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HE
AYNESVILLE MOUNTAINEER
Published In The County Seat of Haywood County At The Eastern Entrance of The Great Smokv Mountains National Park
Second Section fifty third year
NO. 49
WAYNESVILLE. X. C. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16. 1937
$1.50 IN ADVANCE IN COUNTY
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Fines Creek Named After Man
Who Lost Life Fighting Band
Of Horse-Stealing Indians
Men Of Fines Creek Played Im
portant Part In War Between
The States
By Mildred Kogers.
hint's Creek township located in
'' thf Northern part of the county, was
formed from a part of C'rabtree in
lNr0. It lies along the valley of the
creek from which it takes its name.
There are about 100 square miles ot
teiritorv in the township and a pop
ulation "of 1,327 (in l'.K'O.)
In the earliest days of the county's
history Fines Creek was known as
Crystal Creek. Later, because of the
length of the stream, it was called
Twelve Mile Creek. Near the be
ginning of the 19th century the name
was changed to Fines Creek, because
of a singular happening on its banks.
The following story is taken from a
narrative written some fifty years
ago:
"The first and most dreaded of ail
settlers in this community and coun
ty were the Indians. They, were con
tinually tramping from place to place
and taking whatever might fall in
thei hands.. It was also the case in
East-Tennessee.'. Horses were stolen,
ami the owners were in search ol
them and had followed the Indians
into North Carolina. They gave the
Indians a wild chase and overcame
tlieiii at the hea.-l of Crystal Creek.
"There was one among the company
of faithful whites whose name was
Fines.
"The men took their horses from
the Indians and had started back
home, along a path that led through
mountain gorges and along Indian
trails.
"The shades of evenihg were slowly
falling as they neai'ed the banks ot
Crystal Creek. They Were lost and
did not know what to do. The coun
try war, a wilderness. There were no
farm houses where they could spend
the night and be safe from the wild
beasts and Indians They were com
pelled to camp until early morning.
"It was -.. mid-winter, the ground
was frozen and covered with snow
and the streams were blocked with
ice. How long it must have seemed
that night, and how unpleasant they
must have been in that solitary camp,
expecting every hour to be attacked
by the Indians, while the hoot of the
.'owl in the bitter-chill of night, the
howl of the wolf, the scream of the
panther, and the howling winds drew
nearer. Early the next morning the
Indians did attack, and killed Fines
and wounded others. Friends of the
dead man did not know what to do
with his body. They were far from
home and had no tools with which to
dig a grave, and they were afraid to
leave the body lest it be devoured by
the wolves. The body was taken and
Placed in the creek under the ice for I
safe keeping until they could return
home and come again. When they
returned they were unable to find the
body, so they supposed that the wolves
nad found it. From that time until;
now the creek has been known as
'im s Creek."
Shortly before 1800, bold hunters
from what is now known as Caldwell
county, pushed across the mountains
to the area. They established tem
porary homes and went back for their
families. Among these men the
names of David Russell, Hughey
Kogers, and John Ray appear. John
early
war.
from
feel-
Creek
knew
asked
was
Fenland joined this group, increasing
it to four. Three men, at one time,
owned most of the land included in
Fines Creek township. Descendants
of these men are still living on Fines
Creek and will always cherish the
honored dead.
In the later days ot 1 StU ami
in 1MH, there came news of
The states were withdrawing
the union and there was bitter
ing between the North ami Smith.
The news was carried by word ot
moutn from house to house. There
was a call from President Lincoln for
the sons of lixic to take it upon
themselves to fight for their country,
and a worthy cause.
I he news came to Fines
and immediately the citizens
that they must do what was
of them. Haywood county
urged to send a large number of sol
diers, and at this time she played
an important, a conspicuous, and a
heroic part and a part that is worthy
of the admiration of all. W e find that
our men were opposed to the war or
to the session; but the proclamation
of President Lincoln calling troops
to "suppress the rebellion" destroyed
the last vestige of brave unionism
in the South.
The days of farewell came .and
many a brave Fines Crook soldier
boy kissed his mother goodbye. not
only for just a short while but for al
ways. There was many a proud
father who left every cherished am
bition to defend his hearthstone and
sacred alters. Now as brave men ol
battle they marched forth a great
conquest to win.
Our men went to aynesville and
there they learned details of plans.
From here they were sent to various
places for training.
When training had been completed,
the men were divided into regiments
and companies and assigned to va
rious posts. In these companies we
find leaders and other men worthy Ol
mention. 'How- many were from'
Fines Crock V
While these men were in battle,
the wives and children were doing the
home Work. There was ' farming . to
do, clothing to be made, and home
tires to be kept burning.
Mothers took; their hand-made
blankets and made them into, over
coats for - the soldiers. These were
dyed with home-made dyes. There
many days that there was no meal in
the home for bread.
Out of the many regiments there
were 'four in which we find men from
Fines Creek. These were the twenty
ninth, twenty-fifth, sixty-second, and
sixty-ninth. All of these men were
described as being "obedient while on
duty, and independent while off duty."
Although they suffered from hun
ger arid cold they stood the test.
In May of 1801, the 25th regiment
formed at Camp i'atton, in Ashe
ville. Ten companies made up the
regiment. Company "C" was made
up of Haywood county men. Hon
Thos. J. Clingman was colonel.
Company C. 25th Regiment, Fine
Creek:
H L. Green, enlisted March,, 1862,
Will Green enlisted March 21, 1862,
Joe Brown enlisted March 1, 1864,
Will J. Brown enlisted May 4, 1861,
Robt. R. Brown enlisted May 31, 1861
29th Regiment, North Carolina.
This regiment was formed at Camp
Patton, Ashcville, in the summer t
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1M'1. There were ten companies.
The regiment went to camp at
( amp Yar.ee, near Sulphur Spring,
where they drilled until October 1'K
!MU. From there the unit went to
Raleigh All companies were armed
with old flint muskets later changed to
percussion cap muskets, except Com
pany "A" which was supplied with
the .Mississippi rifle, without bayo
nets. The company then went to
Fast Tennessee to guard the bridge?
from Bristol to Chattanooga. In
February, 18t2, it wa ordered to
Cumberland Gap and went into gar
rison with Col. James E. Kaine of
the Eleventh Tennessee. At this1'
point the coivjnand was undcV tire
frequently. Since the camping
grounds of the 2lth Regiment were
located on the highest point for ob
servation, Col Vance was ordered to
survey the surrounding territory
daily for the advancing armies.
Early on the 24th of .March, W2, he
observed the flashing of a bayonet,
and a check disclosed a column of
enemies advancing up the ridge in
the direction of Fort Pitt.
It seemed that something wa:- about
to take place, and it was time to use
"Long Tom." This was the large
machine gun that had taken so much
ffort to get 'to the top of the moun
tain. When everything was ready
they opened tire, and the Indian chief
tian was killed. This stirred up the
Indians, and they scalped several ot
the men before they were brought
under control.
In September, 1ML the order wat
given to hold Baptist Gap which is in
the vicinity of Knoxville. The 2ith
and o'.'th regiments were combined
to drive back a group of advancing
soldiers They moved through Cum
land Gap into Kentucky. From here
they moved to Versailles, but the
regiment (2iH did not remain long.
They returned to Lenoir Station.
i ,
Tennessee. From here they went to
Mc.Minnville and Mui freesboro. While
at Murfreosboro, the 2!Uh reg ment
brought on battle. They held tneir
own.
There 's one man who came from
Fines Creek and served as captain of
Company E in this famous ngiment.
This man was ("apt. 11 nam Rogers.
Others serving in this regiment from
Fines Creek included:
Capt. Hiram Rogers, enlisted Aug.
IT, 1S61, 'Tom Kogers, ennstid Aug.
17, IMi'il, John Rogers, enlisted Aug.
17, IStil. Jesse Kogers, enlisted Aug.
17, 1801, Robt. W. Kogers, enlisted
Aug. 17, 1MW, Wash Bennett, enlist-
(Continued on page 5)
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