|
| 1789 |
On April 30th, George
Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal
Hall on Wall Street in New York, takes his oath
of office as the first President of the United
States. |
| 1790 |
Knox County, Indiana is
formed from the Northwest Territory and was at
this time, larger than the present state of
Indiana, including the portion which later became
Clark County. |
| 1792 |
Washington is re-elected
president with John Adams as vice president. |
| 1794 |
American General Anthony
Wayne leads a major defeat of Indian tribes at
the Battle of Fallen Timbers on the 20th of
August, temporarily ending the hostilities with
the Indians. |
| 1796 |
Philip Daily, along with his
widowed mother Nellie, his younger brothers, and
other Pennsylvania families move to Indiana. |
| 1796 |
John Adams is elected
president, Thomas Jefferson is vice president. |
| 1797 |
John Adams, the takes office
on the 4th of March. His great-great-grandparents
were John and Priscilla (Alden), Pilgrims who had
landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. |
| 1798 |
William Henry Harrison is
appointed secretary of Northwest Territory, and
in two years later is appointed Governor of
Indiana Territory. |
| 1798 |
David Wise Daily, son of
Philip and Mary (Wise), is born on the 16th of
August in Charlestown. (His parents had married
in about 1784 in Bullitt County, KY). |
| 1799 |
Washington enjoyed less than
three years of retirement at Mount Vernon, dying
of a throat infection on the 14th of December.
The Nation will mourn him for months. |
| 1800 |
Congress splits Northwest
Territory into two territories: the Indiana
Territory and the Northwest Territory (now Ohio,
the tip of southeast Indiana, and part of
Michigan). The Land Act of 1800 now makes
purchasing land in Indiana easier. |
| 1800 |
President and First Lady
Abigail are the first residents of the White
House. They move in during the month of November
while the paint is still wet. |
| 1801 |
Clark County is created from
Knox County. |
| 1801 |
Thomas Jefferson, the first
president to be inaugurated in Washington,
D.C.takes his oath as the third president. He
will be re-elected in 1804 and approximately
6,000 books from his private library will be
purchased to help start the Library of Congress. |
| 1801 |
In the April Term of the
Grand Jury regarding the closures to the fort,
Philip Daily is assigned to view the fences in
the township of Clarksville. He was born in 1762
and was a Revolutionary Soldier from MD who had
lived in Louisville, KY between 1780-1794. |
| 1801 |
George Huckleberry and Philip
Daily are listed in the July term of the Grand
Jury. |
| 1802 |
Harrison meets with the
Wabash tribes at Vincennes regarding the disputed
amount of land to be ceded. The Indians
eventually sign preliminary treaty on the 17th of
September. |
| 1803 |
Unsuccessful with the Wabash
Indians accepting the Vincennes Treaty, Harrison
invites chiefs to Fort Wayne in June threatening
to withhold annuities, and thereby obtains
1,152,000 acres of land. The treaty is signed on
June 7th. |
| 1803 |
In mid- August, Harrison
meets with Kaskaskia Indians and also obtains
almost eight million acres of land. |
| 1803 |
For three cents an acre,
amounting to $15 million, the United States
purchases from France, the vast region between
the Mississippi and the Rockies, known as the
Louisiana Purchase. |
| 1804 |
Aaron Burr fights a duel with
Alexander Hamilton at Weehawken, New Jersey on
July 11th in which Hamilton is killed. Burr
flees to Philadelphia and contacts his friend
General James Wilkinson, a U.S. army secretly in
the pay of Spain. The two begin planning an
invasion of Mexico in order to establish an
Independent government. |
| 1804 |
In November, Harrison meets
with Sauk and Fox Indians and obtains over fifty
million acres of land. |
| 1804 |
John Work settles on fourteen
mile creek and finds a mill already in operation
on the 100 acres he purchases from John and James
Bate. He operates the mill for ten years. |
| 1805 |
At the end of December,
Harrison treats with Piankashaw Indians who give
up 2,600,000 acres of land in the southwestern
Indiana Territory, now Illinois. |
| 1806 |
Andrew Jackson duels Charles
Dickinson on May 30th over some unflattering
remarks made about Jackson's wife. Jackson was
wounded, and afterwards took aim and fired at
Dickinson. Jackson's gun misfired. As Dickinson
was forced to stand his ground, Jackson took aim
once again and killed Dickinson. The bullet that
wounds Jackson is lodged near his heart and can
not be safely removed. He carries the bullet in
his chest for the rest of his days. |
| 1806 |
Harrison becomes increasingly
aware of the influential Shawnee brothers,
Tecumseh and The Prophet, whose hostility against
whites continues to increase. |
| 1807 |
Congress outlaws importing
slaves from Africa on the 2nd of March, but
another quarter of a million will be brought in
by 1860. |
| 1807 |
Responding to the British's
attack of the U.S. frigate Chesapeake, prompted
by Thomas Jefferson, congress passes the Embargo
Act in December prohibiting all U.S. ships from
sailing overseas. |
| 1808 |
Harrison demands Tecumseh,
The Prophet, and their followers to remove. They
settle Prophetstown near Battle Ground, Indiana. |
| 1808 |
A new town is laid off a
short distance from north of Springfield. The
original proprietors are Barzillai Baker and
James McCampbell, John Hay and Charles Beggs are
surveyors. The town, Charlestown, is named after
the surveyor, and is laid off in the wood
situated on grant 117. The original plat consists
of 159 lots and 95 acres and the founders donate
the proceeds of the sale of 30 lots for public
buildings in the central part. |
| 1808 |
James Madison is elected
president. |
| 1809 |
Charlotte Daily, daughter of
Philip and Mary (Wise), is born on the 10th of
April. She later marries James Boyer who was born
in KY in 1808 or 1809. |
| 1809 |
Mary Catherine
"Kittie" Daily, daughter of Philip and
Mary (Wise), marries Joseph Mallot on the 14th of
June. |
| 1809 |
The Non-Intercourse Act
replaces the Embargo Act which had seriously
damaged the United States' economy. The Act
forbids trade only with France and Britain. |
| 1809 |
James Madison, known a lawyer
known as the "Father of the
Constitution" takes oath as the fourth
president of the U.S. |
| 1809 |
Harrison treats with
Delaware, Miami, Potawatomi, and Eel River tribes
in September and obtains about 2.5 million acres
of land. |
| 1810 |
Tecumseh and Harrison meet in
Vincennes in August. Tecumseh, angry over Treaty
of 1809, warns he will not tolerate any more land
cessions without consent of all tribes. |
| 1810 |
Mexico begins its fight for
independence from Spain. |
| 1811 |
John Russell, a revolutionary
soldier, and Jesse Henly were living in
Washington Township this year. |
| 1811 |
Promoted to captain the
previous year, Zachary Taylor is placed under the
command of General William Henry Harrison,
governor of the Indiana Territory, who assigns
him command of Fort Knox. |
| 1811 |
Early in September a comet
passes over Utica and in October, the first
steamboat brings folks out of their beds, rushing
to look outside, thinking the noise was the comet
crashing; and on December 16th the first
earthquake to affect the Mississippi river valley
occurred, and others continued until the first of
March the following year. |
| 1811 |
In September, Harrison and
1,000 men leave Vincennes to march on
Prophetstown. They begin to erect Fort Harrison
near Terre Haute, and march to Prophetstown. With
Tecumseh away, Harrison defeats The Prophet at
the Battle of Tippecanoe and returns to
Vincennes. |
| 1812 |
A fort was erected on William
Bullock's farm in Owen Township, but was soon
abandoned. |
| 1812 |
Samuel Daily, son of Charles
and Eleanor (Kuykendall), marries Eleanor Daily
on the 9th of May. |
| 1812 |
The War of 1812 begins in
June with Americans fighting the British for
control of American lands and shipping. |
| 1812 |
Captain Zachary Taylor's
company of fifty men are transferred to Fort
Harrison which he successfully defends against
four hundred Indians on September 4th. |
| 1812 |
James Madison is re-elected
president and Harrison resigns as Governor of
Indiana. Thomas Posey becomes new governor. |
| 1813 |
Zachary Taylor recruits,
musters and inspects troops in the Indiana and
Illinois Territories, and assists in the defense
of the frontier from Indiana to Missouri. |
| 1813 |
Mary Ann Shirley, daughter of
Charles and Rebecca (Collier) moves with her
family to Charlestown and later marries David
Wise Daily. |
| 1814 |
On August 4th British troops
set fire to The White House. |
| 1814 |
In August, Zachary Taylor
sets out to destroy Indian villages at the mouth
of Rock River and, after failing to do so,
returns to Des Moines where he builds Fort
Johnson. |
| 1814 |
Washington, D.C. is captured
by British on the 24th of August. |
| 1814 |
From December until his unit
is disbanded on June 15th the following year,
Zachary Taylor commands Fort Knox. |
| 1815 |
On January 8th, a British
army which has been sent to capture New Orleans
marches bravely up to the entrenchments of
General Andrew Jackson, in the Mississippi River
swamps. In less than 30 minutes 2000
British troops were killed or wounded.
Exactly 13 Americans were killed.
Weeks later, both sides hear of the Treaty of
Ghent. |
| 1815 |
By this year, there are ten
ferry operations in the county of Clark. The
first was established near Utica and was the
first crossing point above Louisville. It had
been established by James Noble Wood and his wife
when he settled there in 1794. |
| 1815 |
Elizabeth Daily, daughter of
Philip and Mary (Wise), marries Daniel Field. |
| 1816 |
Indiana is admitted into the
Union as the 19th state. |
| 1817 |
Jeffersonville is established
on February 10th. |
| 1817 |
James Monroe, a lawyer and
graduate of William & Mary, becomes the 5th
U.S. President and will be re-elected in 1820.
His Secretary of War is John Calhoun. |
| 1818 |
On August 29th David Wise
Daily marries Mary A. Shirley, the daughter of
Charles and Rebecca (Collier) at the Old Stone
House. The ceremony is performed by Squire
Huckleberry. It is said that the couple were
seldom parted except when necessary. |
| 1818 |
George Daily, son of Charles
Daily (1730) and Eleanor (Kuykendall), marries
Mary Ann Hahn on August 13th. |
| 1818 |
Census records indicate that
an Isaac Daily is born about this time - he is
likely a nephew of Philip and cousin of David
Wise Daily. |
| 1819 |
Mexican-U.S. boundaries are
established by Spain and the United States in the
Adam-Onís Treaty. |
| 1819 |
On April 29th Major Zachary
Taylor is promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel, 4th
Infantry, and ordered to report at New Orleans. |
| 1819 |
Harrison Daily, son of David
Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born
in Charlestown on the 19th of July. He later
marries Sarah Elizabeth Morrison. |
| 1819 |
Philip Daily marries Delila
Athon/Athen on 08 October. |
| 1820 |
The Missouri Compromise
forbids slavery above 36 degrees 30 minutes
latitude. |
| 1820 |
Charles Daily, Jr., son of
Charles and Eleanor (Kuykendall), marries
Catherine Stoner on July 17th. |
| 1820 |
Samuel Ramsey marries Eleanor
Kime on August 20th. |
| 1820 |
Rebecca Daily, daughter of
David Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in
Charlestown on the 23rd of November. She later
marries Felix Coombs. |
| 1821 |
Mexico wins independence from
Spain but permits Stephen Austin to continue to
colonize Texas. The Santa Fe Trail is opened to
U.S. Commerce. |
| 1822 |
Indiana Clark Daily, daughter
of David Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born
in Charlestown on the 14th of October. She later
marries Dillard C. Ricketts. |
| 1823 |
The majority of the Sac and
Fox Indians settle west of the Mississippi. |
| 1823 |
Census records indicate that
a John Daily is born about this time - he is son
of Jacob Daily and Isabelle (Barker); nephew of
David Wise Daily. |
| 1823 |
The Monroe Doctrine is
delivered to Congress on the 2nd of December. |
| 1824 |
Mexico becomes a republic. |
| 1825 |
Unitarian and Harvard
Graduate, John Quincy Adams, known as "Old
Man Eloquent" becomes president. He was the
first to be elected president without receiving
either the most popular votes or the most votes
of the electoral college. |
| 1825 |
Mary Daily, daughter of David
Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in
Charlestown on April 25th. She later marries
James Howard Ramsey. |
| 1826 |
On July 4th, Thomas Jefferson
dies peacefully at his home in Moticello at 12:50
p.m.; and John Adams, whose health has been
failing for many months, passes away just a few
months shy of his 91st birthday at around 10
pm. He wrote his own epitaph, never
mentioning that he served as president of the
United States. |
| 1827 |
Through 1826 and 1827, Henry
Clay attempts to acquire Texas. |
| 1827 |
David Wise Daily, son of
David Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in
Charlestown on the 21st of January. He later
marries Mary Ann Parker. |
| 1828 |
William James, son of Beverly
W. James and Matilda (Day) who was born on 04 Oct
1822 in Mason Co., Kentucky moves with his family
to the Charlestown/Jeffersonville area in
Indiana. |
| 1828 |
Andrew Jackson is elected
President, John Calhoun, Vice President, on
December 3rd. He was the only president who had
served in both the Revolutionary War and the War
of 1812, and the only president to have been a
prisoner of war. At age thirteen he joined the
South Carolina militia to fight in the
Revolutionary War and after his capture, was
ordered to clean the boots of a British officer.
Refusing, the officer drew his sword and slashed
Jackson across the forehead, leaving a scar. |
| 1829 |
Charlotte Daily marries James
Boyer on May 21st. |
| 1829 |
Louisa Jane Daily, daughter
of David Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born
in Charlestown on the 23rd of November. |
| 1830 |
Owen Township was established
about this year and was bounded on the north by
Oregon, Washington, and Bethlehem townships, and
north of the Ohio River by Charlestown. |
1830
|
Last Will and testament of
Philip Daily recorded in open court on the 3rd of
May states in part that "it is my will that
the tract of land which I have in number seventy
three (#73) in the Illinois grant be equally
divided between my two daughters Mary Huckelberry
& Charlotte T. Boyer, that my beloved wife
Mary (Wise) shall have an income annualy the sum
of one hundred dollars to be paid by my sons
David W., Philip & Eli for her support during
her life, that the home place which includes all
my land be divided equally between my three sons
... the small tract of land on the Ohio river to
be equally divided and paid over to the children
of my daughter Catherine Carr (who is now
deceased) and Elinor Appelgate when they shall
respectively come to lawful age or marry; and pay
one dollar to my son Jacob and one dollar to my
daughter Elizabeth Fields - for their portion in
full and one dollar in full to my daughter
Elinor. Sons David W., Philip, Eli executors. |
| 1830 |
Willis & Sarah Cook of
Bartholomew County, Indiana sell land to David W.
Daily, Clark Co., Indiana on June 13th. (Sec. 12,
T8N, R6E in Bartholomew Co.) |
| 1830 |
Thomas Hardin Daily, son of
Charles Daily and Eleanor (Kuykendall), marries
Eliza Henthorne on July 19th. |
| 1832 |
Mary Ann Parker, the daughter
of John C. and Nancy, is born in Kentucky on the
9th of February. She later marries David Wise
Daily. |
| 1832 |
Minerva Daily, daughter of
David Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in
Charlestown on the 8th of March. She later
marries Dr. Samuel M. Work. |
| 1832 |
Black Hawk War takes place
when the 1831 treaty has moved the Sac and Fox
Indians West of the Mississippi, but under Chief
Black Hawk, they returned to Illinois where most
of the Indians in the engagement were killed on
the Bad Axe River. |
| 1832 |
Letter dated 17th July of
Indiana Governor Noah Noble, to Sheriff D.W.
Daily of Clark County, Indiana. "You are
commanded to hold an election for the purpose of
electing associate justice of the Peace of Clark
Circuit Court to take place of Beverly W. James,
resigned. [signed by Governor Noble and Secretary
of State James Morrison]. |
| 1832 |
On August 24th, Mary Daily,
daughter of Charles and Eleanor (Kuykendall),
marries Mathias Bovee. |
| 1833 |
Cholera epidemic sweeps
Lexington, Kentucky. |
| 1833 |
On Tuesday, November 12th, It
is ordered by the court that David W. Daily be
appointed guardian of Mahala Daily, Mary Ann
Daily, and Philip Daily, heirs of Jacob Daily,
dec'd. to answer to a bill exhibited by John Hawn
for division of land. [Probate Order Book B,
p.210] |
| 1833 |
John Hawn, Plantiff requests
division of land owned by Jacob Daily, dec'd to
be divided between Jacob, Mahala, Philip, and
Mary Ann Daily, heirs to Jacob through their
court appointed guardian, David W. Daily -
petition for division of real estate [Probate
Order Book B, p. 211] |
| 1833 |
Jackson is re-elected as
President - his Vice President is Martin Van
Buren. |
| 1834 |
Secretary of U.S. Treasury
Department, Roger B. Taney, writes to Senator
William Hendricks on the 14th of February.
"Your letter recommending Mr. Daily to
appointment in the land office received."
Envelope addressed to D.W. Daily, Esq.,
Charlestown, Indiana. [Transcript of letter] |
| 1834 |
Jacob Daily marries Jane
Becket on April 10th. |
| 1834 |
On Tuesday, May 27th, it is
reported that the estateof Jacob Daily, dec'd has
divided the 80 acres among four of his heirs -
reported by commissioners John Coombs, Joel C.
Bowen, and Samuel Prather. [Probate Order Book B,
p. 243] |
| 1834 |
Philip M. Daily, son of David
and Mary (Shirley), is born in June of this year.
He later marries Melissa C. Morton. |
| 1834 |
James M. Parker, son of John
C. and Nancy, is born in IN this year. |
| 1835 |
The first attempted
assassination against a U.S. President fails - a
gun misfires, and leaves President Jackson
unharmed. |
| 1835 |
In the autumn of this year,
after President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
throws aside Mexico's democratic constitution, a
revolution breaks out in Texas. |
| 1836 |
On the 21st of April, the
Texan forces defeat the Mexican army at the
Battle of San Jacinto, capture Santa Anna, and
end the revolution in victory. |
| 1836 |
Jaminia Daily, daughter of
Charles Daily and Eleanor (Kuykendall), marries
Daniel Vest on the 27th of May. |
| 1837 |
While Martin Van Buren has
become President with Richard Johnson as his
Vice, an economic panic and depression settles in
on the U.S. |
| 1837 |
Elizabeth "Lizzie"
Daily, daughter of David Wise Daily and Mary
(Shirley), is born in Charlestown on June 17th.
She later marries William James. |
| 1837 |
Philip M. Daily, son of David
Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in
Charlestown on the 17th of June. He later marries
Miss James. |
| 1837 |
Emma Parker, daughter of John
C. and Nancy, is born in IN this year. |
| 1838 |
An Isaac Daily, probably
nephew of Philip and Mary (Wise) marries Mary
Henthorn on April 20th. |
| 1839 |
Mannon Daily, not identified
as yet, marries Ruth Shelton on April 10th. |
| 1839 |
Seth Daily, son of David Wise
Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in Charlestown
on the 09th of March. He later marries Barbara
Stierheim. |
| 1839 |
D.W. Daily becomes gaurdian
of his brother Philip's son Hezekiah Daily. |
| 1839 |
Ada Parker, daughter of John
C. and Nancy is born in IN this year. |
| 1840 |
Census of Clark County, IN
(FHL Film #007722). |
| 1840 |
William Parker, apparently
his spouse, and two others - one male and one
female between age 15-20 are listed on page 461
of the census in Charlestown. |
| 1840 |
The household of Andrew C.
Hay (born between 1790-1800) is listed on page
461 in Charlestown three houses down from the
Daily home and includes his wife and six children
ranging in ages from under age five to between 15
and 20 years of age. |
| 1840 |
The household of David W.
Daily, his wife Mary A. (Shirley) and their ten
children are listed on page 461 of the census in
Charlestown. |
| 1840 |
The household of Charles
Daily (born about 1800), including what appears
to be his wife Catherine (Stoner) and ten
children, who in the next census is living next
door to the John Daily (born 1823) household is
listed on page 479. |
| 1840 |
The household of Isaac Daily
(1818), which includes his wife Mary (1812) and
their two young sons identified in later census
records as Elias born 1838, and Robert born 1839,
are listed on page 479. |
| 1840 |
The two last households of
page 481 are both Daily's: Thomas Daily born 1808
in Kentucky and son of Charles Daily and Eleanor
(Kuykendall). He married Eliza Henthorn in 1830
and their children at this time would have been
Martha, Stausbury, Mary, Hardin, Casa and one
older daughter not located in other census
records. The last household on this page is
Samuel Daily (1801) who is listed with his wife
and four daughters. |
| 1840 |
The household of Jacob Daily
(born in KY between 1810-1820), his wife
(probably Jane Becket whom he married in 1834)
and two young sons is listed on page 559. |
| 1840 |
Five doors down from Jacob,
is the home of his son Philip Daily. Philip is
the son of Jacob's first wife Thei (Praim) and
was born in Indiana in 1816. |
| 1840 |
Not far from the Philip Daily
home, listed on this same page, is the home of
Bartlett James (born in 1811 in NC), his wife
Margaret, and three young children. This family
may be of relation to William James who married
David's daughter Lizzie. |
| 1840 |
Judgment of Jacob Daily
against William Alstott by Alexander Mars, J.P.
to Constable. Dated the 11th of February. |
| 1840 |
On the 15th of April, Rebecca
Daily, daughter of David W. and Mary (Shirley),
marries Felix Coombs. They become the parents of:
Arabel, Mary A., Rebecca, Dallas, Felix, Loretta
and possibly India K. Coombs. |
| 1841 |
Santa Ana returns to
presidency of Mexico. |
| 1841 |
William Henry Harrison who
served as aide-de-camp to General "Mad
Anthony" Wayne at the Battle of Fallen
Timbers (which opened most of the Ohio area to
settlement), later became Secretary of the
Northwest Territory and Governor of Indiana. He
was elected president and during his inauguration
speech caught pneumonia and died a month later on
the 4th of April. |
| 1841 |
Thomas Hart Daily, son of
David Wise Daily and Mary (Shirley), is born in
Charlestown on the 4th of December. He later
marries Margaret Walsh. |
| 1842 |
Cordelia Parker, daughter of
John C. and Nancy, is born in IN this year. |
| 1842 |
Arabel Coombs, daughter of
Felix and Rebecca (Daily) is born this year. |
| 1843 |
Mary A. Coombs, daughter of
Felix and Rebecca (Daily) is born this year. |
| 1843 |
Barbara Stierheim, daughter
of Francis J. and Sarah (Neely), is born in
Indiana about this time. She later marries Seth
Daily, son of David and Mary (Shirley) Daily. |
| 1844 |
Now Brigadier General,
Zachary Taylor is ordered to Fort Jesup and, in
anticipation of the annexation of Texas, is
directed a few months later to have his command
ready to take the field on the slightest notice. |
| 1845 |
James K. Polk is inaugurated
as the President of the United States on March
4th. |
| 1845 |
Texans vote for annexation to
the United States on the 4th of July, but Mexico
still does not recognize Texas as independent. |
| 1845 |
In July, President Polk sends
orders to General Zachary Taylor to organize an
army at Corpus Christi and to Commodore David
Conner to prepare a squadron in the Gulf of
Mexico. |
| 1845 |
Taylor sends his topographers
to reconnoiter the region southward toward the
Rio Grande, and on 14 September he reports to
Washington that he has directed his army to
examine the nearby country in the direction of
the contested river border. The general adds that
the reconnaissance would soon include surveys
"of the Nueces and the Laguna Madra [sic] .
. . in the event of a forward movement to the Rio
Grande. |
| 1845 |
Indiana Clark Daily, daughter
of David W. Daily and Mary (Shirley), marries
Dillard C. Ricketts on the 13th of November. They
later remove to Indianapolis. |
| 1845 |
President Polk sends John
Slidell as commissioner to Mexico with
instructions to try to purchase New Mexico and
California. |
| 1845 |
December 29th, Texas is
admitted into the Union as the 28th state. |
| 1845 |
Thile John C. Frémont's
exploring expedition arrives in Alta, California,
the year closes with conflicts as the country
faces war with Mexico, and war with England over
the Oregon territory. |
| 1846 |
As the year begins Old Rough
and Ready's Army of Occupation of regulars and
volunteers has grown to nearly 4,000, almost half
the strength of the entire U.S. Army. Units
arriving over the course of the six-month
encampment at Corpus Christi settle down to a
training routine, but the arrival of winter and
its wet, miserable, and unhealthful weather,
adversely affects training. The cold and often
ill soldiers are forced to huddle in their tents,
awaiting developments. |
| 1846 |
Polk sends orders to General
Zachary Taylor to advance to Río Grande and
orders Commodore David Conners to Vera Cruz. |
| 1846 |
Letter of Harrison Daily
(1819-1895) from Camp Butler, New Saltillo,
Mexico, to his father David Wise Daily dated the
10th of January. "Movement expected,
possibly an expedition for Vera Cruz ... Clark
Guards are well." |
| 1846 |
John Daily marries Mary
Overman on February 12th. |
| 1846 |
During February the U.S.
rejects proposed arbitration of dispute with
Britain over Oregon Territory. |
| 1846 |
About one month after
receiving notification to move his army, and
after carefully examining the various engineer
reconnaissance reports, Taylor selects the
mainland route over some 200 miles of sun-baked
prairie. In retrospect, his decision appeas to be
the right one. They depart on 8 March to the Río
Grande and establish a base at Point Isabel and
entrenchments opposite Metamoras. |
| 1846 |
In April, General Mariano
Arista arrives in Matamoros taking command of the
Mexican Army. He sends a cavalry across the Río
Grande surrounding a U.S. scout party. Several
are killed during the skirmish. |
| 1846 |
Thomas Daily, son of Charles
and Eleanor (Kuykendall), marries Rachel Overman
on 26 April. His first wife was Eliza Henthorn. |
| 1846 |
Leaving behind enough men to
defend the earthen fortification, Taylor sets off
on 1 May with the bulk of his army to secure
Point Isabel. He returns on the eighth to find
his garrison besieged and a Mexican army three
times the size of his own force at a watering
hole called Palo Alto, but is able to defeat
them. |
| 1846 |
On the afternoon of May 9th,
Taylor sets out with 2,000 men and meets the
Mexican army a few miles to the south at Resaca
de la Palma. This time they fight in a dry river
bed on the road to the American encampment
opposite Matamoros and is able to defeat them. |
| 1846 |
U.S. Congress declares war on
Mexico on the 13th of May. Taylor, who occupies
Metamoras on May 18th, is breveted by Polk to
Major-General as soon as word of the victories
have been received. |
| 1846 |
On May 16th, Governor
Whitcomb of Indiana received an order from the
U.S. Secretary of War requesting three regiments
of volunteers. Camp Clark, near New Albany, was
chosen as the rendezvous site for the little
army. A total of 2,811 recruits enlist throughout
the state, and a great wave of military
enthusiasm washes over the area. |
| 1846 |
Harrison Daily is mustered
into the 3rd Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers
on the 22nd of June at New Albany by Colonel
Samuel Churchill and is transferred to staff. |
| 1846 |
Colonel Stephen W. Kearny
leads Army of the West toward New Mexico and
California. |
| 1846 |
July 3rd, Harrison Daily
writes from Camp Whitcomb, New Albany, Indiana to
his father. "...will leave for Rio Grande
Next week." He mentions brother David who is
with him and that a lieutenant of the Montgomery
guards was killed in an accident. |
| 1846 |
Letter written from Camp
Whitcomb, New Albany, Indiana from Harrison Daily
to his father on the 6th of July asking him to
please send $100 in gold and the banks there will
not accommodate the officers. |
| 1846 |
Harrison Daily writes his
father from Camp Whitcomb on the 8th of July.
Writes that "David returned last evening and
handed over the $100 dollars you had the kindness
to send." Also mentions a tailor, John W.
Long, and that he wishes to have the name of one
of his father's hired hands to pay him in his
name so that he can certify and draw pay for him
as a servant. Directs letters to be sent to 3rd
Regiment, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. |
| 1846 |
During July, Zachary Taylor
establishes a base at Camargo at the mouth of the
San Juan River. |
| 1846 |
Letter written July 29th from
Point Isabel, Texas from Harrison Daily to his
father saying he arrived after ten days on the
brig Prairie. Five vessels had traveled together.
Also mentions Dr. Athon. (James S. Athon). |
| 1846 |
Sallie Parker, daughter of
John C. and Nancy, is born in IN this year. |
| 1846 |
Rebecca Coombs, daughter of
Felix and Rebecca (Daily) is born this year. |
| 1846 |
In August, at about the same
time Taylor is making preparations to depart
Camargo and march on Monterrey, Brig. Gen. John
E. Wool assembls another army in Texas to march
into Mexico and join forces with Old Rough and
Ready. |
| 1846 |
On August 28th, David Daily,
who was been ill as a result of a scouting trip
under Captain Gibson, writes from Camp Bellknap,
Texas, that "the boys" have taken good
care of him and that he expects to be discharged
in october. He hopes to go home by land and look
for land for his Uncle Silas and Felix (Coombs).
Says to address correspondence to Point Isabelle. |
| 1846 |
With Saltillo as his
objective, Zachary Taylor departs in September
with 6,000 men divided equally between regulars
and volunteers. On the 21st he attacked Monterey.
After three days of skirmishing in mostly with
bayonet assaults, the larger Mexican army
surrenders and an eight week armistice is
arranged. Taylor is severely criticized by the
administration for the liberal terms of surrender
he accepts, and five days before the end of the
armistice he is ordered to terminate it. But for
his popularity, Taylor undoubtedly would have
been replaced as field commander. |
| 1846 |
On the 24th of September,
Harrison Daily writes his father from Camp Lane
on the Rio Grande. "We are thirty miles
below Matamorous" and happy to be on high,
dry, land. Mentions appointment as adjutant of
the regiment with pay of about $92.00 a month. |
| 1846 |
Harrison Daily writes his
father from Camp Lane on the Rio Grande on the
7th of October. He mentions Doc Athon and the
Battle of Monterey being fought without the
assistance of the Hoosiers. He offers opinions
and comments about the battle and mentions
Colonel Lane, Generals Lane and Taylor and
Captain Gibson. |
| 1846 |
By October 12th, the army
begins crossing the Rio Grande into Mexico. The
Corps of Engineers contingent supervises the
assembly of a "flying bridge,"
prefabricated in San Antonio for the crossing.
Wool, unlike Taylor, has the foresight not to
wait for pontoon bridging to arrive from the
East. |
| 1846 |
Between November 3rd-7th,
Harrison Daily writes his father from Metamoras,
Mexico. Gives news of Captain Carter, Captain
Gibson, Colonel Curtis, William Forsythe, Captain
Curtis, and Colonel Clarke. Mentions May Morrison
being there and that the 1st regiment was reduced
to four hundred men by deaths and discharges.
That his regiment has 700 men. |
| 1846 |
In what appears to be a
continuation of the previous letter, Harrison
writes that Colonel Clarke has issued order to
suppress gambling and that thirty-eight enforced
it. |
| 1846 |
On November 10th, President
Polk selects Winfield Scott to command an
expedition to land at Vera Cruz and march to
Mexico City. Scott promptly submits a list to the
War Department of the men and materiel he
requires to execute his plan. |
| 1846 |
Scott issues orders to Taylor
on November 23rd to send the core of his army to
staging points at the mouth of the Rio Grande and
Tampico for transport to Scott's invasion staging
area. Meanwhile, Taylor decides on his own to
alter his strategy and begins to concentrate on
occupying strong points. His first order is to
reorganize and abolish the bulky Volunteer
Division which is composed of the Ohio and
Kentucky Infantry regiments in one brigade
(Butler) and the Georgia, Mississippi, and 1st
Tennessee regiments in another (Quitman). He
takes Twiggs' division, with Quitman's brigade
and the Baltimore Battalion, along with him to
Victoria, leaving Worth at Saltillo, Wool at
Parras, and Butler at Monterrey. Butler, the
senior officer, would be in overall command of
the troops left behind. Patterson, currently at
Matamoros, would join Taylor at Victoria. At
Monte Morelos on the way to Victoria, the 2nd
Infantry and 2d Tennessee Regiment joins Taylor
for the march to Victoria |
| 1846 |
Letter of Harrison to his
father David Daily on the 6th of December states
that the regiments 1-3 are moving to Camargo,
that they will go on to Monterey to join the main
Army. Mentions Captain Gibson, Colonel Clarke,
General Patterson, and describes the battle
ground. |
| 1846 |
Situated at Camp Taylor,
three miles from Monterey on Christmas Eve,
Harrison Daily writes his father that they
arrived there after eight days of hard marching.
Speaks of meeting Taylor and describes him,
Monterey, and news of his brother David. Three
days out on the march, Taylor received
information that General Antonio Lopez de Santa
Anna had regained the presidency of Mexico and
raised a view army. The wily Mexican leader
appeared to be leading this army on a long march
toward Monterrey. Taylor rushed back leaving
Quitman to proceed to Victoria. The threat to
Monterrey turned out to be a false alarm, and Old
Rough and Ready resumed his march to Victoria. |
| 1846 |
On December 25th, Jefferson
Davis meets Zachary Taylor near Montemorelos* and proceeds with
him to Victoria. |
| 1847 |
Dallas Coombs, son of Felix
and Rebecca (Daily) is born about this year. |
| 1847 |
Encamped twenty-one miles
south of Saltillo at Camp Aqua Nueva, Harrison
Daily writes his father on February 13th.
"About 5000 men are here; will be 8000
soon." Gives an account of the battle which
took place a few days earlier and how the
Illinois regiment had interfered with the
Arkansas regiment. |
| 1847 |
At Buena Vista, on February
22nd-23rd, Taylor is out-numbered four to one,
but the American army defeats the Mexicans and
effectively ends the war in the north. The battle
is fought mostly by the volunteers, but it is the
smaller regular artillery to whom Taylor ascribes
in large measure his success. |
| 1847 |
Charles Daily marries Ruth
Williams on March 7th. |
| 1847 |
Winfield Scott's forces stage
an amphibious landing at Vera Cruz that captures
the port on the 9th of March. The Mexican
commander chooses not to oppose the landing, so
over 8,600 men are landed without a single loss
in just over four hours. |
| 1847 |
On the 11th of March, Mary
Ann Daily marries John Howard Ramsey. |
| 1847 |
Taylor continues to command
all forces in northern Mexico from March to
November. |
| 1847 |
Following a brief siege, Vera
Cruz surrenders on the 29th of March. |
| 1847 |
Writing from Buena Vista on
the 15th of April, Harrison Daily tells his
father that Conway is recovering, that Jack has
tendered his resignation, and that small pox is
reported among troops at Matamoras. |
| 1847 |
On the 24th of June, Harrison
Daily is mustered out of the Indiana regiment at
New Orleans, Louisiana by Colonel Samuel
Churchill. |
| 1847 |
Taylor leaves Monterey on
November 8th and arrives at New Orleans on the
30th. Hailed as a national hero, Taylor retires
to Baton Rouge on December 5th. |
| 1848 |
The year begins with the
discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in Eldorado
County California. It brings the Treaty of
Guadalupe, with the ceding of Texas, New Mexico,
and California to the United States, and the
Oregon Bill, which establishes a territorial
government in the Pacific Northwest. |
| 1848 |
Dr. James S. Athon writes to
D.W. Daily from the City of Mexico. "Captain
Simonson will carry this letter. Expenses are
great here. Enclosed is money owed by Phil
Roe." Writes that every movement now is
towards peace; armistice is entered into. General
Butler is more considerate of the soldiers than
General Taylor and General Scott. Mentions news
of Hezekiah Daily, Joseph Gibson, Jonas
Stansbury, and others. Adds that "Whigs of
Indiana determined to run Taylor for Presidency
in spite of all he had done to the state."
Mentions that the 2nd regiment are rampant on the
subject and that he does not favor a military man
for president. |
| 1848 |
Taylor is nominated by the
Whig party in Philadelphia on June 7th, on the
fourth ballot, over Clay, Scott and Webster. |
| 1848 |
James M. Daily marries Rachel
Daily on August 16th. |
| 1848 |
Felix Coombs, son of Felix
and Rebecca (Daily) Coombs is born this year. |
| 1848 |
Dated November 18th from the
Columbus Insurance Co. to D.W. Daily. Insurance
on pork and hams to be shipped from Louisville to
New Orleans. Signed by Wray Thomas, pres.; Sam
Gwathmey, Agent and A.S. Chew, Sec'y. |
| 1848 |
Mexico cedes New Mexico and
California in return for $15,000,000 and American
assumption of the damage claims. President Polk
has added a vast area to the United States, but
its acquisition precipitate a bitter quarrel
between the North and the South over the
expansion of slavery. |
| 1849 |
Cholera epidemic sweeps
through Lexington, Kentucky and St. Louis,
Missouri. |
| 1849 |
President Polk dies on June
15th in Nashville, Tennessee. |
