We have heretofore mentioned the fact that Adair county was well represented in the war of 1812-15.

Judge Rollin Hurt has prepared an article on the service of soldiers from the county in that war, which he permits us to use. Its perusal will prove of great interest to the readers of the News.

The first soldiers, who appear to have been enlisted from Adair county in the second war with England were members of Capt. John W. Shirley's company of Barbee's regiment. This company of men was enlisted on the 23rd day of August, 1812, and for a period of six months, and contained seventy-four members, officers and men. Lieut. Col. Joseph Barbee, who then resided at Danville, Ky., was the Colonel of the regiment to which Capt. Shirley's company was assigned. The original purpose of the organization of the regiment was to do duty in the defense of the state of Indiana, which was then being threatened by the enemy.

The different companies of the regiment rendezvoused at Danville, within a few days of the order for its formation. About the time the companies came together at Danville, information came of the disgraceful surrender of Gen. Hull's army and the city of Detroit, Mich., became known. The morning following the rendezvous at Danville, Col. Barbee received orders to change the march of his regiment for the northwest, and to proceed with all dispatch.

The regiment immediately commenced a march for Cincinnati, O., and in making the march passed through Nicholasville, Lexington and Georgetown, and encamped for three or four days upon the farm of one Kennedy, where the city of Covington is now situated. After crossing over the Ohio river, the regiment, including Capt. Shirley's company, proceeded to Piqua, on the Miami river. From this point the regiment marched to St. Mary's, Ohio, which was then called "Girty's Town."

On the way it passed through Lebanon and Dayton, Ohio, both of which places were then villages. At St. Mary's the regiment was placed under the command of General Winchester, by whose orders six companies of the regiment, including Capt. Shirley's, were stationed at St. Mary's, during the following winter.

It devolved upon the six companies of Barbee's regiment, which were stationed at St. Mary's, and which included Capt. Shirley's company, to act as convoys for and to escort and protect the wagons and pack horses, which conveyed provisions from St. Mary's to the various posts named, and in this duty they were constantly engaged throughout the winter.

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Winter excessively severe; streams frozen; two-foot snows

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The winter was excessively severe. The streams were frozen over, and the snow lay upon the ground to the depth of two feet during the entire winter. The men, when enlisted, did not expect that the campaign would last over three months, and this together with the haste of their mobilization and march to Ohio prevented them from making sufficient arrangements in the way of clothing for comfort, and until nearly Christmas they were very poorly clad.

The greater number of them were clad in hunting shirts and trousers made of linen or cotton, and after two or three months the clothing became badly worn and afforded scant but protection to men who were obliged to travel in the open in the convoying of provisions and to spend the nights upon the ground, without the shelter of tents.

Gov. Isaac Shelby made an appeal to the women of Kentucky for clothing for the naked soldiers This appeal received an immediate response and as soon as it could be conveyed to them, the soldiers received a supply of home manufactured clothing from their mothers and sisters in Kentucky.

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Forced march one of most exhausting in annals of military history

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During the winter Col. Barbee's regiment was required to and made forced marches from St. Mary's to Fort Jennings. The movement was for the protection of Gen. Winchester, who was threatened with attack by a superior force of the enemy near Fort Defiance. When the regiment reached Fort Jennings, on the Au Glaize, it was ordered to return to St. Mary's. This forced march is said to have been one of the most exhausting in the annals of military history. A very cold rain, which turned to ice, fell incessantly, the road was new and boggy, the ground was covered with ice and snow, and the men, at night, were without shelter or tents.

About the first of March, 1813, the terms of service having expired, the regiment was marched to Cincinnati, O., a distance of about one hundred miles from St. Mary's where it was disbanded. The men were paid in part for their services, and the men of Capt. Shirley's company reached their home about the middle of March, 1813.