Undaunted Pioneers

Ever Moving
ONWARD - WESTWARD
and
HOMEWARD

As Told by
Mary Dunn

Introduction

    Long before the beginning of the United States of America several branches of my family were settled along the coast of the Atlantic.  When the time came for the severance of our political ties from England they were ready to serve in establishing a government that would be true to the right and enduring in its justice.  To each of the wars fought in the struggle for righteousness they contributed their full measure of support.  The record of the Lee family is linked with military history from early in the Eighteenth Century.  Through the Revolutionary War no body of troops raised in the colonies surpassed the work of Lee's Legion in effectiveness and courage.  "Light Horse Harry" Lee, a cousin of my grandmother received the thanks of Congress in recognition of his leadership.  After the war he identified himself with the Federalist party and was sent to Congress.  His son, Robert E. Lee, graduated from West Point and rendered valuable service during the Mexican War.  At the time of the Civil War, he was made commander of the Southern forces; his unblemished record of sincerity and devotion to his cause won the admiration of the North as well as the undying gratitude of the South.  The nephew of Robert E. Lee, Fitzhugh Lee, was also a West Point man and did outstanding service in the Spanish-American War.
    My great-grandfather, Isaac Lane, enlisted in the revolutionary forces from Vance County, Virginia, June 1776; later he re-enlisted in Washington Co., North Carolina..  He attained the rank of lieutenant; on September 6,1832 he was granted a soldier's pension.  My grandfather, Joab Hill, was a Colonel in the War of 1812; my great-grandfather, Thomas Russell was a Colonel in the Revolution.  My grandfather, John Fine, fought in the War of 1812.  His son, John Fine, died October 26,1845 while returning from the MexicanWar, and was buried at sea near Galveston.  My grandmother had a vision and told grandfather she saw John being buried at sea; and when the man came to tell her of his death, it was just as she had seen it.  Uncle kept asking if they wouldn't soon land as he had an aversion about dying at sea.  I can remember the men going to this war.  Our place was headquarters for the men preparing to go. and everyone was busy making knapsacks.  We children stood by the gate and watched the men marching away.  Almost every family in the neighborhood had someone going, and the Yearwoods had three boys who went.  One of them was killed who was flag bearer, and his brother grabbed the flag and went on with it.
    We were out in Oregon at the time of the Civil War, so none of my immediate family were in it.  Isham Keith, a cousin, was killed in a battle with the Indians in Lieutenant Elliott's Company on Evans Creek in Southern Oregon, August 17, 1853.  My husband Patrick Dunn, was also wounded in the Indian Wars.  I had three grandsons who trained for service in the World War, but fortunately the armistice was signed before any went over the sea.  Orville Dunn Caldwell trained in the hospital corps at Camp Kearney and San Diego.  Donald Blair Rice became first lieutenant while training at the Presidio, California, and also spent some time at Camp Mead, Maryland.  Edwin Dunn was a corporal in training at Camp Lewis.  Dr. Harry B. Moore, the husband of my grandaughter Marie Rice, was Major who saw service in the medical corps overseas; and William Gordon Smith, the husband of my granddaughter, Erma Rice, was in the midst of the fighting in France.
 

Last updated by William P. Russell onSaturday, 25-Jun-2005 20:51:23 MDT