CHAPTER XXI.

Pioneers of Acton Country Continued-James Elam-Mack Hensley-A.E. Keith-Maj. Carmichael and his "Bloody" 20th Battalion.

James Elam, still living at Cresson, was settled on Station branch, a tributary of Fall creek, as early perhaps as 1856. Mr. Elam has always been a respected citizen, contributing by example and otherwise to the moral and material prosperty [sic] of the country. Below him on Fall creek and about the same locality where the Manley's and Patton's had settled, were Mack Hensly, Sr., two of whose daughters became the wives respectively of Dr. Cornelius and A.E. Keith. Mr. Hensley was a substantial citizen of good qualities: like many of the frontiersmen he seemed not to relish living in other than a sparsely settled region and some ten years ago he sold out his Fall creek farm and moved westward; a son, Mack Hensley, still resides in Hood, and Mr. A.E. Keith, a son- in-law, who preceded Mr. Hensley a short time in his settlement of Fall creek, long remained a citizen of this community. Mr. Keith has always been a quiet and conservative man of intelligence; some years ago desiring to surround his children with better facilities for being educated, he removed to Granbury, where his several sons and daughters have received the finishing touches of such education as could be obtained in the College of that city. And while in material property, perhaps, Mr. Keith has not succeeded any better in his new abode where he still lives, yet he has the satisfaction of knowing that his children are qualified for the struggles of life. One son adheres to farming, while two are struggling with the intricacies of law. Hensley and Keith were settled on Fall creek about the year 1859.

We now approach the period of the civil war, which, in so far as the facts have come to our knowledge, except as already related, seems to be sterile of any events of much interest transpiring in this community. Its most notable and active young men perhaps were serving in the Confederate army, and as Indians in their forays seemed to care not to venture thus far into the settlements, there was little of interest transpiring.

Among the several military companies and battalions, to which this community contributed its men, perhaps none have been more noted than Maj. Arch Carmichael's "bloody 20th," as it was known. That gallant commander, however, seems from some circumstances, perhaps beyond his control, to have been restrained in his ambitious designs as a military leader; for the cruel circumstances of war and army discipline kept him during the greater part of that period, full of activity to others, having to tamely submit to remaining with his battallion [sic], camped about Thorp Spring, with only an occasional sally forth in pursuit of some fleeing band of Indians. On one occasion in Blair valley, when a party of Indians had fallen upon and slain a helpless farmer, traveling the road with his little boy, in a wagon, and wounded the boy, Maj. Carmichael arrived upon the scene with his command just in opportune time to give decent burial to the dead and care for the bereaved son. It was doubtless the great indignation, which this pent up career occasioned to overflow in expressions of eloquent denunciations of the enemies of his country, whom he was so cruelly restrained from punishing, that gave to his command the title of "The bloody 20th." But Maj. Carmichael could, with surprising facility, subdue the most turbulent feelings of revenge, and shine forth upon the generous side of his somewhat luxuriant and verbose nature, toward even his enemies, as few men can. It is related of him that at one time a neighbor, Wm. Reynolds, had, without his knowledge, taken possession of his boat, kept near his residence on the Brazos, and learning of it, he became so greatly incensed, that he girded on his six-shooter and Bowie knife, and sought the offender with the declared purpose of dispatching him on sight; and boiling with expressions of vengeance he rode right upon the offender, who, with others, not seeming to suspect the portentous evil that threatened, was quietly engaged in eating a watermelon, Maj. Carmichael immediately dismounted, hitched his horse, and drawing his ferocious blade, hurried to the group, but the very appearance of the victim, indicative, perhaps, of no apprehension of danger, seemed instantly to reverse the flood of vengeance so lately rushing down upon him, and substituting therefor the neighborly feelings, and Carmichael instead of spilling the blood of his neighbor, thrust his good blade deep into the flesh of the luscious melon, saying, "Howdy Bill, I believe I'll take a hand with you in this melon." Maj. Carmichael had settled upon the Brazos several years prior to the war, and he has always been an enterprising and progressive farmer, raising a family of several boys. In all public matters pertaining to the good of his locality and county he has been a moving spirit; mentally active, his voice has ever been extended, at times eloquently, in behalf of what he deemed right, and in denunciation of wrong. He seems to abide in old age, infirm by the ravages of disease, reluctant to leave the scenes and the friends he has loved so long:

"For who, to dumb forgetfulness a prey,

This pleasing, anxious being ere resigned,

Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day,

Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind?"

2000 HOOD COUNTY TEXAS HISTORICAL DOCUMENT TRANSCRIPTION TEAM