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Archiver > Southern-Trails > 2001-03 > 0984617265


From: "Charles A. Wyly" <>
Subject: Re: Virginia Military Institute
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 18:47:45 -0600


Hi, It was my understanding that Col. & Gov. Sevier of Tennessee left
VMI before 1780 at age 17, speaking 6 languages and married Sarah Clark,
age 15. They were my ancestors- .
What was the founding date for VMI ? Was the school Sevier attended VMI
or an earlier parent school of VMI , like Blount College which became
the University of Tennessee at Knoxville? Sevier was on the board of
Greeneville (Tenn>) with friend William Blount AND on the board of Blount
College. His education was as high as any available in the British
Colonies as England wanted Colonial kids to return to England for College
degrees.

Now knowing all that, why did the old Encyclopediaes , especially World
Book say, in so many words , that he was a slick tonngued persuasive and
charming Politician and opportunist with little education . If he was so
uneducated how did he fight as a leader, in 37 battles and loose none,
organize the State of Franklin, and serve 6 terms as Tennessee Governor
and was Tennessee's first Governor, before he was elected to U. s.
Congress???

Also, why did the President offer him the leadership of the War of 1812?
He turned it down because he felt too old and his old sometimes rival,
sometimes Friend Andrew Jackson was given the position. He and Jackson
were to meet in a duel- Sevier refused in Tennessee, but eventually
agreed to a spot outside town.

Jackson had previously killed 2 or 3 who questioned his marriage to a
woman Jackson thought was divorced.
actually, The North Carolina Legislature had granted her the right to
apply for a divorce in court It seems when Jackson rode up apparently a
little drunk or very excited, he made so much noise with his squeaking
leather, prancing horse, and rattling sabre, that Sevier's horse ran away
with Sevier's guns laying across his back by the saddle. The seconds
stopped Jackson from killing the unarmed Sevier with his pistols .

After that Sevier and Jackson were rivals and still worked together for
the good of Tennessee area in Federal offices. . Guess it kept them on
their toes.

Can you feature today if a man ran for Preident with 3 or 4 duels in his
life, and killed two, running for President. ???

Take care,
Charles A. Wyly



On Thu, 01 Feb 2001 18:11:11 -0800 Judy Oldziewski
<> writes:
> the archives at VMI...they include a variety of materials,
> including class rosters from the 1840s-1860s. If you had people
> who might have attended here, do check it out.
>
> http://www.vmi.edu/~archtml/index.html
>
> Sue
>
>
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