Morgan's old brigade under Colonel Giltner, in which the Confederates were put to flight. He stated: "The 9th and 13th regiments are improving rapidly, and require but little more experience to make them excellent soldiers." On August 31, 1864, the 9th was reported at Bull's Gap, Tennessee.

For the next several months the regiment, as part of Gillem's Division, took part in the fighting in East Tennessee: on September 4, at Greeneville, where General John Hunt Morgan, C.S.A., was surprised and killed; with Brigadier General I. Ammen on an expedition to Carter's Station on September 27; in a skirmish near Greeneville on October 12, where Brigadier General J. C. Vaughn, C.S.A., reported the capture of a flag of the regiment; in the Clinch Valley at Sneedville on October 21; and around Cumberland Gap, Russelville and Morristown on November 13, when General Gillem reported his forces suffered a terrible reverse. Of this engagement he reported the 9th Tennessee held the enemy in check for over an hour till their ammunition was exhausted. Following this engagement the brigade retreated to Strawberry Plains, and thence to Knoxville, where it went into camp at Love's Station on November 16, 1864.

On November 18, one battalion of the regiment was ordered to Greeneville, Tennessee. On December 10, 1864, the regiment, with the brigade, left Knoxville on an expedition under Major General George Stoneman into western Virginia, which resulted in the capture and destruction of the Confederate salt works at Saltville, on December 19. The brigade returned to Knoxville December 29, after a march of 461 miles.

On February 5, 1865, the regiment was reported at Dandridge, Tennessee. On March 17, Colonel Miller's 3rd Brigade, Gillem's Division, Major General George Stoneman's District of East Tennessee, was still reported as consisting of the 8th, 9th, and 13th Tennessee Cavalry Regiments. Although Miller's Brigade went with General Stoneman on his expedition into Virginia and North Carolina from March 21 to April 25, 1865, no record was found of the 9th Tennessee's having gone with the brigade. General Gillem's report of the expedition made frequent mention of the activities of the 8th and 13th Regiments, but none of the 9th.

On April 19, 1865, the 9th Tennessee, at Boyd's Ferry, was ordered to send a detachment to Greeneville, to hunt down and chastise the guerrilla forces operating in that area. On the 20th it was ordered to send one company to Talbott Station and another to Rutledge, Tennessee. On April 25, the regiment was ordered to move to Rogersville Junction, and make reports to General Stoneman. General Stoneman advised that the 9th Tennessee would be needed for a short time in clearing out the country between the Holston River and the Cumberland Mountains. The instructions issued read in part as follows: in the performance of this duty you are authorized and instructed to use the most vigorous and severe measures. The persons with whom you have to deal are outlaws so long as they are at liberty and should be treated as such. When taken prisoners they must be treated as prisoners, and are entitled to trial, which takes time and entails trouble and expense. Give them to understand that no false mercy will be shown them and no prisoners taken, and that every man found in arms under whatever pretense, and acting without authority from Federal officers or the legally constituted authorities of the State of Tennessee, will be treated as a public enemy and an outlaw and killed like a mad dog by anyone who meets him. See that your command does not interfere in any way, either in their persons or their property, with the peaceably disposed, and with those who stay at home and mind their own business."

On April 30, J. W. Harrington, Captain Co. "G", in a report to Stoneman of his activities along the Clinch River, explained: "I have endeavoured to carry out your instructions, but it is necessary to explain why I have taken some prisoners. When I found these men, the most of them had hidden or othenvise disposed of their arms, and others came and gave themselves up. I had not sufficient evidence at the time of their being bushwhackers or guerrillas, until they were identified by citizens who knew them to be such." On July 20, 1865, the regiment was placed in Brevet Major General Emory Upton's Cavalry Brigade, District of East Tennessee. It was mustered out of service on September 11, 1865.

David married Rachel Ogle 24 Dec 1846, Sevier County, Tennessee. Rachel (daughter of William "Black Bill" Ogle and Nancy Bohanon) was born 1828, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 18 Oct 1859; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Rachel and David's family appear in the 1850 Federal Census of Haywood County, North Carolina and 1860 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, 263, 285.
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", Donald B. Reagan, 1983, p 141.
David C. Watson Civil War pension papers, US National Archives.

Notes:

Listed in the 1840 through 1880 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee and Eliza was listed in the 1900 Federal Census of Sevier County, Tennessee. Listed as David Ownsby in 1840 census.
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 203
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 67, 80.

David married Eliza Ogle 1840, Sevier County, Tennessee. Eliza (daughter of Thomas J. Ogle and Sophia Bosley) was born 9 Apr 1823, Sevier County, Tennessee; died 9 Apr 1910; was buried White Oak Flats Cemetery, Gatlinburg, Sevier County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Listed in 1840 Sevier County, Tennessee census age 15-20.

Death certificate for Ownby, Lizzie, Sevier, 1910, #75533
----------
Reference:
"Smoky Mountain Clans", Donald B. Reagan, 1978, p 203
"Smoky Mountain Clans, Volume 3", 1983, Donald B. Reagan, p 67.
"In the Shadow of the Smokies", Smoky Mountain Historical Society, 1993, p 576.