
"Solon Borland & FAMILY"
"Chapter 2: That Man Named Solon"
(10-26-07)
SOLON BORLAND was a southern gentleman, a family man, and a
frontiersman
serving the public as: Arkansas' militia Adjutant-General,
attorney-at-law, Confederate States military Colonel, editor,
physician,
publisher, Arkansas' first United States diplomat, United States
military Major, Arkansas' fourth United States Senator and was
selected
Democratic delegate many times in mid-nineteenth century. He was
a part
of our expanding nation increasing from 17 to 36 states and west
beyond
"Louisiana Purchase" lands, to the Pacific Ocean durng his
fifty-two
years. Early years in Virginia and North Carolina, --- last
twenty-six
years were, eleven in Memphis and fifteen, off and on, in
Arkansas.
<http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/media-detail.aspx?mediaID=5935>
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/nc/hertford/images/borland1.jpg>
<http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/media-detail.aspx?mediaID=286>
Solon was third and last known child born August 8,
1811 in Suffolk, Nansemond county, Virginia to Harriott GODWIN
and
Thomas Wood BORLAND, M D, raised and educated during early years
by
mother's older brother and wife, George GODWIN and Fanny GREEN
for whom
his children by third wife were named. His parents passing away
while
he's yet a teenager, she ca1825, he ca1831. Older siblings were:
Euclid
(1809VA-1881VA), a physician and plantation owner and Roscius
Cicero
(1807VA-ca1845MS), an attorney. Solon was thrice married, five
known
children, died New Year's Day 1864 near Houston, Texas, burial
site
unknown, believed by some to be City cemetery, Houston.
<http://www.sallysfamilyplace.com/MulberryGrove/borlandsolon.htm>
Solon was of the times that men were men and women
were proud of them --- when men often settled their differences,
face to
face, with fists, knives or guns.
TRUTHFUL FACTS:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1)- Solon remembered by daughter:
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/atmyfath3nw.txt>
2)- Dallas Tabor HERDON, Ph D, (1878GA-1953AR), First
Director of The Arkansas History Commission (1911-1953), in his
Centennial History of Arkansas, (S. J. Clarke Publishing
Company, 1922;
1970 reprint), wrote of Solon:
"...he came to Arkansas [1843] to assume the editorial
management of the 'Arkansas Banner.' In that position he won the
reputation of being one of the ablest political writers in the
United
States."
3)- Professor Michael B DOUGAN, Ph D (a fellow
southwest Missourian), wrote in his Arkansas Odyssey. Rose
Publishing
Com. Little Rock, 1994, 684pp.
<www.pccua.edu/keough/education2.htm>(search:
"Borland")
"The first elite of Arkansas often came
well-educated. George C Watkins and Chester Ashley studied law
in the
Litchfield Law School; Solon Borland as a Philadelphia-trained
doctor."
Also view his page 85 of 1976 book regarding November 1861.
4)- Solon's intellect was admired by many, including
University of Michigan's longest serving Head Librarian
(1877-1906) who
wrote in his autobiography to wit:
"...he must have possessed an inquiring
mind and a retentive memory."
(Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, Raymond C
DAVIS
(1836ME-1908MI) papers.
5)- Commander of the Confederate Army's Western
Department, General Albert Sidney JOHNSTON (1803KY-1862TN)
appointed
Colonel Solon BORLAND, CSA (fellow Mexican War veteran)
commander of
Upper Arkansas District, November 5, 1861 to January 10,1862,
while only
a colonel, serving between commands of; General William J
HARDEE, "Old
Reliable", (1815GA-1873AL) and Major-General Earl VAN DORN
(1820MS-1862TN).
Solon's army record has him on sick leave December 15, 1861,
having
traveled more than 1,700 miles during his twenty-weeks as a
Confederate
Colonel ---- was never able to return to duty before his
discharge on
May 26,1862.
The calvary battalion Solon formed June 1861 was enlarged,
proceeding as
the distinguished 3rd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry, CSA after
December 1861
until end of war.
6)- The Arkansas Bar Foundation and Pulaski County Bar
Association, with assistance of Pulaski County Historical
Society, at
Little Rock's Mount Holly cemetery Law Day 1992 dedicated:
"...a monument for Solon Borland, early
prominent lawyer in Arkansas History ..."
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ar/cemph/pulaskiph.htm>
(incorrect
birth date)
7)- Some modern day historian/story book writers
provide their reading public incorrect impressions by failing to
understand old southern honor or perhaps --- intentionally
defaming,
demeaning and smearing Solon's character because he was born and
raised
inheriting southern sense of honor and duty requiring response
when
either is impugned. ---- as others, he feared not to protect his
honor
with: pen, voice, fists, dirks or guns as may need be.
One New Orleans cohort reviewing BORLAND newspaper
articles, surmised:
"Borland appears to have been a scraper and perhaps
even a little impulsive or hot tempered but a man's honor was
taken very
seriously in those days. It appears that some newspapers
certainly
didn't cut him any slack and I'm sure politics entered into the
fray."
A)- BIRTH DATE: Documented from family records by
nephew Thomas Roscius BORLAND's (1844NC-1900VA) (once United
States
Attorney of Eastern Virginia) in January 19, 1897 letter at
Thomas HUME
#3239 file, University of North Carolina, Wilson library, Chapel
Hill
archives!
B)- DEATH DATE: Telegraphed
message received March 4, 1864 at Princeton, Dallas county,
Arkansas,
Solon's home after leaving Little Rock to where he came, then
from out
of his sick bed, after providing for his daughters education and
welfare, leaving for Texas evening of 13th September, --- also
home of
some 750 people, including surviving daughters, Mr DAVIS
telegrapher &
Virginia (Davis) GRAY (Mrs O C GRAY), diary keeper, (MC 1618,
University
of Arkansas' Special Collections), diary edited, annoted and
published
spring and summer issues, 1983 Arkansas Historical Quarterly (AHQ),
by
Dr Carl H MONEYHON, UALR, see Part I, page 74, March 4th entry.
C)- MILITARY RANKS: "Major", United States Army,
"Adjutant-General" under Governor Drew, and "Colonel" under
Governor
Rector, Arkansas Militia, "Colonel", Confederate States Army.
"The American Quarterly Register and
Magazine",December 1849 issue had Solon's biography! (Source:
Bruce S
ALLARDICE)
Doctor Thomas Wood BORLAND's descendants, except
second son Euclid, suffered from ill health. He and wife dying
after
ca1823 move to Murfreesboro, Hertford county, North Carolina,
their
burial sites unknown.
DISCOVERED:
~~~~~~~~~~~~
D)- Histories of GODWIN family members to early
seventeenth century in Nansemond county, Virginia,
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/hertford/bios/borland1.txt>
E)- Nine, 10 by 8 inch chalk on paper, portraits of
BORLAND and GODWIN family ca Small Hopes Farm, 1809 by Felix
Thomas
SHARPLES, since 1964 at Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk,
Virginia,
<http://www.chrysler.org>.
F)- 521 pages of BORLAND family materials acquired
1944, "Collection Mss. 65 B66", at The College of William &
Mary's, Earl
Gregg Swen Library, herein prefixed (WM),
<http://swem.wm.edu/ead/display.cfm?file=viw00044.xml>,
<http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/wm/viw0044.component>,
(http://swem.wm.edu/ead/)
G)- 1969 book, 'Arkansas Gazette: The Early Years
1819-1866', by authoress Margaret Deane Smith ROSS
(1922AR-2002AR),
listing references about Solon, numbering second only to William
E
WOODRUFF (1795NY- 1887AR) who lived in Arkansas nearly seventy
as
opposed to Solon's less than fifteen years,
H)- Infomation from other sources, to many for
listing, so to each, a warm thank you for helping to unveil this
frontiersman's life and,
I)- A partially fictional biography with
incorrect dates and names about Solon by Encyclopedia of
Arkansas
History and Culture (5/7/07).
SOLON's LIFE:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One first needs to understand history of our pioneering days,
secondly
of southern gentlemen's code of honor in order to appreciate
what Solon
and family faced during his lifetime. Granted, ---- he was NOT a
perfect
angel, but then, --- who was in those days when most gentlemen
settled
their differences, face to face?
Solon reportedly slept but five hours daily, allowing time for
writing
by candle light till his eyes gave out. Travel was by river boat
between
Little Rock, New Orleans or Pittsburgh, if river stage allowed,
or stage
coach or horseback. Slavery was common, President U S GRANT's
wife even
had one during civil war. It was quite common for men to settle
differences with fists or guns. Indians were being uprooted from
their
happy hunting grounds, relocated to what now is Oklahoma.
Lawlessness
rampaged throughout untamed west, Arkansas being no exception.
At a very young age of 15/16 (1827) in Murfreesboro,
Hertford county, North Carolina Solon is reported nearly killing
42 y/o
James MORGAN* (builder of the "Myrick House") with a dirk when
MORGAN
came at Solon with a chair. (Years later in Texas, General Sam
HOUSTON
too, documentedly, had his problems with Colonel MORGAN!)
*NOTE: Thomas C PARRAMORE, in part wrote;
James MORGAN (1786PA-1866TX) left Murfreesboro, North Carolina
for Texas
(Mexico) before Nate TURNER's rebellion of August 1831, taking
his
family & sixteen slaves, who became indentured servants because
Mexico
disallowed slaves, --- setting up a plantation where he
introduced
oranges and longhorn cattle to Texans, and where Thursday
afternoon, 21
April 1836, Sam HOUSTON's famous battle of San Jacinto was
reportedly
fought. Site located; near confluence of Buffalo Bayou (Houston
Ship
Channel, Colonel MORGAN helped organize) and San Jacinto river,
a ferry
ride
southwest from Lynchburg, --- the Battle of San Jacinto was won
by
General Sam HOUSTON (later serving in United States Senate with
Solon)
with 910 men, shouting battle cry, "Remember the Alamo" against
Santa
Anna's 1265 men, in only eighteen minutes of battle General
HOUSTON
gained Texans their independence, losing 9 men, killing 630
Mexicans,
this two months before Arkansas was granted its statehood! Emily
WEST,
attractive young, New York, mulatto servant of MORGAN's, was
captured
for Santa Anna's "pleasures", thusly said to be the famous
"Yellow Rose
of Texas".
<http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/WW/fwe41.html>.
This being a ferry-ride from Lynchburg, Harris county,
where Solon may have died twenty-eight years later on New Year's
Day
1864! Fay HEMPSTEAD (1847AR-1934AR) wrote:
"...in William LUBBOCK's home."
Solon, with next older brother Euclid, likely studied
medicine under their father, as then customary, while attending
Murfreesboro's schools, following at Philadelphia's U Penn, for
their
documented graduation as medical doctors, Euclid, 1833 at age
24, Solon
following year, 1834 at age 23.
<http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/students/med/az1806to1852/medmatric_b.pdf>.
In 1831, Solon age 19/20 served as a militia officer
with Samuel Jordon WHEELER (1810NC-1879NC),
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/hertford/bios/samj01.txt>,
so
wrote Thomas C PARRAMORE, page 59, in his 2003 publication
"Cradle of
Titans", putting down the August 1831 bloody rebellion in which
some 60
white men, women and children were slaughtered by Nat TURNER &
followers
in/near Jerusalem, Southampton county, Virginia. Now Courtland,
the town
was given its present name in 1888. It served as Southampton
County's
only town through the 18th century, and was, as it remains, the
county
seat. This quiet little town was formed in 1791 along the north
shore of
the Nottoway River on a parcel of ten acres beside the court
house. In
1831, the town became famous as it hosted the trials and
subsequent
executions of Nat TURNER and those involved in the Nat TURNER's
Slave
Rebellion of1831. At this time, according to a letter written by
Solon
BORLAND to the governor of North Carolina, it was but a small
hamlet of
approximately 175 people, with only three stores, one saddler,
one
carriage maker, two hotels, two attorneys and two physicians in
the
town. The town was the boyhood home of Confederate Major General
William
MAHONE whose father, Fielding MAHONE, ran a tavern and was in
command of
malitia during the Nat TURNER rebellion. Solon's nephew whom he
helped
raise, Captain Euclid BORLAND, Jr, served under Gen Mahone,
later,
Solon's other surviving nephew, Thomas Roscius BORLAND, was
MAHONE's
most active political supporter in Virginia.
<http://www.historybuff.com/library/refslave.html>
<www.answers.com/topic/courtland-virginia>
Also at age 19/20, he's said to have married superiorly
educted Huldah G (Godwin?) WRIGHT (1809VA- 1837TN), born was
first son
Thomas (1833NC-1859AR) while studying (taking lectures) to be a
physican. Solon practicing medicine or with a newspaper at age
24 when
Harold, "Little Solon", (1835NC-1921AR) was born. Solon had
became a
newspaperman, in Virginia and North Carolina, A copy of letter
(WM), 24
January 1836 by Thomas J FINNEY, Murfreesboro to George Godwin,
at
Suffolk concerns, him as "security" on a note for Solon in
amount,
$1100, to Mr John WADDELLE of Murfreesboro who now wants
payment. Thomas
claims he had been given an extra twelve months, but not so, for
the
sheriff is involved. Ending his letter with his regards to a
Thomas(?).
(that was a lot of money for 1836), may (?) have been for
newspaper at
Portsmouth, Virginia which PARRMORE wrote Solon published.
Barely 25 and a few months following Arkansas becoming
our 25th state, late 1836 Solon and family ventured to Memphis
(incorporated 1826, population; 1830 = 663, 1840 = 1,799) with
an
advertisement found dated 3 April 1837 in Memphis Enquire for
medical
services:
"...book at [Jeptha**] Fowlkes & [Henry R] Pugh or
[Thomas D] Johnson's Hotel."
** Dr Jeptha FOWLKES, a southern entrepreneur, financier, once
editor of
the Avalanche (renamed from Enqury, which Solon sold in 1861)
till
General U S GRANT occupied Memphis in 1862, later president of
Southern
Pacific Railroad, and a ancestor of Haley BARBOUR, governor of
Mississippi during hurricane Katrina. Solon probably met Dr John
R
FRAYSER his 1840-41 medical partner after selling newspaper to
VAN PELT
through FOWLKES for he was once his book-store partner.
(WM) 30 May 1837 letter from Euclid BORLAND in Holly
Springs, Marshall county, Mississippi (county created 9 February
1836,
town 12 May 1837) to uncle George GODWIN, Suffolk, describing
his recent
800 mile overland journey to Mississippi from Murfreesboro,
Hertford
county, North Carolina, with wife, livestock and slaves, to his
father-
in-law's, Augustus MOORE (1781NC-1843MS), new plantation located
six
miles northwest of Holly Springs on the new Memphis road, must
be (?)
near:
"the famous Martin Mission of the
Presbyterian Church established on the road [old "Pidgeon Roost
Road"?]
about 1824 or 1825.; The site of the Mission is about six miles
northwest of Holly Springs. Even in those early days, travelers
sometimes detoured by the holly springs for the fine water and
excellent
camping site."
also near where for school year 1859/60, O C & Virginia GRAY,
according
to her letters, taught, boarding on plantation operated by
WILLS/WELLS/WALLS (?), with three daughters, one a red-head and
seventeen slaves, --- Euclid wrote of visit by Solon (age 25),
Huldah
(age 27), Thomas (4 y/o), who looked delicate, and "Little
Solon" (age
20 months).
When age 26, wife Huldah dies:
"Dead -- in this place on the 25th ult. in the 28th year of her
age,
Mrs. Huldah G, late consort of Dr. Solon BORLAND, after an
illness of
several months. Mrs. B. with her husband, removed from Nansemond
County,
Va., to this place early last winter. Her health had been in a
delicate
state several months previous to her death, though she was not
thought
to be in danger until a short time before that event....She had
received
an education superior to what falls to the lot of most
females..She has
left two interesting children to the care of their surviving
parent.
Memphis Enquirer, Saturday, 9/2/1837."
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnnews/shelby.htm>
(WM), 16 May 1838 letter of Euclid's from Holly
Springs to George GODWIN, says Solon [age 26] not seen since
January,
Solon's Thomas in fine health and speaks of Grany and George but
"Little
Solon" has been sickly. Heard Solon left Memphis for Vicksburg.
Euclid and wife Elizabeth Rebecca MOORE
(1818NC-1850LA) raised Solon's sons following Huldah's death.
Thomas was
soon returned east to George and Fanny GODWIN's in Suffolk where
he was
once earlier, who also raised Solon. They, in 1845, took in
Rocius
Cicero's orphaned Thomas Roscius, with sister Harriott Godwin in
school
at Washington city, then in 1851 following Solon & Mary,
Euclid's,
Phocion A and Euclid Jr. The 1860 census had ALL with Euclid and
second
wife Lucy except for Solon's kids.
The Shelby County Probate Court was served by Solon in
1838, with $150 bond posted, handling affairs of Alexander
BOOTHE,
possibly same who was born 1812 at Nansemond county, Virginia.
Solon was addicted to politics early on, enjoying the
challenge, excitement and accomplishments, so following his
reported
Portsmouth, Virginia newspaper experience, he founded what today
(168-years later), is the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, then The
Western
World and The Memphis Banner of The Constitution, in 1839 ---
his
editorials supporting Andrew Jackson's choice, James K Polk.
Sold the
newspaper after a successful James K POLK election as 11th
governor of
Tennessee, to William E WOODRUFF's Kentucky friend Colonel Henry
VAN
PELT, who in 1819 ventured with him to Arkansas Post, --- in
1840
changing name to The Appeal, first publication 21 April 1841 of
68 y/o
president William Henry HARRISON's (1773VA-1841DC) death from
pneumonia.
General Albert PIKE was editor for a couple years, ca 1867,
before
moving on to Washington city.
<http://www.wdbj.net/shelby/goodspeed/history/history9.htm>
<http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/articles/9904/appeal.cfm>
<http://www.scripps.com/newspaper/newspaper-commercial-appeal.html>
"Married - On Tuesday evening last by the Rev Philip W. ALSTON,
Dr.
Solon BORLAND, editor of the "Western World", to Miss Eliza B.
HART -
all of this place. Memphis Enquirer, Friday, 7/26/1839"
<http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnnews/shelby2.htm>
Solon age 27, married second wife Miss Eliza Buck HART
with July 23rd license and bond by J H McMAHON;
<http://www.mv.com/ipusers/harts/family/harts/book/p451.html#n1921
born
between 1815 & 1822 at Marietta, Ohio, youngest daughter of
Major
William HART (1775CT-1836TN) & 1st wife Sarah Waters WOLCOTT
(1779CT-
1824OH), who with 2nd wife, Mary CASS, moved to Memphis in 1831,
he
dying 28 January1836. No obituary or burial site found for her
nor a
child.
1840 U S census for city of Memphis lists Henry R
PUGH, fourth following name is Jeptha FOWLKES, with one name
between,
Solon "BORLON", then John R FRAYSER after seven more names. I
believe
Solon's second wife, Eliza Buck Hart, is the "20 to 30" female
listed.
Solon, upon sale of the newspaper returned to medicine,
becoming partner with Memphis' Doctor John R FRAYSER, whose son,
R
Dudley, was born in 1840.
Doctor Solon BORLAND, 29 y/o, graduated 2 March 1841, from The
Louisville Medical Institute, created 1833, opened 1837, for yet
another
(his 2nd) medical degree, thesis on "milk sickness". He operated
a
business (possibly (?) with Jeptha FOWLKES and E K DODGE,
Memphis
wholesale dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Paints, Oils, Dye Stuffs,
French,
English and German Chemicals, Window Glass, Perfumery, Etc. Etc.
Surgical Instruments, Etc. Fancy articles) from his Louisville
home
which prevented moving to Little Rock until November 23, 1843.
Because
of his high praises about that institution, some incorrectly
believed he
had taught there. Response to my April 2007 inquiry was, "NO",
additionally, to wit:
"I also checked the directories for the name d'Estimauville de
Beau
Mouchel and did not find her listed at all.[so, she may (?) have
been
from Memphis]
"I then checked the Western Journal of Medicine and Surgery,
which was
established in January 1840 by Daniel Drake and Lunsford P.
Yandell. I
found no mention of Dr. Borland as a founder or an editor [my
question
answered]. He did however contribute as you mentioned, I found
one
report re: a skeleton found by a Dr. [John R, Solon's partner]
Frayser,
(Vol. IV, no. 3, September 1841) and an article "A Case of
remarkable
and speedy recovery from severe injury of the Spinal Column,"
(Vol. IV,
no. 4, October 1841). In both the report and article he is
listed as
being in Memphis, TN.
"I hope this information is helpful [it most certaintly was].
"Katherine Burger Johnson, Associate Professor Archivist for
Manuscript
Collections, University Archives and Records Center
Archivist/Curator,
Kornhauser Health Sciences Library University of Louisville
Louisville,
KY 40292"
Ms JOHNSON, earlier the 29th of April 2004, had confirmed his
graduation
for me.
Solon lectured in Little Rock August 7, 1839, when
Memphis Female Seminary made presentation (found by
<http://www.ArkansasTies.com>)
and visited Hot Springs in 1842 wrote Fay
HEMPSTEAD.
Solon is in Common Law Book #B, 1842 to 1854,
petitioned for appointment as: "attorney & counselor at law and
solicitor in chancery 67" at Shelby County, Tennessee.
Solon age 32, became editor of "the Democrat's"
Arkansas Banner, after 1839 successful campaign electing James K
POLK
(1795SC-1849TN) 11th Tennessee governor, now helping 'dark
horse' POLK
become 11th president of United States in 1844 election. POLK's
vice-presidential candidate was Philadelphia, Pennsylvanian,
George
Miffin DALLAS (1792PA-1864PA), a1810 law graduate from
Princeton. Also
elected his friend Arkansas' second governor Archibald YELL
(1797?-1847MEX), to U S House of Representatives and Thomas
Stevenson
DREW (1805TN-1879TX), as Arkansas' third governor, under whom
Solon
served as adjutant-general.
INTERESTINGLY, -- it just MAY (?) have been "General
Solon BORLAND" orchestrating creation of Dallas county Arkansas,
January
1, 1845, with its new town of Princeton (Dallastown) as seat of
government! (History has Mr BAYLESS suggesting the name, but
---?) The
county in which his rumored (?) mistress, the french creole lady
from
(?) Louisville, went to a town named for her, county where he
and his
law partner helped create Arkansas Military Institute, where
Arkansas'
new adjutant-general's family resided varies times. WHY else,
pray tell,
would a southern Arkansas frontier county bare name of a
Philadelphia
lawyer/politican, born, raised, lived and died in Pennsylvania?
But
then, what about that town in Texas, started 1843 before state
was
created under POLK/DALLAS administration?
Solon's political opponents made much to do over he
and his rival newspaper editor's difficulties. Arkansas Gazette,
established at Arkansas Post in 1819 by William Edward WOODRUFF
owned
and edited by Benjamin J BORDEN (1812NC-1887KY) since spring
1843 as a
"Whig paper".Dr BORLAND and BORDEN, the editor/owner (1843-1848)
of
rival Whig paper, the Arkansas Gazette, exchanged personal
attacks in
editorials resulting in a fight January 1844 where BORDEN got
his face
smashed. Later, BORDEN challenged BORLAND to a pistol duel and
recieved
a carefully placed, non-fatal bullet from Doctor BORLAND's gun,
passing
through his body. The two reconciled, becoming friends for life.
Most
truthful facts are possibly by family, to wit:
<http://www.tmason1.com/pafn01.htm>
(search BORLAND)
----------
The Arkansas Gazette
January 31, 1844
No. 8 - Whole No. 1257
A CARD
The difficulty between Dr. S. Borland and B.J. Borden, Esq.,
Editors of
the Arkansas Banner and Arkansas Gazette, has been honorably and
satisfactorily adjusted, by the voluntary intermediation of
their
friends.
F.W. Trapnall
Chas. Rapley
Thos. W. Newton,
William Field
L.J. Reardon
S.H. Hempstead
Little Rock, Arkansas January 17, 1844
---------
At age 33 Solon served as a Democratic delegate in
1844.
Unfortunately for Solon, his desire for an appointment
as a U S Attorney from newly elected YELL was dashed by Senator
Chester
ASHLEY.
Solon, as an attorney currently not practicing, formed
a Law Firm with fellow masonic member Elbert Hartwell ENGLISH
(1816AL-
1884AR). Elbert later (1855) became, the fourth Chief Justice
for
Arkansas, who jointly is credited for; "The volumes of Reports
of
Decisions of the Supreme Court prepared by Judge ENGLISH
[1855-64 &
1874-84] and Mr BARBER [clerk,1841-68,(St John's College,
1867-74)
&1874-86] constitute a large and valuable part of the written
laws of
the State Constitution.",
<http://books.google.com/books?id=i3IOAAAAIAAJ>
(Chapter XIX, p 303).
Elbert and Solon were involved with creation of schools, ie:
Arkansas
College, in Fayettville, Arkansas Military Institute, in Tulip,
with
Elbert the driving force behind 1850 creation of Arkansas' first
institution of higher learning, --- St Johns' College of
Arkansas, of
which Solon too was much involved, having three young sons. St
Johns'
opened preparatory school September 1, 1857, then collegiate
door 10
October 1859 with Virginian, Colonel John Baker THOMPSON
president.
Elbert served as Solon's junior editor at Democrat's, The Banner
until
16 July 1845.
Widely accepted folklore:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following death of second wife Eliza Buck HART, both sons,
Thomas and
"Little Solon" cared for by family, Solon at Louisville
attending
medical-school, --- supposedly had an "indiscreet liaison"
(Parramore's,
written words) with a french creole lady. She supposedly (?)
followed
him to Little Rock in 1844 opening a fashionable school which
failed.
She then moved to newly created town named for her in Dallas
county and
headed another school. It was implied by Solon's political
opponents he
arranged this all for her. When it became known she was charming
but of
low moral character with child, she left and town was renamed
Tulip,
school also renamed. Solon's political opponents making this
UN-DOCUMENTED rumor a public issue for following twelve or more
years
until he moved from Little Rock to Princeton. I have never found
Solon
admitting/nor denying the rumor. Modern day story-book writers,
such as
college professors DOUGAN, PARRAMORE and WOODS exploited this
rumor
proving "SEX sells books", similarly as did Solon's political
opponents
one hundred & fifty years earlier for over twelve years. (see
also,
Journal of Ann Owens SIMS, AHQ, XXXV, pages 151/153)
As a Democratic delegate in 1844 election, Solon left Little
Rock February 8, 1845 for the March 4th presidential
inauguration of
President James K POLK in Washington city. Reportedly stopped in
Memphis
both directions, possibly picking up 9 y/o son "Little Solon" as
well as
visiting brother Euclid's growing family, who may (?) have
joined him to
Washington city where he also visited family and friends until
leaving
with 12 y/o son Thomas from Suffolk, Virginia April 20th, to
Philadelphia the 1st, Pittsburgh 5th, Louisville 10th reportedly
again
visiting Memphis, if not with him, then picking up "Little
Solon"
(Harold), bringing both sons to Little Rock for his third
marriage May
27, 1845 at age 33, to Mary Isabell Melbourne (Milbourne,
Milbourn?)
(1824LA- 1862AR).
"Married last Tuesday evening, May 27, by Rev. A. Hunter, Gen.
Solon
Borland and Miss Mary Isabel only daughter of Mr. George
Melbourne, ---
all of this city." (notice published 2 Jun 1845, Little Rock's
Arkansas
Gazette, p. 3, c. 3)
Their union brought forth three known children, George
Godwin (1846AR- 1862TX), poetess, Fanny Green (1848AR-1879TN)
and Mary
Melbourne (1850AR-1938MO) and four known grandchildren, George
Godwin
MOORES (1869TN-xxxx?), Grace Melbourne BEATTIE (1873TN-1954MS),
Mary
Borland (Beattie) Clarke-BELL (1875TN-1962MS), and George M
BEATTIE
(1877TN-xxxx?).
Mary Isabel was George and Mary D. MELBOURNE's only
child, born in Concordia Parish, Louisiana, 3 October 1824,
educated at
Mrs. Tevis School at Shelbyville, Kentucky moving to Arkansas
with
parents April 1844, very talented, becoming known to thousands
of
Arkansans with her,
"... suppressing sweetness and
thrilling modulations of her voice.",
a major asset to Solon with her magical singing voice while in
Washington City,
"... with her distinguished husband,
Senators, Statesmen, and Ministers of Kings and Emperors, have
listened
to her wonderful eloquence in song.",
during late 1840's and early 1850's, so written in one of her
obituaries.
Reportedly, on day before Solon's wedding, Arkansas
Banner's publisher, John W FARLEY, withdrew from the company,
then a
couple months later, July 16th, so did his law partner, junior
editor
Elbert H ENGLISH, thusly with a successful election behind them,
their
job finished, paper was probably backing down for BORLAND too
left
December 3rd.
Family visited Hot Springs mid-August for a month due to
illness, returning in September still ill. They moved into
Archibald
YELL's house, northeast corner 2nd (Cherry) & Louisiana. Solon
was about
to leave the Banner and reportedly prepared a forty-five page
pamphlet
"The Milk Sickness" ending1845.(may well have been his 1841
Louisville
Medical Institute's school thesis)
------------
The Arkansas Gazette
December 15, 1845
No. 2 - Whole No. 1354
Editorial Change - Dr. Borland has retired from the Banner [age,
34,
with December 3, 1845 issue], and the Democratic committee have
selected
Mr. Archibald Rutherford, as its future conductor. The address
of this
gentlemen appeared in the last number, being a sensible and
well-
written statements of his political creed. Having known him for
many
years, we cannot but wish him every success individually in the
arduous
and responsible station he has assumed
--------
"The 1840's was an important era,
---- it defined direction these United States would take as a
nation."
<http://www.nps.gov/fosc/mexican.htm>
"Texas was admitted to the Union on
December 29 [under POLK/DALLAS, 1845] as the 28th state. By this
time,
most Arkansawyers supported the acquisition of Texas as a part
of the
nation's natural expansion. Editor Solon Borland rejoiced at the
news of
annexation: 'Let the Star of Empire Westward take its way!'"
<http://www.arkansashistory.com/resources/timeline/1845.asp>
5 January 1846 newspaper printed Solon's announcement
of returning to practice of Medicine and Surgery, opening office
on
Louisiana Street.
A son was born March 11, 1846 in Little Rock to Mary
and Solon (age34), named for uncle George GODWIN who with wife
Fanny
GREEN raised and educated Solon a quarter-century earlier.
George Godwin
BORLAND attended Masonic St Johns' College's prep school, at age
15,
served when Solon raided Ft Smith, and was serving under General
Albert
PIKE's Confederate States Army till illness caused his dismissal
in
Texas, dying at Clarksville, Red River county, Texas, June
24,1862, on
way to Little Rock, interned at Mount Holly cemetery, Little
Rock
without marker.
Election of POLK brought forth one of few presidents
living up to campaign promises!
President POLK wanted United States to expand, Solon
agreeing whole-heartily and it did just that!
To reach that end was a formable task. POLK had Great
Britain and Mexico to contend with.
In 1846 POLK and Great Britain settled on the 49th
parallel as a common line instead of the 54th, but it wasn't
until 1848
that Oregon Territory became part of our country. Nicaragua's
inter-ocean canal and internal problems remained un-resolved
when
Congress, instigated by POLK, declared war on Mexico May 13,
1846 (later
agreeing to pay $15 million to purchase land in 1848). Arkansas'
Adjutant-General BORLAND resigned June 6, 1846 to be elected
captain of
a militia company Stephen S TUCKER [p 225 ROSS' book] had been
expected
to head until he was commissioned captain of Third Regiment of
United
States Dragoons. Solon organized troops for battle in Mexico.
Solon
would meet up again with Captain Steve TUCKER after escaping
during
fighting in/around Mexico city September1847.
June 12, 1846 Solon declined offer of appointment to
become professor of Materia Medica and Medical Jurisprudence at
Memphis
University (supporting rumor he may have served Louisville
Medical
Institution as a professor), because, as of June 6th, he was a
captain
committed to raising troops for the Mexican War.
Among his recruits was U S Congressman Archibald YELL
(Arkansas' second governor) returning from Washington city to
his home
where Solon and family were living, to enlist June 6th. He, in
his
Tennessee days, was friend and fellow mason with the likes of
Andrew
JACKSON, James POLK and Solon. Private YELL shared Captain
BORLAND's
tent on way to Washington, Hempstead county, where he was
elected
Colonel and Solon Major. Thomas Willoughby NEWTON was later sent
to
Washington city as YELL's congressional replacement.
-----------------
The Arkansas Gazette
June 22, 1846
No. 29 - Whole No. 1381
A PROUD DAY FOR LITTLE ROCK
It has grown almost into a custom, throughout the Union, for
American
ladies to, prepare Banners for volunteer companies of soldiery,
and to
present them through one of their number, to the Captains, with
an
appropriate address. Especially has this been the case, since
the war
with Mexico. Our exchanges are filled with accounts of these
interesting
ceremonies. Nor do they serve only to show the deep interest
taken by
our fair country women in all the concerns the glory of the
nation -
they do more, they inspire the volunteers with a military ardor,
which
no dangers can abate, no hardships dampen. It is, as it were,
the
pledging of each Company to deeds of daring - each soldier to
display of
his personal prowess. For who ever witnessed the scenes, which
attend a
presentation, and felt not that every man of the Company, thus
honored,
would protect the Flag, committed to their charge, with the same
indomitable courage with which the celebrated pass of Thermopyla
was
defended, and if overpowered by numbers, not even one bleeding
soldier
would return, to relate the story of its capture?
As "old Pulaski" had furnished two companies of volunteers for
the war,
under the late requisition upon the State, the ladies of our
City, with
commendable interest in their fate, determined to present each
with a
beautiful Flag, before their departure. Accordingly, early in
the week
their fair hands were employed in preparing them, and on Friday
morning,
at 11 o'clock, it was announced that the two Companies would
repair to
the Arsenal Ground, for the purpose of receiving them. It is
needless to
add, that about that hour crowds of citizens were seen hastening
- some
on horseback, some in carriages, and many on foot - to the
appointed
place. The interest felt for the volunteers was general, as it
was known
they were to take up their line of march in a few days. While
forming
one of the vast throng assembled, we could not but notice the
admirable
arrangements, made by Maj. Butler, commanding at the Arsenal,
for the
accommodation of the volunteers.
His disposition to make everyone happy around him never shone
more
conspicuous. Two long tables, loaded with viands of all kinds,
furnished
by our citizens, were spread on the ground floor of the Armory,
and
tastefully arranged, under his supervision. These were
substantial
comforts, to be enjoyed after
the ceremonies were over.
In front of Maj. B's residence, the presentation took place.
While
waiting for the appearance of the two companies, we examined the
Flags.
The one designed for the "Little Rock Guards," contained in the
centre
the motto, "Up Guards! And at 'em" surrounded by a wreath of
elegant
embroidery.
That for Capt. Borland's Company bore upon its folds, the words
"Extend
the area of Freedom." Each was composed besides of 28 stars and
13
stripes - the nation's emblem.
Soon the "Guards" made their appearance, all in uniform - a blue
jacket
and grey pantaloons, with red stripes at the side. They looked
finely,
and were better disciplined, owing to the fact that a portion of
them
have for some years formed a volunteer Company in this city. It
is
thought that they will be the "crack Company" from Arkansas.
Capt. Borland's men had not obtained their uniforms and
consequently,
could not make so much of a display, as the "Guards.
-----------
July 13, 1846, Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas,
Yell was elected Colonel, John Selden Roane (1817TN-1867AR)
Lieutenant
Colonel, and Solon as Major, of "Yell's Mounted Devils" much to
the
displeasure of loser, Captain Albert Pike (1809MA-1891DC), who
had
sought the top spot, thereafter seemingly made a career of
slandering
Yell, Roane, & Borland, following Yell's heroic death February
1847, --
brought forth a pistol duel with John S. Roane, neither able to
hit the
other in three attempts.
<http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Base/6595/mexico.html>,
<http://www.peace.saumag.edu/swark/articles/ahq/arkansas/general/general303.html>,
AHQ Vol. XXII, Winter 1953, p.303.
"Captain Albert Pike, commanding the
Little Rock Guards of Company E, was nominated against Yell,
only to
lose on the first ballot, but he was not too disappointed. Very
well, he
thought, let Yell be colonel. At least Yell had had a taste of
military
experience in the War of
1812. With Yell as colonel, Pike was sure that he would be
elected
lieutenant colonel. Again he was disappointed. John Selden
Roane, the
square-faced captain of the "Van Buren Avengers" and a firm
Democrat,
without a whit of military experience in his twenty-nine years,
was
elected as to the post. And when Solon Borland, another staunch
Democrat, was elected as the major, Pike turned away in disgust,
and a
bitter resentment began to rise in him that would last as long
as the
unfortunate Mexican adventure.
"ON JULY 18, 1846, THE ARKANSAS regiment marched south, flags
waving,
morale high, toward Shreveport and thence across Texas to San
Antonio.
"Josiah Gregg, an impartial observer who kept a diary of the
campaign,
noted that the Arkansans were always placed downstream of the
other
troops so they had "filthy water to drink." Finally Yell refused
to camp
where Wool ordered. Wool had him arrested. Roane was placed in
command
and he refused to camp where ordered. Wool arrested him as well
and then
Borland in turn.
"Ultimately, however, all the Arkansas
officers were released without charges."
<http://www.oldstatehouse.com/exhibits/virtual/governors/antebellum_arkansas/yell3.asp
-------------
The Arkansas Gazette
October 19, 1846
No. 46 - Whole No. 1398
As a portion of the recent tidings from the camp of Arkansas
volunteers,
is the information that Col. Yell and Major Borland have
quarreled. We
have no idea that their estrangement from each other will endure
longer
than that of two lovers, who quarrel only for the pleasure of
making up
again. We would just as soon expect an eternal separation
between Ashley
and Woodruff.
----------
Major Solon BORLAND (age35), Captain C C DANLEY and men left
camp, Monday, 18 January 1847, in search of Santa Anna camping
with
senior officer Major John Pollard GAINE, Captain Cassias M CLAY,
also
future Arkansas governor CHURCHILL, Kentuckians, now some eighty
men,
being surprised (as was Santa Anna at San Jacinto in 1836 by
failing to
post guards), -- when captured at La Encamacion, Mexico by
General MINON
reportedly with from five-hundred to three-thousand men while
asleep
early Saturday morning of 23 January1847.
Solon wrote from San Luis Potosi, Mexico 10 February
copied in 26 March Issue 45; col E, Arkansas State Democrat
about the
capture:
"At day-light, we found ourselves
completely surrounded; and being without provisions, and water,
and
having an average of about 20 rounds of ammunition only, we
surrendered..."
Solon's letter to his wife dated: "Prison of St Jago,
City of Mexico, March 7, 1847" in part, printed 11 June; Issue
4; col D,
Arkansas State Democrat, interestingly stated:
"Three days before reaching San Luis [2nd Feb'y], we met
Santa
Anna on the road. He is one of the finest looking men I have
ever seen.
He was very polite, and assured us of good treatment, etc."
The famous battle of Buena Vista ensued but a scant
three weeks later, Monday & Tuesday, 22/23 February 1847, where
Colonel
Archibald YELL was killed by an enemy lance to the face & head
(YELL's
body returned to Washington County, AR, July 1847, one story,
"in a
whiskey barrel") with 264 others dying, 450 injured and 26
missing, with
Colonel Jefferson Finis DAVIS (1808KY- 1883LA), son-in- law of
Gen
TAYLOR (married Sarah Knox TAYLOR, 17 January 1835, she died
shortly
thereafter). was severely wounded by General Santa Anna's
troops,
remaining in his saddle while American army inflicted 1,500
deaths to
Mexican troops, defeating them in spite of Mexico having a
15,000 -
20,000 to 4,600 superiority of troops. AHQ XXVI, p.373.
The war shifted south following Santa Anna's losses at
Buena Vista to around Mexico City where a Mexican revolution was
also
being conducted. Many U S troops, including those from Arkansas,
returned home in June 1847 and were released.
Five months later, August 1st, Major Solon BORLAND,
Major John Pollard GAINES (later appointed territory governor of
Oregon)
and Captain Christopher Columbus DANLEY escaped, smuggled out on
Solon's
36th birthday (August 8th), to distinguish themselves as aides
in
capture of Mexico City September 14th, thus ending the war.
"I joined the army a few minutes
after the action of Contreras, and getting a musket, fell into
the ranks
and did some little duty that day. While engaged in firing, in
the midst
of some riflemen, who should I meet but our old friend and
townsman,
[Captain] Steve TUCKER, for it was with his company among whom I
had
fallen in, without being aware of it at the time. We took one
cordial
embrace, and went to firing; Steve, himself, was handling a
rifle with
right good will."
That account by BORLAND is from either the October 22, 1847
Arkansas
Gazette, or the September 9, 1847 Times Picayune (New Orleans),
and
there is probably more to it. As an aide to Gen. WORTH, BORLAND
ran
messages throughout the remaining battles, seeing some heavy
fighting on
September 8 and 13:
"I was not wounded in either
action-though the balls flew thick and fast-three that were so
far spent
as to do no one injury, paid me the compliment of a blow-one on
the
stomach, one on the arm, and one just above the knee."
is most likely from October 22, 1847 Arkansas Democrat, above,
both
courtesy Ian BEARD, Old State House Museum, Little Rock & Bill
FRAZIER,
Commercial-Appeal, Memphis (same newspaper Solon started in
1839).
Major BORLAND entered Mexico City with General WORTH's men,
among them was a young Ulysses S. GRANT, from USMA, 1843
(21/39), as a
Second Lieut, Quartermaster, 4th Infantry, April 1, 1847, to
July 23,
1848; Bvt. First Lieut., September 8, 1847, for Gallant and
Meritorious
Conduct in the Battle of Molino del Rey, Mexico & Bvt. Capt.,
September13, 1847, for Gallant Conduct at Chapultepec, Mexico),
--- at
Contreras as volunteer aide-de-camp for Wednesday, 8 September
1847
bloody battle where reportedly another 116 American's were
killed and
877 wounded at El Molino del Rey, Monday, 13 September 1847
capture of
Chapultepec, then Tuesday, 14 September 1847 Mexico City after
130
Americans killed and 703 wounded. (see AHQ VI, page 251-253)
(WM) 2 November 1847 letter to George GODWIN, from
Euclid BORLAND, New Orleans, Louisiana saying plantation, 49
miles below
the city. [that's down near Empire, LA], ----
"I have nothing from Solon except
what you have seen in the papers that he made his escape from
prison &
was aid to Gen Worth at battle before & at the taking of the
City of
Mexico. I am pleased at his good luck in the end."
The Semi-Weekly Natchez Courier of 30 November 1847
(issue 96, col.D) announced the arrival of BORLAND but doesn't
name the
city. I'm pretty sure they arrived in New Orleans. The article
states:
"The steamship Alabama, Capt.
WINDLE, arrived on Wednesday [24th], direct from Vera Cruz,
having left
that place on the evening of the 18th inst. Among the passengers
by the
Alabama we notice the names of Maj. Gen. QUITMAN, Brig. Gen.
SHIELDS;
Maj. BORLAND and Capt. Cassius M CLAY [strongly opposed Solon's
beliefs,
<http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/inside.asp?ID=665&subjectID=2>],
of
the Encarnacion prisoners; and George Wilkins KENDALL ["arguably
the
first newspaper war correspondent",
<http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/KK/fke19.html>]
of
the Picayune."
BORLAND, after being critical about the treatment of
the returnees by the US Government, especially the refusal of
the New
Orleans paymaster to pay them subsistence allowances since they
were
provided for by the Mexican Government while prisoners. There
was also
mention of charging the soldiers for lost horses, ---- then
returned to
Little Rock and on to Hot Springs where family was staying with
her
parents, arriving December 2,1847. While a U S Senator
introduced
leglislation compensating Mexican War prisoner of war veterans.
March 29th BORLAND received a letter offering him the
position on legation court of Spain, which he immediately turned
down.
Governor DREW then appointed Solon, age 36, to fill vacancy of U
S
Senator Ambrose Hundley SEVIER's seat. Solon left for Washington
city
April 6,1848 arriving the 23rd to fill that seat the next day,
assisted
by Senator ASHLEY, who took ill, then died the 29th. BORLAND
then became
Arkansas' senior senator and was so elected on last ballot, 74
to 19,
for remaining term, also, 71 to 24 for a full term, defeating
long
ruling political family of JOHNSONs. He then served with
contemporaries
such as; Thomas Hart BENTON, Judah P BENJAMIN, JohnC CALHOUN,
Sam
HOUSTON, Henry CLAY, James MASON, Jefferson DAVIS, Daniel
WEBSTER,
Stephen DOUGLAS, to name but a few of the more notable ones.
WEBSTER, CALHOUN & CLAY, were the "Great Trimvirate" dominating
American
politics in its second generation, the three dying in 1850-1852.
(WM) March 30, 1848, letter to their uncle George
GODWIN, Suffolk, from brother Euclid BORLAND of 'Pointe a la
Hache
Plantation', Parish of Plaquemines, Louisiana, mentions Solon's
appointment to United States Senate, with some personal remarks.
Senator BORLAND served our country with an honorable
record and distiction from 2 April 1848 until 3 March 1853, in,
30th,
31st, 32nd, & 33rd Congress, as a United States Senator under
four
presidents, POLK, TAYLOR, FILLMORE and PIERCE. He served as
Chairman of
Committee on Printing, 31st & 32nd Congress, and Chairman of
Committee
of Public Lands, 33rd Congress, among other committees,
supporting
cross-country railroads, southern rights, expansion of country
and
trade, enlargement of facilities in Wahington city, justice
system,
education and much more.
Christopher Columbus DANLEY (1818-1865), aid-de-camp
to Major- General QUITMAN at Battle of Chapultepac September
13th was
wounded, resulting in being crippled the rest of his life. His
letter to
brother J M DANLEY dated: "Mexico, April 6, 1848", published May
12,
1848; Issue 52; col B, Arkansas State Democrat touches on many
things,
two subjects were:
"I was once very nearly well while
Maj Borland was attending to me, but suffered a relapse, which
was near
killing me, from which I have not yet recovered."
News stories were apparently printed that General Scott caused
the
liberation of BORLAND, GAINES and DANLEY, to which he states:
"That is a mistake, for Majors
Borland, Gaines and myself, liberated ourselves by withdrawing
our
parole and making our escape."
C C DANLEY returned to Little Rock a war hero, later
elected state auditor, upsetting the long reigning JOHNSON
family of
Arkansas, and once was a state senator, but in 1853 purchased
the
Arkansas Gazette from WOODRUFF running it as Gazette and
Democrat until
The JOHNSON's renamed the Arkansas Banner, The True Democrat,
them drop
Democrat from name. BORLAND couldn't stay away from politics so
was
working for him awhile until 1856. Danley died in his office in
1865,
then William F HOLTZMAN took the reins, selling it back to
WOODRUFF.
Solon and Mary, most likely (?), attended Tuesday, 4
July 1848, Masonic ceremonies, for laying the corner stone of
our
Washington Monument with President James K. POLK.
Solon served in the senate providing for the second
expansion of our Capitol Building, dwarfing original structure,
dramatically changing its physical appearance, as Victorian,
replaced
Neoclassical sedateness following its just recent, first
expansion,
accommodating our growing nation, in Washington city.
September 1848, a daughter was born to Mary and Solon (age
37) in Little Rock, she being named for Solon's aunt, Fanny
GREEN who
raised him, and early in life became a talented poetess,
published at
barely twelve y/o in Arkansas newspapers and in London's
Cosmopolitan 21
December 1871, married 1869, had one son, Fanny dying a tragic
yellow
fever death morning of 23 August 1879 at Memphis in her sister
Mollie's
home, both having lost husbands the year before to "Yellow
Jack", burial
site unknown.
"Fort Smith Gateway to California Gold Field"; Solon supported
the 15
February 1849 act for federal government furnishing military
escort to
California from Ft Smith in competition with Independence,
Missouri(ah).
(WM) 26 May 1849 letter which The College of William &
Mary archivists say is by Solon's son Thomas (age 16) from
Alexandria
Boarding School, written to uncle George GODWIN in Suffolk,
Virginia
(Handwriting comparison of the two young Thomas' letters shows a
marked
difference)
Solon BORLAND (age 38) introduced
a common schooling bill in Congress on December 31, 1849,
"...which had already passed the
Senate, and which, if it were enacted into law, would yield as
he
surmised, ample funds with which to carry out the most admirable
system
of common school education that can be devised.",
his action was followed by the State of Arkansas (no doubt other
states
as well) passing its first serious attempt to establish a system
of
common schools, signed by Governor Roane so reported January 11,
1851 in
Arkansas Gazette. However, it wasn't until 1868 that Arkansas
had common
public schools. Reportedly, the JOHNSON family, while
controlling the
state spent intended school funds so no common public schools
exisited
until seventeen years later when Arkansas committed to schools.
The senator battled strong and stubbornly for states
rights, during Henry CLAY's floor battle (see image) in the
1850's, had
fisticuffs with Senator Henry FOOTE of Mississippi, who had once
tried
to kill fellow senator Thomas Hart BENTON of Missouri(ah) while
on the
floor.
<http://www.pccua.edu/keough/making_of_a_southern_state.htm>
(searchBORLAND)
1850 Census, U S SENATE ARGUMENT:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senator Solon Borland of Arkansas:
"I think that all the remarks of the Senator from Kentucky go to
show
the propriety of the proposition . . . to strike out everything
but the
enumeration of the inhabitants. . . . Are we to erect ourselves
into a
great college of natural science? Are the funds of this
Government to be
appropriated to the investigation of great natural truths? I
think we
have gone far enough . . .'
"UNDERWOOD continued to argue unconvincingly for the value of
exploring
whether an individual is a quadroon, a mulatto, or any other
proportion
of blood" (Page 675)."
<http://www.afrigeneas.com/forumd/index.cgi?noframes;read=5461>
"Newspaper readers accustomed to
considering politics as personality were confused. Democrat
owner
William E. WOODRUFF hired two successive editors, only to find
that
their views were substantially different from his own. Those who
looked
to WOODRUFF's paper to see where dissident Democrats stood got
little
enlightenment."
1850 census found Senator BORLAND, age 39, in Hot
Springs, Garland county, Arkansas with 26 y/o wife Mary and
children 14
y/o Solon, (Harold) , 4 y/o George, 2 y/o Fannie and a 24 y/o
Missouri
born physcian, William Hammond and wife Elizabeth, listing
follows his
in-laws. 17 y/o 1st born son Thomas found at Western Military
Institute
in 1850 census of Blue Lick Springs, Nicholas county, Kentucky,
under
Yankee, Colonel Edwin Wright MORGAN (1814PA-1869PA).
Solon and Mary cared for brother Euclid's two
sons, Phocion Augustus (1839MS-1863VA) and Euclid, Jr
(1844MS-1896VA)
after January 1850 death of their mother Elizabeth, then Friday,
28 June
1850, Mary (Mollie) Melbourne BORLAND was born. Named for her
musically
talented mother, became married twice, three children, no known
grandchildren, died 33rd year following second husband's,
Colonel Oliver
Crosby GRAY, death, following a lengthily illness in Kansas City
17
February1938. Her a ashes buried, unmarked, along side of 2nd
husband,
Colonel Oliver Crosby GRAY, in Fayetteville's Evergreen
cemetery.
A family emergency brought Solon rushing home to Hot
Springs from Washington city, then dangerous illness of wife in
September and baby Mollie in October caused him to miss the roll
call on
the 1850 Compromise bill for which his political opponents had a
'field
day'. He returned to Washington city November 9, 1850 arriving
in time
for session starting December 2nd.
"[ca 1850's, Democratic Congressman Robert Ward] JOHNSON's
extremism caught people by surprise in Arkansas. Democratic
Senator
Solon BORLAND, who initially had been sympathetic to Calhoun's
position,
even to exchanging blows with compromiser Henry S. FOOTE of
Mississippi
[who with a pistol, tried to murder Senator BENTON while on the
senate
floor] Solon returned to Arkansas because of family sickness
even as the
crucial votes were being tailed. This did not keep him from
giving
several speeches around the state in which he affirmed a strong
devotion
to the Union but urged delay so that the South could get better
terms.
BORLAND's views got vaguer and vaguer in each succeeding speech,
and his
critics cogently suggested that he ought to be in Washington at
this
crucial juncture."
<http://www.pccua.edu/keough/making_of_a_southern_state.htm>
These were not simple, quiet, days while our lively
young nation's western frontier was being expanded and
developed. They
were somewhat lawless, even in Washington city among the law
makers,
requiring justice to handle affairs of these pioneering people,
so
Monday, 3 March 1851, Senator BORLAND (age 39) supported:
"An Act to Divide the District of
Arkansas into two Judicial Districts",
which in 1875 to 1895, brought about "Hanging" Judge IsaacC
PARKER to
Ft. Smith, Crawford county ["Judge Isaac C Parker - A veteran of
the
civil war and two-time congressman, was appointed by President
Grant as
United States District Judge of the western district of
Arkansas.] At
the relatively young age of 37, Parker found himself responsible
for a
74,000 square mile area. In his 21 years at his position, Parker
sentenced 151 men to death by hanging [of these 83 were actually
executed]. In a territory noted for its lawlessness, his harsh
but
effective administration helped make the settlement of the West
possible." <http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/ftsmith.htm
(Parker)>)! (for
other see; <http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/hlaw:@field
>
("Borland")
(WM) Sunday, 12 October 1851, a letter to uncle George
GODWIN by Euclid BORLAND (wife died January 1850, reportedly
remarried
in 1852), from Solon's, Hot Springs home, spoke of baby Mary
talking &
walking and is where his sons, Phocion & Euclid plus niece,
brother
Roscius' Harriott Godwin (1838NC-1890VA), had come home with
Solon from
Washington Female Seminary in Washington city where she was for
1850
census. Solon's Thomas was working on a new road (railroad?) in
Kentucky
with "Colonel MORGAN" (both found in 1850 Nicholas county,
Kentucky
census, at Western Military Institute, where Thomas is recorded
January
1850). Euclid, was preparing to take youngsters to his Louisiana
plantation where in 1860 census listed them along with Thomas
Roscius as
"Solon", where he had 101 slaves, including Rose age107.
An altercation occurred "...at the corner of the
Anthony House...", so reported the New York Times, 15 Oct 1851.
Its informationial source being The Little Rock Banner. The
Banner was
under control of Lambert J REARDON, former Mayor of Little Rock
(1845-1846) and Lambert A WHITELY, the two parties reportedly
attack,
with intent to assassinate WHITELY.
This Democratic newspaper, The Banner, was, as afore
memtioned, first edited by Solon BORLAND from Sept 1843 to
mid-Dec 1845,
then by Archibald RUTHERFORD according to 15 Dec 1845 newspaper
article.
Whitely, maybe (?) appeared in 1848 for four years, moving to
Louisville
Journal, possibly as the editor used by political enemy Cassias
M Clay
attempting to defame Solon.
According to this article, Senator Solon Borland,
senior senator from Arkansas, is accused by The Banner of being
the
instigator of an attempted "assassination" of WHITELY by Mexican
War
crippled Captain Christopher Columbus, state auditor with
brothers,
Pulaski county sheriff Ben F and William DANLEY, a steam boat
engineer.
The truth for reasons of this altercation are locked away in
history,
and were most likely politically motivated against BORLAND in
that
REARDON and WHITLEY supported Arkansas' long controlling,
JOHNSON
"Family" which BORLAND defeated in becoming United States
senator and
DANLEY defeated becoming Arkansas' State Auditor, both being
Mexican War
heros. Solon was in Little Rock getting ready to return to
Washington
city, so wrote his brother Euclid who then was at Solon's home
in Hot
Springs, picking up his children to return them to his sugar
plantation
south of New Orleans, see (WM) letter 12 Oct 1851.
<http://www.books.google.com/books?id=i3IOAAAAIAAJ>(chapter
VIII, p.129)
Solon (age 40), a distinguished southern gentlemen by
character, returned to Washington city November 7, 1851, and on
February
5, 1852 punched Joseph Camp Griffith KENNEDY, superintendent of
the
census, after having asked him TWICE to stop butting in during a
conversation with Senator James A PEARCE of Maryland, and
following
KENNEDY's caustic remark's. This action resulted in BORLAND's
removal
from committee on printing.
Week-end of June 1 - 5, 1852, at Baltimore for The Democratic
National Convention were delegates; Senator Solon BORLAND, M D
(age 40)
of Hot Springs, Arkansas and his brother Euclid BORLAND, M D
(age 42) of
Pointe a la Hache, Louisiana. New Hampshire's Franklin PIERCE
(1804NH-1869NH) was nominated on the 49th ballot as the
presidential
canidate.
<http://delta.ulib.org/cgi-in/display?call=2845.16596&format=3&search=>
(WM) Monday, 27 September 1852, letter to George GODWIN, by
Euclid
BORLAND, from White Sulphur Springs, VA, speaks of several
friends, ie:
Dr WEBB, Col WHITEHEAD, --- and that Solon left for Cleveland
because
river was to low from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati.
Solon returned to Washington city November 1852 becoming ill
with a
severe cold which lingered on several months. He gave up
sleeping only
five hours a night, and his vision was impaired from long nights
writing
by candle light, but improved with rest and colored glasses.
President Franklin PIERCE offered Solon governorship of New
Mexico
Territory which he refused. (John P GAINES accepted governorship
of
Oregon territory)
President Franklin PIERCE, our fourteenth president, aroused
apprehension in Great Britain with his minister, James BUCHANAN
(1791PA-1868PA), when he pressured Great Britain to relinquish
its
special interests south of Balize/Belize along part of the
Central
American coast of Honduras, the Bay Islands, Nicaragua, and
Costa Rica,
also when in 1853 he appointed forty-two year old Senator Solon
BORLAND
of Hot Springs, Arkansas as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary --- as the second Minister, following John B
KERR, to
Nicaragua, an international "hot-bed". (Private and
Confidential:
Letters from British Ministers in Washinton to the Foreign...By
James
John Barnes, Patience Barnes, Borland page 73, etc)
Some modern day books/publications seem in my mind and from my
research, to twist and use half-thruthful facts, as did
political
oppents of past, or as if the author(s) failed to fully research
what
had and was then occurring in Nicaragua, --- unecessarily
critical of
BORLAND and United States actions taken by the PIERCE
administration
during July 1854.
Senator BORLAND was likely chosen because of his strong
outward
support of the president's administrative policies. He was also
accredited to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador on
3 March1853, --- officially 18 April 1853, passport obtained 27
April1853.
Solon's appointment to Nicaragua fit well into President
PIERCE's
expansion program, --- which included; Gadsden Purchase from
Mexico,
survey for canal in Central America and three railroad routes
from
Mississippi river to Pacific ocean, attempt to acquire Cuba (by
purchase
or war), Hawaii and Alaska, plus opening trade in 1854 with The
Treaty
of Kanagawa, thus allowing trade with Japan and other Western
nations.
Solon arrived 15 May 1853 at Little Rock, Arkansas spending a
few
weeks with family in Hot Springs leaving for New Orleans 4th of
July, no
doubt spending time with brother Euclid, visiting 100-y/o slave
Rose, on
brother's sugar plantation forty-nine miles south of the city,
arriving
in Managua 16 September1853, serving until 17 April 1854, with
bloody
battling occurring after May 5th for an extended period. John H
WHEELER
was appointed as his replacement 2 August 1854, arrived 7 April
1855,
left 23 October1856.
Nicaragua had become an important Central American nation as
early as
1823, with interest from Great Britain and United States when
Spanish
ended their authority 1 July1821.
<http://www.scuttlebuttsmallchow.com/usmcnic1.html>
Considered a likely route for a canal linking the two oceans
(and may
still so be considered). Even more so with California and Oregon
Territories now a part of United States with California's 1849
gold rush
and trade with Japan.
The British outright SEIZED the port of San Juan del Norte
(renamed
Greytown) at the mouth of the Río San Juan on the southern
Caribbean
coast ----- EXPELLING all Nicaraguan officials January 1,1848---
this
while we were settling affairs after Mexican war.
The following year, 1849, Britain FORCED Nicaragua into
signing a
treaty recognizing British rights over the Miskito on the
Caribbean
coast. Britain's control over much of the Caribbean lowlands,
which the
British called the Mosquito Coast (present-day Costa de
Mosquitos).
A contract between "Commodore" Cornelius VANDERBILT
(1794NY-1877NY)
<http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/register/Mar11_02/story8.html>,
a United
States businessman, and the Nicaraguan government was signed on
August
26, 1849, granting VANDERBILT's company--the Accessory Transit
Company--
exclusive rights to build a transisthmian canal within twelve
years.
This contract provided VANDERBILT exclusive rights, while the
canal
was being completed, to use a land-and-water transit route
across
Nicaragua, which was miles shorter than one in what now is
Panama. In
September 1849, the United States-Nicaragua treaty, along with
Vanderbilt's contract, was approved by the Nicaraguan Congress.
"The first true proposal of a Railroad spanning the isthmus
came
in 1849 by Col. George W. Hughes of the U.S. Topographical
Engineers.(*1) In 1852 the proposal for a rail line was followed
up by
the Scientific Commission of the Army Corps of Engineers, with a
survey
of land across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.(*1)
"Although a Railroad was a far cry from the dreams and desires
of the
grandest of engineers to one day sail ships across the isthmus,
the
initial steps began to explore the idea of reliable large-scale
travel
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Between 1850 and 1852
the
American and Pacific Ship Canal Company began to survey a canal
route
across Nicaragua. This, along with most other ventures was
reviewed by
the Army Corps of Engineers and at the time found practicable,
with some
minor changes to the initial plans.(*1) However, it would not be
until
after the American Civil War that any further in-depth thought
would be
given to a canal."
*1. Steese, James Gordon. "The Corps of Engineers & the Isthmian
Canal."
Professional Memoirs. July-Aug. 1912. p. 523 & 524. SOURCE:
<http://chronicles.dickinson.edu/studentwork/sheridan/steese/PanamEssay.html>
British economic interests felt threatened by the United
States'
VANDERBILT enterprise, thusly violence erupted in 1850 with the
British
trying to obstruct the operations of the Accessory Transit
Company in
different ways. As a result, United States and British
government
officials held diplomatic talks and on April 19, 1850, without
consulting the Nicaraguan government, signed the Clayton-Bulwer
Treaty,
in which both countries agreed that neither would claim
exclusive power
over a future canal in Central America nor gain exclusive
control over
any part of the region. Britain retained control of the
Caribbean port
Greytown (formerly, San Juan del Norte), and the United States
owned the
vessels, hotels, restaurants, and land transportation along the
entire
transit route.
Nicaragua was struggling with two conflicts in 1850, a bloody
shooting war between its liberal and conservative groups and
differences
between the British and United States.
While a United States Senator from Arkansas,--- BORLAND
claimed May
1850 this treaty violated the Monroe Doctrine and stymied
American
growth! The ex-Arkansas senator again, in 1853, revealed this
sound
reasoning for voting against the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty of 1850.
The
opposition of the United States was due, very largely, to the
fear that
Britain would acquire a privileged position in regard to the
proposed
interoceanic canal. In 1853 conservative General Fruto CHAMORRO
had
taken over the government and exiled his leading liberal
opponents.
Aided by the liberal government in neighboring Honduras, an
exile army
entered Nicaragua on May 5, 1854, following Solon's late April
exit. The
subsequent conflict proved prolonged and bloody; CHAMORRO
declared that
his forces would execute all armed rebels who fell into their
hands, and
the liberal leader, General Máximo JEREZ, proclaimed that all
government supporters were traitors to the nation.
The British continued their harassment and hampering
VANDERBILT's
ability to operate freely. As minister, Solon called for the
U.S. to
repudiate the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (of which President Teddy
ROOSEVELT
did achieve ca 1901, nearly a half-century after BORLAND's
failed
efforts) and for the American military to support Honduras in
its
confrontation with Britain. In mid-October, in a public address
in
Nicaragua, he announced that it was his greatest ambition to see
Nicaragua, "forming a bright star in the flag of the United
States".
(??strangely, we now have Alaska & Hawaii both un-attached to
the
contiguous forty-eight). Resulting in Secretary of State Wiliam
L MARCY
writting a letter to BORLAND setting forth
the official United States stance.
As BORLAND was leaving late April 1854, he interfered with the
arrest
of an American citizen who when harassed with a boat impeding
ships
progress within the BRITISH controlled (NOT NICARAGUA
controlled)
coastal town of San Juan del Norte (Greytown), killed his
assailant.
BORLAND was threatened with arrest but after 48 hours was not,
due to
his diplomatic immunity. While arguing with local officials,
someone
threw a bottle in his face leaving a scare.
This incident, with other illegal activities against the
VANDERBILT
operation were reported to the PIERCE administration by BORLAND
on
return to Washington city, who then dispatched an American naval
ship to
the area demanding an apology to BORLAND and to stop illegal
harassment
of and to correct illegal activities against the VANDERBILT
interests
and to make reparation or restitution for property stolen from
American
citizens. ---- AFTER a couple warnings, with nothing
forthcoming, the
American ship and marines bombarded and burned the British
controlled
Nicaraguan city Greytown (formerly, San Juan del Norte).
In answer to President Franklin PIERCE, it also was Secretary
of
Navy, James Cochrane DOBBIN (1814NC-1857NC), who in 1853 ordered
U.S.
Navy Lieutenant Isaac STRAIN to command an U.S. Darién Exploring
Expedition to map and survey the Darién Gap for a Panama Canal
to link
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
<http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBCUTTERS/Dobbin_1853.html>
BORLAND's wisdom (history has proven him right) saw only
hopelessness
in Nicaragua with its internal blood-shed, turmoil and appreance
of
William WALKER (1824TN-1860HON) (of Nashville Tennessee, where
Vanderbilt University now stands), so resigned June 1854,
returning to a
private life with his family in Arkansas. Solon's former
neighbor and
acquaintance, John Hill WHEELER (1806NC-1882NC) of Murfreesboro,
Hertford county, North Carolina (whose younger brother Samuel
Jordan
WHEELER served with Solon August 1831, during Nat TURNER
rebellion), was
then appointed minister, to wit:
"James C. Dobbin of Fayetteville, secretary of the navy in
President
Franklin Pierce's cabinet, aided Wheeler in obtaining an
appointment as
assistant secretary to the president in 1854, and a few months
later the
historian was appointed U.S. minister to Nicaragua. Arriving
there late
in 1854, the inexperienced diplomat found himself caught between
shifting factions in a civil war complicated by the involvement
of
American filibusters. Wheeler wrote that
"the race of Central Americans have conclusively proved to all
observant
minds that they are incapable of self-government"
and that Nicaragua was surely destined to
"become part and parcel of the U.S."
With that bias he allowed himself to be influenced by William
Walker, a
young Tennessean who, with a group of American mercenaries,
sought to
gain control over the country. Eventually Walker manipulated
himself
into the presidency of the republic, and Wheeler quickly
recognized the
new regime. Whether or not this action represented intentional
disobedience to his instructions from Washington, Wheeler was
recalled
by Secretary of State William L. Marcy in 1856, and he resigned
in March
1857. Strangely, the "List of U.S. Diplomatic Officers, 1789-
1939" in
the Federal Records Center, East Point, Ga., indicates that
Wheeler was
reappointed on 23 Dec. 1857, but, if so, he apparently declined
to
serve." SOURCE:
<http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/wheeler/bio.html>
Solon's argument was proven valid a quarter-century after
having
uttered it in 1850 and 1853, ---- a treaty signed in 1878 with
Columbia
for 553 square miles of land later known as Panama Canal Zone,
where the
French started the task in 1882, In 1903, Columbia refused to
sign a
treaty, thus Panama declared its independence and with Teddy
ROOSEVELT's
actions, United States finished & opened the canal 15 August
1914,
following loss of 20,000 lives before 1889, 10,000 after. Canal
supplanted the railroad built in1855. The increased lock width
to 110
foot seemed advisable, considering Suez Canal at 197 feet,
(today, its
limiting mega-vessels from passage, with a new canal discussed
from time
to time).
Review: The State of the Union: Being a Complete Documentary
History of
the Public and Domestic Affairs, Foreign and Domestic, for the
year
1854. --Washington, Published by Taylor & Maury, 1855.
<http://www.books.google.com/books?id=57nyOyJtgakC>,
search "Borland",
(18-pages)
BORLAND, the ex-minister, the ex-senator (himself an old
newspaper
man) had never bothered to endear himself to the Washington
press
corps, --- consequently on one attempt it's said they in turn
tried to
burn him in effigy in the streets of Washington.
When Solon returned to Arkansas as a private citizen,
Maragaret ROSS
writes, he moved family from Hot Springs to his large frame farm
house
about one mile south of town acquired before leaving for Central
America, sold after 1858 move to Princeton, Dallas county to
Doctor
Weldon Edwards WRIGHT (likely young brother of Solon's 1st wife
Huldah
WRIGHT) of Dallas county. This tract, adjoining on west to
former
Senator William Savin FULTON's land which in 1869 became
Arkansas School
for the Blind, and in 1949 the then new Governors Mansion at
18th and
Center street. Solon actively joined in partnership (withdrawing
June
21, 1856) with fellow mason Dr John J McALMONT in a drug store
purchased
from Dr W W ADAMS' at corner of Main and Cherry (2nd) streets,
then
opened a medical office a block away and in November with Dr
Craven
PEYTON issued a prospectus for a monthly journal, Medical
Reporter.
Congressman Robert Ward JOHNSON (1814KY-1879AR), nephew of
Vice
President of United States, Richard M. JOHNSON, brother-in-law
to
Ambrose H. SEVIER, with brother Richard (Dick) H. JOHNSON at The
True
Democrat newspaper (formerly The Banner), all traditionally of
"the
family", was appointed to fill Solon's unexpired senate seat by
governor
CONWAY, to insure he was able to serve, prevented legislatures
from NOT
voting him in. Robert's daughter, Sallie, later Mrs. Cabell
BRECKINRIDGE, along with General PIKE's two daughters Lillian
and sister
plus Solon's Fanny G BORLAND were considered the 'belles-of-
the-ball'
in Little Rock & Memphis, during reconstruction years, following
our
civil war, so say General John M. HARRELL, in Confederate
Veterans
publication, in 1894,
<http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ga/topic/news/CV/cv1894pg2.htm>,
also cited
in Fannie's 24 August 1879 front page obituary of The Memphis
Daily
Avalanche:
"...daughter of the late Senator Solon BORLAND, of Arkansas,
.... . Ten
years ago she was a reigning belle of Little Rock, and enjoyed,
as many
will remember, considerable celebrity as a poet. General Albert
PIKE had
a high opinion of her talents in that line, The "Dead
Confederacy,"
republished in the London Cosmopolitan, and highly complimented
by that
journal was one of the best of her productions."
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/obits/m/mooresbo2ob.txt>
Russell P. BAKER's Fall 1981 article about "Fannie Green
Borland
Moores", (formerly Arkansas History Commission's Research
Project
#76.003), in The Pulaski County Historical Review, Volume XXIX,
Number
3, says:
"The [BORLAND] family returned to Little Rock in 1854 [from
Hot
Springs], where BORLAND became a business partner with Dr. John
J.
McALMONT. In 1858 they moved to Princeton in Dallas County,
where they
remained until late 1860 [he to Memphis June 1859], when they
returned
to Little Rock."
Another source said Solon returned to Little Rock to edit the
"Gazette and Democrat" wih C C DANLEY, but while in Washington
city he
had, with many others, become disenchanted with the Democratic
party for
they thought it became "abolitionist". They believed in the new
Know-Nothing party, which he followed. Dick (Richard H) JOHNSON,
had The
Banner newspaper now "the Family's", renamed The True Democrat
(causing
DANLEY to drop word Democrat from his paper), campaigned a
skillful and
successful "printer's ink" battle against Solon, true, down and
dirty,
down under politics, which Dick claimed Solon used to defeat
Ambrose H
SIEVER (Dick's brother Robert Ward JOHNSON's brother- in-law),
in 1848
election for United States Senate seat.
At one point in 1855, the Grand Lodge of Arkansas had Solon
BORLAND,
Robert W JOHNSON and E A WARREN trying (unsuccessfully) to
obtain the
Little Rock Arsenal grounds as their school site for Arkansas'
first
created institution of higher learning, their St Johns' College
of
Arkansas.
A review of editorials written by Dick JOHNSON in "family's",
The
True Democrat, of 5 October, 2 November, 11 & 18 December, 1855
and 1
January 1856, including the 12 year old french creole
girl-friend story,
revealed they were successful in defeating Solon. Dick, by
skillfully
painting the worst case scenario, using only partially true,
publicly
known, allegations of which Solon refused to answer, skillfully
causing
Solon's political down-fall in Arkansas, however Dick later
served as a
private under Solon in April 1861 raid on Ft Smith.
Solon (age 44), after his
"No-Nothng-Party" political defeat, packed his family aboard
steamboat
"Fox" January 5, 1856 and "steamed" off down river for an
extended visit
with his brother Euclid and family at his sugar plantation 49
miles
below New Orleans.
"At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge, in 1856,
Hon
Solon BORLAND, in behalf of the Board of Trustees of the [St
Johns']
College, submitted a very able report, reviewing the subject of
the
College in detail, referring to the circumstances under which it
was
undertaken, the embarrassments which interfered with its
progress, its
condition at that time, the benefits it was designed to secure
to the
order and prosperity, as well as to the State and country at
large, and
proposing some measures looking to its advancement and early
completion." (Source: MASONARY IN ARKANSAS: by M. Shelby
Kennard, 1860.
Copy from Special Collections, University of Arkansas)
The record reveals Solon moved family
to Princeton, Dallas county in 1858, selling his farm-home
located west
of Wm Savin FULTON's estate in Little Rock to brother-in-law Dr
Weldon
Edwads WRIGHT who subdivided it in 1870, into "Wright's Additon"
living
there over fifty years. (Dr WRIGHT donating $30,000 towards
Baxter
during The Brooks- Baxter War of1874.)
Solon went to Memphis June 1859 buying into the Enquire
newspaper
with ex-senator Jere CLEMENTS, following January 189 death of
first born
son Thomas at Anthony House, buried Mount Holly without marker.
Solon's
said to have returned to his Princeton home for a month, but due
to
illness remained a half year.
1860 census found Solon, age 48, editor of "Memphis Enquire",
in
Shelby County, Tennessee, --- wife Mary and their children
George,
Fannie G and Mary M, found in Princeton, Dallas County,
Arkansas, girls
likely attending Princeton Female Academy first under tutelage
of James
L BARRY then under Oliver and Virginia Davis GRAY, Harold is
found at
West Point, Class of 1860, graduate #1887, Orange County, New
York year
after General WHEELER and year before General CUSTER. Thomas
dead,
buried without marker at Mount Holly cemetery in Little Rock.
The Williams' Memphis Directory for 1860, page 85, lists
BORLAND,
Solon of the L.D. Stickney & Co.. Lyman Dodge STICKNEY, born
1815 in
Germany, coming from Boston ca 1844 (moving on to Jacksonville,
Florida
as a political force), as president in 1859 with J.J.PARHAM,
secretary,
Solon BORLAND and Jere CLEMENTS as editors of The Eagle and
Enquire.
Solon bought it in 1860, and sold in 1861 to M C GALLAWAY who
merged it
with The Avalanche which he established in 1858, all according
to
"Literary Memphis A Survey of its Writers and Writings", by
Marshall
WINGFIELD, copyright 1942 for The West Tennessee Historical
Society,
discovered by Memphis cohort.
History records on February 9, 1861, Solon lost an election
for state
representative from Shelby County in Tennessee, ---- within two
months,--- April 1861 was found as, Colonel BORLAND (age 49),
aide-de-
camp for his second at duel with BORDEN, now Arkansas' Governor
Henry M
RECTOR (1816KY-1899AR), raiding Ft. Smith, Arkansas (see photo),
with
later notables as privates, William R. MILLER, state auditor,
(Governor
in 1877 when Virginia Davis GRAY (Mrs V L GRAY) donated her
painting
(now missing) of new (1875) Arkansas Industrial University's
building,
now known as 'Old Main'), R (Dick) H JOHNSON Esquire, an earlier
newspaper opponent and Arkansas Solicitor General John Mortimer
HARRELL
(born Gates County, NC, later a general) as privates and 15 y/o
son
George Godwin BORLAND serving under Capt. Wm. E WOODRUFF, Jr's
Artillery
group. <http://stellar-one.com/civil_war/0003.htm>,
<http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/borlands.html>.
Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves the site of two
military
posts and the historic Federal Court. In 1861, Fort Smith was an
outpost
on the western frontier adjacent to the Indian Territory (now
Oklahoma).
Fort Smith Times and Herald gave this accounting, to wit:
"Last night, about 12 o'clock, the steamers "Tahlequah" and
"Frederick Notrebe" arrived almost simultaneously at our wharf,
having
on board, as we subsequently learned, 235 men, composed of
volunteer
companies of Little Rock and Pulaski county, in this State;
having come
for the purpose of reducing, under State authority, the federal
post at
this place. The expedition ordered by Governor Rector, who was
represented in it by his Adjutant General, Edmund Burgevin, was
under
the immediate command of Col. Solon Borland, Aid-de-Camp to the
Governor, and consisted of five companies, three from the City
of Little
Rock, and two from vicinity."
Federal forces had left for Fort Washita (another book says
(?) to
Kansas) in Cherokee Nation, when learning of Solon's forthcoming
attack,
thus only a couple persons remained in the fort, one, a Major
Richard
Caswell GATLIN (1809NC-1896AR) of North Carolina (later resigned
the
Army same day his home state seceded from the Union, once
Confederate General,but due to poor abilities, released to desk
--- NOT
Richard Jordon GATLING (1832NC-1903NY), (as implied by Major
COLLIER in
a book), of Solon's home town, Murfreesboro, North Carolina,
inventor of
the Gatling Gun, who never served in either Army! "Old Rough and
Ready"
TAYLOR selected a site eighteen miles north of the Red River on
the
Washita River, a mile and a half east of the stream. The new
fort,
occupied in April of 1842, was named Fort Washita, and was
abandoned by
federal forces in 1861, soon after the capture of Fort Sumter in
Charleston, South Carolina. Confederate forces from Texas
occupied the
fort, and it became a major supply depot for Confederate troops
in
Indian Territory.
Sacramento Daily Union, 7 May 1861, described the celebration
upon
taking Ft. Smith with W. E.WOODRUFF (Jr?) present. (who built
his home
on 25 acres later Woodruff's Addition, north, across street of
Masonic's
St. Johns' College, Little Rock, used as an officers hospital by
Union
Army, later returned minus much furniture).
Doctor Solon BORLAND, Esquire, formerly: Arkansas'
Adjutant-General, United States Army major of Mexican war,
Arkansas'
fourth U S Senator, Arkansas' first foreigen U S Minister, now
an
Arkansas militia colonel to become Colonel Solon BORLAND,
Confederate
States Army (rank held until discharged May 26, 1862) at Camp
Warren(?),
Camp Borland (?), Pocahontas, Randolph county, Arkansas, on the
Current
river near Pittman's Ferry, as commander of battalion he raised
and
organized at Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, on June 10,
1861.
Originally known as 1st Battalion Arkansas Cavalry, it becoming
1st
Arkansas Mounted Volunteers upon his and its acceptance into
Confederate
service on July 29, 1861, for 12 months service. This group was
renamed
as the 3rd Regiment Arkansas Cavalry in December 1861,
officially when
Trans-Mississippi was created January 1862.
<http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/3cav_indx.html>
According to Major
COLLIER's 1965 book, they fought in more skirmishes that did any
other
Arkansas unit. [Future Governor BAXTER served thirty days under
BORLAND,
November 1861]
September 3, 1861,
"Col S BORLAND Regiment of Cavalry will proceed without delay to
Little
Rock for the purpose of providing clothing for this command.",
By order, Gen William J HARDEE (1815GA-1873AL).
Solon, at age 50, was ordered commander of Confederate
Army's Western Department's, Upper Arkansas, November 5, 1861
till
January 10, 1862, post vacated by General William J HARDEE,
having taken
with him all good equipment, materials, and experienced troops,
leaving
behind useless equipment or materials and inexperienced raw
recruits.
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/hertford/letters/borland24.txt>
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/nc/hertford/letters/borland21.txt>
Major-General William J HARDEE, "Old Reliable", served
as commander since August 29, 1861 till going east, then Colonel
Solon
BORLAND inherited the position November 5th till December
15th(sick
leave), which he pleaded to be relieved by letter of November
10th
because it was a position for a "general", I assume Ben F DANLEY
took
charge when BORLAND succumbs to illness. Then January 15, 1862
found
under command of Major-General Earl VAN DORN (1820MS-1863TN),
known then
as Trans-Mississippi Department.
Much relevant & documented historical military
information was gathered on Jim MARTIN's Arkansas Civil War
Board,
<http://history-sites.com/mb/cw/arcwmb/index.cgi?rev=14343>
and Solon's
service records from Arkansas History Commission (2/09/07).
A political debacle erupted in Randolph county over
Solon's General Order of 29 November 1861, concerning locally
grown food
stuffs.
This being Solon's attempt to protect army (and
citizens), as had been done in Missouri(ah), from speculators of
price
gouging Arkansas" shortage of home grown crops. Governor Henry
Massie
RECTOR, essentially supporting speculators, won even after
receiving
former friend Solon's thirteen page letter. This one-term
governor was
also unhappy because Arkansan troops were shipped east, leaving
no one
to protect Arkansas.
Solon's letters of record:
<http://www.simmonsgames.com/research/authors/USWarDept/ORA/OR-S1-V08-C018C.html>
November 1861, state he NO longer had a desire of becoming a
general
even though he was carrying out duties of such, and that he was
suffering of ill health. His service records show he was
reimbursed for
extensively traveling (1,710 miles) to Little Rock, Kentucky,
Tennessee
and Mississippi.
BORLAND's TIME LINE:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 5, '61, named commander.
November 29, '61, posted 'General Order' regarding
foodstuffs to NOT be shipped out of state in order to stem price
gouging
to army & local citizens.
December 11, '61, letter requests a leave of absence
from General Albert Sidney JOHNSTON (1803KY-1862TN, later
General John
Selden ROANE, for health reasons, supported by letter from
surgeon Dr
WASHINGTON.
December 15, '61 reported on sick leave in Little Rock
for an extended period, NO record found of his returning to the
3rd
Regiment Arkansas Cavalry before discharge May 25, 1862.
December 20, '61, Proclamation by Governor Henry
Massie RECTOR claiming to over-ride Solon's General Order. (See
Michael
B DOUGAN's 1976 book, page 85 for results of his research, also
AHQ, Vol
XXXVII, 1978, by HUFF, page 149)
January 1862, BORLAND's order rescinded by CSA.
May 26, 1862, honorably discharged at rank of Colonel.
June 14, 1862 (10 days before death of 16 y/o son, Pvt
George Godwin BORLAND), --- The Little Rock Arkansas Gazette
printed
front page, column 1, to wit;
"It is known for sometime that, for several months, the
doctor
[Solon BORLAND, age 52] has been dangerously ill; his sickness
has
disabled him so far as to prevent his resuming his duties as a
solider
in the army for some time to come at least: and best field which
he now
finds before him for usefulness, is in the practice of his
original
profession of medicine and surgery. It is useless for us to
allude, is
the standing of Dr. B. in his profession. That is already known
to our
readers."
'That Man Named Solon', had seemingly served his
neighbors heroically and with honor since childhood, in spite of
what
his political opponents (and modern day college history
professors)
wrote about him, and now returns to that which he was formally
trained &
educated, medicine and surgery!
Son, Private George Godwin BORLAND, age 16 with
mother's reluctant consent, served in Indian Territory under
General
PIKE, says his obit. George died 24 June 1862 at a friend's home
in
Clarksville, Texas, on his way home after relieved of duty due
to poor
health. Burial reported in Mount Holly cemetery, Little Rock,
without a
marker.
Solon's third wife of seventeen years, Mary Isabel,
age 38, died Thursday, 23 October 1862, in Little Rock,
following a
lengthily period of poor health. Her father George, husband
Solon (age
51) and daughters Fannie & Mary 14 & 12 years old, surviving.
Fanny
penned two touching poems; "The Past and Future" October 29,
1962, with
editor's comment to wit:
"Within the last four weeks a little girl, just fourteen
years
old, sat by the sick bed of her Father, as he slept, a few
evenings
after the death of her Mother, she composed the following
lines."
and "Judge Not By The Outward Look", November 14, 1862,
published 22nd
and 29th, November 1862 by the Arkansas State Gazette.
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/thepasta8nw.txt>
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/newspapers/judgenot5nw.txt>
One of Mary's obituary's, in part, read:
"Her harp is broken, to us her voice is still, in the
solemn hush
of the tomb, but we are permitted to believe, that with a
renewed voice
and an unfailing harp, she is charming the ears of kindered
spirits in
the beautiful land of the redeemed".
(Arkansas Gazette, 25 October 1862,p. 2, c. 5)
<http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tn/shelby/obits/m/melbourn5ob.txt>,
burial reportedly at Mount Holly cemetery, Little Rock without a
marker.
December 26, 1862 Solon's brother, Euclid BORLAND, M
D, in Plaquemines parrish, Louisiana gave Judah P BENJAMIN (A
jewish
Mississippi large plantation owner with 140 slaves, a fellow U S
Senator
with Solon in Washington city, who, as secretary of army January
1862
had Solon on the carpet for his General Order of November 29,
1861, and
left never to return, from Cape Sable, Florida at end of
war),Confederate secretary of state, a statement about some
Union Army
skullduggery by a Colonel (?) Andrew J BUTLER (believed to be
brother to
General BUTLER but NOT in military) and Mr WEED attached to/
brother of,
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