GOVERNOR ISAAC SHELBY.

From Funeral Oration by Hon. William Taylor Barry "On the Death of Adams, Jefferson and Shelby," delivered in Lexington, Kentucky, on August 15, 1826.

The numerous band of patriots devoted to the cause of Independence, exerted equally their best endeavors for its success, and the least of them are entitled to our eternal gratitude. As death fixes the seal of glory on their lives, history will assign to each their rank. Whether civil or military services merit the highest praise, will not be a question; each should be rewarded in proportion to their degree, and the motive with which they were rendered. All made up their minds to risk their fortunes, characters, and lives, in a revolution, evincing by this bold determination, courage sufficient to sustain the patriot in the toils of the field, or the labours of the cabinet. Without giving preeminence to the soldier or to the statesman, it must be conceded, that the union of capacity for both employments, is the perfection of character. Many great examples of this are to be found in both ancient and modern history; but none that we read of united them so perfectly as George Washington: and to him not only our own country, but the world, assigns the first rank— justice to his memory and our own fame-requires this rank to be maintained in all its dignity. The great men we this day commemorate follow after the Father of his Country. To the historian it belongs to relate in full their early and later achievements, and the particulars of their public and private lives; and it will be for impartial posterity to give them their place in the scale of excellence. The limits of this occasion will only allow a sketch of the conspicuous acts and prominent traits, that may serve to illustrate their characters. Adams and Jefferson and Shelby are no more! Their spirits have fled, and their bodies are mingled with the clods of the valley; but that which gained our love and raised our admiration, still subsists. Their

services and noble achievements, liberty, independence, and glory, remain!

Amidst the general mourning that covers the land, Kentucky has particular cause of sorrow. Although admonished by recent affliction, and the infirmities of age, that the death of ISAAC SHELBY was near at hand, yet the news falls heavily on us. All hearts are sorrowful; and the State is like a family of little ones, weeping over the shrouded remains of a beloved father! He was indeed a father to Kentucky-his services are interwoven with the history and his fame blended with the glory of the State. It is a high but just compliment, to say of Shelby, that he was formed on the model of Washington-uniting what is rarely to be met with in the same individual, qualifications for exalted civil and military offices. Whether we regard his services in the cabinet or in the field, we shall see much to admire and applaud. In 1779, he was a member of the Virginia Legislature, and in the fall of that year was appointed by Mr. Jefferson, then governor of the State, Major of the escort of guards for running the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina. The extension of that line threw Shelby into the State of North Carolina. As soon as he became a citizen of that State, he was appointed by Governor Caswell, Colone! of Sullivan County. In 1782, he was a member of the Legislature of North Carolina; and appointed the same year a Commissioner to settle preemption claims on the Cumberland River, and to allot bounty lands to the officers and soldiers of the North Carolina State line. He was, after aiding as a member of the Convention in forming the Constitution, elected the first Governor of the State of Kentucky, in 1792; and was again called to the same high station in 1812. What higher evidence of merit for civil office, could he adduced, than these proud testimonials? In Virginia and North Carolina, we see him associated in the struggles of the American Revolution, and called to counsel with the great patriots that adorn the annals of those States. When Kentucky became an independent State, he is placed in the Executive Chair, to organize the government, and discharge the delicate and important duties confided to him, to the entire satisfaction of the people. By filling the various public offices with the intelligence and virtue of the country, the State be

came at once respectable and received an impulse, that has carried her on rapidly in the career of improvement.

The circumstances under which he was again elected Governor, are the highest proofs of public confidence. It was after the late war had been declared. The venerable Charles Scott, at the expiration of his term, had retired from office; the country looked around for one worthy of succeeding that distinguished patriot; all eyes were turned to the Hero of King's Mountain. The people, confiding in his integrity, courage, experience, and known patriotism, selected him, unsolicited on his part, as best qualified to call forth and give direction to the energies of the country. The public expectation was more than fulfilled. The ability and fidelity with which he discharged the duties of Chief Magistrate, his incorruptible integrity, his unwavering attachment to public economy, and to the principles of civil liberty, give him an elevated place amongst American statesmen, and entitle him to our warmest gratitude. But we have yet to contemplate him in scenes of more brilliant achievements. Shelby was happily constituted for military life in person and in mind. His appearance was noble and engaging. Accustomed in early life to the use of arms, and the pursuit of game, the mountain air and exercise in the open country improved his constitution and enabled him to bear the greatest fatigue; of a bold and manly turn of thinking, he disdained a voluptuous life of indolence and folly, and resolved to season himself for grand exploits in the rough school of toil and privation. The vigour of his mind, and the military spirit with which it was imbued, was displayed at an early age. When yet a stripling, like David, he encountered the enemies of his country. In 1774, acting as Lieutenant of a volunteer company, he was in the memorable battle of the 10th October, 1774, at the mouth of Kenhawa, fought by a detachment under General Andrew Lewis, against the combined Indian forces. In this terrible conflict, which lasted from day-light until dark, our young hero bore himself as an officer with spirit and gallantry. His good conduct on that occasion attracted the attention of Governor Dunmore, who rewarded his heroism with the appointment of second in command of a garrison established on the spot, where he remained until some time in 1775, when the garrison was discharged. The American Revolution followed soon after, and opened to

him a scene where his talents were fully displayed. In July, 1776, he was appointed Captain of a minute company, by the committee of safety in Virginia. In 1777 and 1778, he was commissary to the frontier garrisons; active and indefatigable in his duties, he often furnished supplies upon his own credit, when that of the public failed. Such was his good conduct in this station, that Patrick Henry, then Governor of Virginia, thanked him in person for the important services he had rendered his country. In North Carolina he was soon engaged in the most important services. At the summons of General Charles McDowell in 1780, he repaired to the camp at Cherokee Ford on Broad River, with three hundred mounted volunteers. He was immediately dispatched with Colonel Clarke, at the head of six hundred mounted men, to watch the movements and beat up the outposts of the enemy. Ferguson, an active partisan officer in the Royal militia, at the head of two thousand five hundred men, made various efforts to surprise Colonel Shelby, but his designs were all baffled. On the first of August, at Cedar Spring, they met Ferguson's advance of seven hundred men; a severè engagement of half an hour ensued, when Ferguson came up with his whole force, but not until the Americans had gained a decisive advantage, capturing fifty prisoners, and by a judicious. retreat bearing them off to their own camp, in the face of the enemy. Colonel Shelby was again detached with Clarke and Williams, at the head of seven hundred horsemen, to surprise an encampment of an equal number of tories at Musgrove's Mill, on the south side of the Enoree River, about forty miles distant; Ferguson's army lay exactly between. They marched on the evening of the 18th of August, 1780, avoiding Ferguson's encampment, and at the dawn of day, about half a mile from Musgrove's Mill, had a short skirmish with a patrol party of the enemy, in which several of them were killed. At this juncture, they were apprized by a countryman of a reinforcement of the garrison the evening before, by six hundred regular troops from New York, commanded by Colonel Innis. But a moment was left for counsel-it was imprudent to bring on the attack; the men were harrassed and worn down with fatigue, and could not escape. It was resolved to give them battle. The drums and bugle horns of the enemy already announced their movementa breastwork of brush and logs was quickly thrown across the