Muhlenberg County, Kentucky - The whole text, 1913 (part 8 of 13)

Forrest's sipiadron pas.sed througb Oreenville late Saturday afternoon, December 28, 1861, and that night cam[>ed at Mount Pisgah Church, near Pond River. In the meantime the routed Federals returned to their camp at Calhoun, and although General Crittenden sent out five hundred .soldiers that .same night to capture Forrest ami his men, they failed to locate him.

General Thomas L. Crittenden, who had taken command of the P'ederal forces at Owensboro on Cictober 9, 1»61, moved his headipiarters to Calhoun during the latter part of NovciuImt. As already stattnl, it was while stationed at Calhoun that some of his men encountered Colonel Forre.st near Sacramento. On -January Ifith Crittenden's division moved to South Carrollton, where it remained until January 28. 1862. On the two hills south and .southwest of South I'arrollton, General Crittenden threw up breastworks, remains of which can still be .seen. In a numlier of places at the foot of thi"se hills and in the valley hetween them he felletl wide rows of trees and thus eoustrueted an abatis for the defense of his position. What is now the residence of John L. Taylor stood near the camp of the Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, and was used by that regiment as a hospital during tbeir stay at South Carrollton. General Crittenden's hemhiuarters were in the hotel long known as "Our House" or "Ixivelaee Tavern."

The history of Crittenden's stay in .Muhlenberg is told in five of the official communications that pa.s.sed betwetm him and General Buell, whose headquarters were then in I»ui.sville. These letters are here ipioted from the "Official Records of the War of the Rebellion," Series I, Volume 7 :

Sir; The general eoininnuding direets that you move your divisioil without delay to South Carrollton or near there. Take a strong position on the north side of the river which ean Ik* held hy a small force.

Headquarters Fifth Division

On the 16th instant we crossed the river at Calhoun and marched to Sacramento, with all our wagons, bringing nothing but a little forage. The roads of course arc bad, but we got there without accident or damage. Colonel Cruft's command was .so conducted as to occupy the town before the inhabitants were aware of the approach of troops.

ment. To do this 1 was forced to cross at Callioun and march to South Carrollton, on the south side of the riYcr. I considered this movement imprudent unless South Carrollton was hrst occupied. For this reason Cruft's command was sent by the steamboat and barges, as the only expeditious way of occupying the town. 1 confess to great anxiety of mind when I saw' over 2,000 troops crowded on the boats, and determined that, except in a great emergeney, I would not start such another expedition. In the present condition of the road it would have taken me five or six days to reach this place, marching by the north side of the river.

Residence Of John L. Taylor. South Carrollton

My command is now in South Carrollton, on the south side of the river. This is, I am aware, in violation of Oeneral Huell's order, at least the spirit of it. It is impo.ssiblc to execute the order, there being no strong position on the north side of the river in the vicinity of South Carrollton.

Unless I oceiipiiKl this place, 1,000 men could have stopped me from crossing at any point where there is a roa<l by which I eouhl march. This is a |)osition of great strength and my command ought to hold it against 1.5,000 good troo])s.

If I must move to the north side of the river, 1 will be compelled to go at least 2 miles back to find ground high enough to camp on, and it would take me two days to cross the river here if ordered to advance. I consider my command safe here. I a.ssure you I have endeavored to obey orders, and have done .so as far as jiraeticable - obeying what I considered most important where all could not be obeyed. I could not have secured a j>a.s.sage across the river at or near this place by occupying any position in the vicinity of South Carrollton, on the north side of the river.

Muhlenhkkq In The Civil Wak

For miles around this place, on the north side of the river, the land is flat, and so low as to overflow when the river is up. If I move over and cross this flat, as 1 should be compelled to do, and the river should rise, I could not cross at all.

South Carrollton is situated on a hill, rising abruptly from the river, 150 feet high. There are only two ways of approaching the place from the south - one by the road which I came, through a swamp, and which could be defended by a small force; the other through a wooded country and up hill.

Captain Edwards, of the U. S. Army, doubtless known to you as an educated and accomplished soldier, fully concurs in my views as to the strength of the place. With another battery of artillery it seems to me I could hold the place until starved out, and as it is can hold it against any force the enemy ean send.

Captain: I have heard that a large force from Bowling Green had come under Buckner to Russellville, with a view to intercept me if I advance or come here and attack me if I remain for any length of time where I am.

I should have no apprehension for the result if attacked by 15,000 men, the reiwrted force of the enemy with which we arc threatened, but shall, of course, use every exertion to become still stronger.

Iie.Vdquarters Depart.Ment Op The Ohio

Sir; It is presumed that you have before this received the general's dispatch of the 24th (26th) instant, directing the return of your division to Calhoun, and the general trusts that you have complied with it.

Your jHisition at South Carrollton (being on the south side of Green River, which is impa.ssable at this time) is a very unsafe one, and you will lose no time in moving your command to Calhoun and placing yourself on the north side of Green River.

If you should lie attacked or too seriously threatened to undertake this move with time to accomplish it, you must, of course, defend yourself to the last extremity in the strongest position you can take, and see that the enemy does not cut your line of communication at or near Calhoun. It is hojied, however, that you will move to Calhoun promptly and without interference.

Gener.^L: Your dispatch of the 26th instant was received before daylight this morning, and the barges and steamboats are now being loaded with eominis-sary stores and forage. I shall get the supplies which I have of these things to Calhoun before night, I hope, and the boat back during the night. I hear of no advance of the enemy, and unless I do, will march back, as .soon as I can rid myself of every incumbrance, by the road I came. It is a very bad road, but the best and much the shortest. It would be almost impossible for me to cross the river here, becau.se of the steep and muddy banks and tbe high water. I shall endeavor to have every possible arrangement made to cross the wagons and troops with des|>ateh as soon as they arrive opposite to Calhoun.

Owing to the terrible condition of the roads between here and Calhoun I shall send my camp eipiipage by the boats, so as to have my wagons light as ])o.ssible. I shall send down at least a regiment in the sami- way, with instructions to construct a bridge of the laiats by the time I arrive with the troops and train, and if the current of the river is too swift for the bridge, to make the best fiossible arrangements for ferrying.

This owning or to-morrow morning I will send Colonel Jackson with 500 cavalry, to Greenville, to remain there until I leave here with the column, and then march to Sacramento by the road leading from Greenville to that place.

This, I think, will certainly conceal ray movements until I have actually started, and protect me on the only quarter from which I could lie surprised and haras-sed by cavalry. I anticipate, however, no difficulty except from the roads and river, though I will prepare as well as I can for every kind of difficulty.

X. B. - I cannot send you a telegram, because I cannot spare a Iwat, and the high water has obstructed the right road to Evansville. I hope this letter will reach Owensboro to-nigbt, and, if so, it will be the quicke.st way in which I can conimunicate with you.

There were five Kentucky and four Indiana regiments at Calhoun under General Crittenden until the early part of January, when the Seventeenth and Twenty-fifth Kentucky Infantry and the Thirty-first and Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry were ordered to join General Grant, who was then directing his movements against Forts Henry and Donelson. His division at South Carrollton consisted of the Eleventh and Twenty-sixth Kentucky Infantry, Third Kentucky Cavalry, the Forty- -second and Forty-thinl Indiana Infantry, and Behr's battery of artillery, making a total of a little less than five thou.sand soldiers, not including the men who were left at Calhoun to bethixhem baptist ohttbob, neab bbemen guard the locks.

On February 16, 1862, a little more than two we(*ks after General Crittenden returned to Calhoun from South Carrollton, his men were ordered to Tennessee. Some of the infantry marched to Owensboro and proceeded by steamers to Nashville, while others were taken down Green and Ohio rivers and up the Cumberland to the same place. The Third Kentucky Cavalry marched from Calhoun through .Muhlenberg County to Na.shville. They spent the first night in and around Bethlehem Baptist Church, near Bremen, and the next daj' resumed their trip up the Ruiasey Road to Greenville, where they halted a few hours. The second night they campe<l on Mct.'lelland's Hill, including what is now the Alvin h. Taylor fann, on which was planted, in 1!)07, what has since been known as "Alvin's

Avenue." From McClelland's Hill the cavalry continued their march south. General Crittenden's men were reunited in Nashville and later proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, where as part of General Buell's army they came to the relief of General Grant and helped .save the day for the Federals at Shiloh.

Many letters were undoubtedly written to their families and friends by Muhlenberg men while in the army, and a number of them, I hope, are still preserved. However, only a few have been submitted to me. One of these was written by E. R. Weir, jr., then captain of Company B, Eleventh

Kentucky Infantry, and addressed to Je.s.se H. Reno, who was quartermaster of that regiment until aljout the middle of May, 1862, when on account of ill health he resigned and returned to his home in Greenville. This letter is dated "Field of Sliiloah, April 24, 1862," which was si^venteen days after the fight. Before quoting this letter it may be well to explain why the writer wa.s still on the field so long after the battle.

The battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg lianding, was fought on Sunday and Monday, April 6 and 7, 1862. Immediately after this bloody fight Generals Buell and Grant liegan making preparations to attack the somewhat shattered army of Confederates who were retreating to Corinth, in Northern Missis.sippi, about twenty miles from Shiloh. The Federals were almut ready to pursue when, on April 12th, General Halleek arrived on the scene, and being superior in rank took chief command of the troops. The army loitered on the battlefield awaiting the arrival of more forces ordered by General Halleek. The march of the augmented army against General Beauregard at Corinth did not begin until April 27th. It was during this delay on the field of Shiloh that E. R. Weir, jr., wrote to his friend Jesse H. Reno. It is printed as w'ritten, as a hattlefielil .souvenir.

Dear Reno ; - On the morning of the first day of battle we were within 9 miles of Savannah. About 7 o'cloek A. M. Sunday we heard the fire of cannon in the distance. Orders were given to forward in quick time. Of course our boys pushed forward with speed. We arrived within one mile of Savannah at 1 o'cloek P. M. Our General then received orders that we were not wanted, so we began to pitch tents.

About sundown we were ordered forward to Savannah. We then took transportation to Pittsburg Landing, arriving at Pittsburg Landing at about 11 o'clock P. M. We remained under arms until daylight when we were ordered out to the field about 2 miles from the Ijanding, toward Corinth.

Our Brigade was composed of the 13th Ohio, 26th & 11th Ky. and the 14th W'iseonsin. The 13th Ohio was drawn up on the left, the 26th next & the 14th Wis. next. We were ordered to the support of Mendenhall's Batterj'. We were drawn up in its rear & were ordered to lie down .so as to protect oursidvcs from the bombs. But we were not suffered to remain long in this pasition, for the 14th commenced giving way & we were ordered to take its place. General Crittenden gave the order to charge bayonets.

The Eleventh, with shouts of Kentucky & Crittenden rushed forward about 300 yards beyond our lines, ('apt. Isaac R. Sketo here fell by my side ; also John B. Morgan who was in our advance. Capt. Jeff. Roark was also wounded. Having broken our ranks & being exposed to the direct & cross fire of their Batteries we were compelled to fall back and form. At the 2nd charge we advanced about 8(M) yards beyond our line of battle. In the charge we took four guns & six cannon from the enemy, hayonetting the cannoneers at their jmst. Having completely routed them in front we were about to l)e Hanked; so we fell back to our line of battle. Having reformed we advanced slowly on our second charge, reinforced by Bartlett's Battery & the 13th Ky. umler Col. Grider on our left. We took pos.session of the Battery; the enemy were put to flight on our right & left. They fled in a gn>at rout, leanng behind ever.vthing of value. Guns, casons, muskets, rifles & knap.sacks were seatteretl in every direction. Our cavalry followed them for 5 or 6 miles until night overtook them.

I can form no estimate of the amount of dead Rebels. In front of where we fought were 300 or 400. We had the advantage of them ; their shot would fall short of us by 20 or 30 feet nearly always. During the day we fought against Gen. Withers of Missi.ssippi under Gen. Beauregard. At one time we were fighting against the 5th Ky. Rebels.

Some of our boys said that they recognized one as Charles W. Rothroek; Charles McBride was almost confident that it was he. I did not know him well enough to say. Ben Jernigan, from near Greenville, was pointed out to me by lx>uis Dwyer. M. C. Hay wfis wounded & taken prisoner by our forces.

After the battle I went over the battle field, at leiust over alwiit one fourth of it. No pen can tell of its horrors; thousands lay dead. At some places 200 or 300 were upon one acre of ground. On Tuesday a detail of about 5000 men began the bur.ving of the dead. Our men were, of course, buried first. The work steadily progressed until Friday when all in the immediate neighliorhood of our camps were interred. The number on Thursday evening was upward of 7800.

Not long ago we were ordered out on picket duty about 3 miles from our camp. The road all the way was strewed with knapsacks, guns, cannon, etc. During the da.v I went beyond our lines about three fourths of a mile. I found, I believe it wa.s, nineteen dead Rebels in one pile that had l)cen left behind by them in their flight. A little below we found alwut 2000 knap.saeks. Our scouts bring in the report that the road out of Corinth is blockaded for miles with wagons and eais.sons. These are plain facts about the battle.

If the Rebels say in Muhlenberg that they won the battle, it is a fabrication. You can tell them there is a day of retribution coming yet. The boys of Mulilenberg and the men that chased them down la.st winter when they were on furloughs, can never live together again; one or the other of us will liave to leave the country forever. When we return home we will have no military law to restrain us and we will clean out the County of our enemie.s. All of us have strong hands and willing hearts for a work of this kind. We can never live together; they shall drive us or we them.

I do not know, positively, to what incident Weir refers in the la.st paragraph of his letter. It may be he had in mind what has since become known as "Old Ed's Rush to Rumsey," the story of which is as follows:

One day in February, 18H2, a band of about ten desperate-looking young men entered Greenville. Some of them, it is said, were citizens of the count.v, among whom were a few Confederate soldiers then on furlough. It appears that these young men came to the conclusion that if they captured Edward R. Wcur, sr., they could hold him for a large ransom, for he was one of the most ardent workers for the Federal army in the county.

Anna Weir, his daughter, was at home sitting near a window, and when she saw the crowd coming in the yard she started toward the front door, where she met them with a pi.stol in her hand. The leader a.sked her whether "Old -Man Ed'' was in the house. Although she knew that her father was in his room taking a nap, she did not answer the question, but asked them to tell her the nature of their call. Thc.v shouted that they had come "to get Old Ed's scalp and meant to have it.'' Her serving-woman, Elvira, hearing this threat, ipiietly enteri'd the house", woke Mr. Weir, and infonned him of what was taking place down.stairs, and added : " I jes' know .Mi.ss Anna aims to hoi' 'em till you can ha.ste away."

In the meantime Anna Weir was detaining the band, for she felt confident that neither her father nor any other man would trust his life in the hands of such characters, and that he, if he hud a chance to e.scape from them, would do .so.

While she was talking to the mob and thus gaining time for her father, one of the men attempted to pull down the flag that hung from a pole near the front of the house. Perceiving his intention, she raised her pistol and aimed it at him, .saying, "If you touch that flag I'll kill you and as many others of your gang as I can. It's my father's flag and mine too and I'll die by it. I tell you father's not on the place, but I'm here and I'm ready to die by that flag now or at any other time!"

After Mr. Weir heard Klvira's warning he took a peep at the noisy crowd, and after telling her he would leave sent the woman back to her mistress. He erawled out of a back window, ran down to the stable, and ordered his negro, Ijewis, to saddle his swift horse "Jaek Monkey." He mounted the animal and was soon on his way toward Rum.sey, where a number of Federal soldiers were guarding the lock and dam. Anna Weir refused to let the crowd search the house, and although they did not enter they nevertheless soon left- convinced that ''Old Man Kd" was not at home.

The Edward R. Weir, Sr.. Residence. Oreenville

A little less than .seven months after the battle of Shiloh, and about ten months after Oeneral Forrest had had his encounter with the Federals near Saeramento, General John II. Morgan pa.ssed through Muhlenberg County. Immediately after the battle of Perryville, October 7, 1862, Oeneral Bragg's army withdrew from Kentucky. During this withdrawal General Morgan, at the head of a command of about eighteen hundred men, took an independent wesrterly course and on November 4th arrived at Gallatin, Tennessee. General Morgan entered Muhlenberg County at Skilesville. All local traditions bearing on this subject give the time of his arrival as Friday night, October 24, 1862. General Basil W. Duke, in his ''Historj' of Morgan's Cavalry" places the date two days earlier. General Morgan was then on his ten days' mari-h from Gum Springs to IIopkiiLsville. He traveled via Klizabethtown, cros.se<l Green River at .Morgantown and Mud River at Rochester, and from there proceeded to Greenville, and on Sunday, October 26th, started for Christian County.

"We crossed Mud River that night at Rochester, on a bridge constructed of three tiat-lxiats, laid endwise, tightly bound together, and propped, where the water was deep, by beams passing under the bottoms of each one and resting on the end of the next; each receiving this sort of support they mutually braced each other. A planking, some five feet wide, was then laid, and the horses, wagons and artillery were crossed without trouble. The bridge was built in about two hours. On the 24th we reached Greenville ; that night a tremendous snow fell - tremendous, at least, for the latitude and .sea.son. After crossing Mud River there was no longer cause for apprehension, and we marched lei.surely."

Morgan's cavalry passed through Greenville during the afternoon of Octolx-r 2."i, 1862. Morgan spent the greater part of that evening in Greenville, ami in the meantime his men camped near the Joe C. Reynolds place, alxmt three miles southwest of town. It was an exceeelingly cold day for that season. That night'his tired .soldiers, as usual, slept under their blankets in long rows. They were unmindful of the snow which fell softly above them, hiding alike the sod and the sleepers and forming what appeared to be a snow-covered gravi-yanl, for each soldier's snow-heaped body ma<le a distinct mound in this camp-ground of Morgan's Immortals. When the bugler sounded his bugle for rising, he beheld a scene which well might make one think of that last day when Gabriel shall blow another trumpet, for each snow-eovensl grave openisl and gave up, not its dead, but its living.

From the beginning of the Civil War until its close many good and bad reports and true and false alarms were constantly being put into circulation. John R. Randolph, in his "A Muhlenberger's Recollections of 1862,'' published in the Muhlenberg Sentinel, May 5, 1!)11, gives an account of two incidents which, in their general character, are representative of the experiences many people in the county were subjected to throughout the war :

When the Civil War broke out, Clark's Mill, on Pond River, near Harp's Hill, was in full operation. Clark ran the mill and Kaves conducted a dry -goods and grocerj' store. Clark and Eaves each owned 30 or 40 slaves. This mill was one of the largest and liest known mills along Pond River. Besides his many slaves, Clark employed a number of families who lived in the immediate vicinity of the mill. In fact, the place looked more like a small town than a mere store and mill. Clark and Eaves were both clever men and well liked by all who had any dealings with them.

Nearly all the people in that vicinity in Hopkins County, and nearly all tho.si' who lived in iluhlenberg near Clark's Mill and Harp's Hill, were Southern sympathizers. The mill soon became a great gathering-place for those who had war measures to propose or war news to tell.

It was well known that my father, Ashford I). Randolph, was not only a .strong Union sympathizer but also did all he could for the Union men. He was very outspoken, and his remarks frequently incurred the ill-will of those who differed witli him on the situation. Many who were his best friends during his free-trade days became his bittere.st enemies.

In the summer of 1862, after both Northern ami Southern armies liad gone South, a number of prowling guerillas began to form themselves into little scpiads. One clay a band of guerillas came to Clark's Mill, and in the course of a few hours a number of their sympathizers appeared on the sei'iie. Two of these* sympathizers told the captain of this band that my father was making himself eonspieuous in the Union cause and that they wanted him disposed of. In this band was one of my father's nephews, who was aecpiainted with his uncle's habits. This kinsman knew that if at any time the chickens on his place scpialled he would get out of bed at once to investigate the nature of the disturbance in his hen-house. This nephew, therefore, assured the band that they could get my father by simply making a chicken scpiall : and he further suggested that when my father stepped out of the door on his way to the chicken-house, any one could easily "blaze away at him.'' After a little di.seussion of the matter it was decided that some of the band .should march over and kill my father that night.

There was a .school going on at Clark's Mill that .summer. One of the scholars was standing in the crowd of men and overheard all their plans. That evening, as .soon as school was dismi.s.sed, he sent word to our home. It was getting dark when the message reached us. My father and those of our family who were at home talked the matter over and agreed that father shouhl take his gun, leave the house and .stay out in the woods until the band left. So, he started out at about 10 o'clock.

Shortly after he had gone we heard the chicken scpiall. My brother's wife looked out of the window and saw four nii*n, one holding a chicken and the other three standing behind some low shrubbery and ready to shoot. Seeing no men come to the windows or dewr, the band after a while evidently concluded that no men folks were at home, and therefore left the i>laee.

Jly father saw the guerillas as they walked away and could easily have shot one or two of them, but tleeided that, under the circumstances, he had better let them escape, rather than suffer any outrages the survivors and their a.ssociates might commit on the place. Suspieioii.s-looking men pniwlisl around our home for about a week, and my father did not stay at home at night until he felt confident they had left the country.

One night in the winter of 18fi2, after ('apt. Nctter, of the 26th Kentucky Infantry, had attempted to destroy the L. & N. bridge across Whippoor-will ('reek, my father was hailed by some one at the gate, lie opened the door and learned that the man who had called was George Driskill, piloting Netter's men. Uriskill had heard that my father was always ready and willing to help a Federal, so he came to our house for assistance. He had si.\ or seven men with him, all of whom were wounded. One soldier, by the name of John Mayhan, was so sick he could not move any farther, lie was left at our hou.se, while my father piloted the others toward Sacramento.

The next day was mill day and I was sent to ('lark's Mill. This mill stood on the hank of Pond River, but the store was on a rise overlooking the bottoms on the Hopkins County side. From the store we had a elear view, for almost a mile, of the road leading in the direction of Hopkin.sville.

While I was standing on the platform in front of the store I looked acro.ss the river and saw almut a dozen mounted men, each carrying a gun. I asked the merchant, who was weighing .something on the scales, who these mounted men were. He looked up the road and then .said, "By George!

It is tlie cavalry!" I knew they couldn't be Union soldiers, for they were coming from the wrong direction, and besides the appearance of their uniforms, even from that distance, indicated that they were not Pederals. My first thought was of the sick and crippled John Mayhan. It struck me that this squad was on its way to our house after him or any other of Netter's men. I also thought of the many had things this squad might do to our home and farm should they find ilayhan quartered there. I took another good look at the approaching cavalry. They were now about a half mile from the .store. I ran down to the mill, got my horse, and asked the miller to bring out my turn. He did so, and threw the bag of meal over the horse's back. This miller was generally very careless about balancing a sack for a Imy, but this time he happened to strike even halves. I don't think there was an ounce difference in the ends. I poked out ray foot to the miller and he hois-ted me on the horse, for I was then only twelve years old, and after adju.sting the l>ag I started off in a gallop. I knew every hog-path and short cut between the mill and our home. Over the most direct of these I hurried as fast as I could, up hill and down hill and through the woods, until 1 came to the fence at the back of my father's farm ; I got off my horse, laid down a few rails, climbed back on the animal and went tearing through the fields. When I came within hearing distance of the hou.se I yelled, "fiet Mayhan out to the weeds, for the Rebel cavalry is coming after him !"

There happened to be several men at our house when I got there, and ray father said to them that Mayhan mu.st be saved at all hazanis. He and the men rushed upstairs to where the sick man lay and told him the Rebel cavalry were coming after him. When my father picked up Mayhan to carry him down the steps Mayhan begged the men to let him jump down to the lower floor, saying that if it killed him he would be better off. But my father said, ''N'o, I'll take care of you at the risk otmy own life."

While my father was carrying him down he shouted to some of the other men to bring the feather bed and some quilts. They carried Mayhan out into the woods, laid him on the feather bed, spread the quilts over him, then (Covered him with leaves, and returned to the house. In the meantime my mother performed her part. She rearranged the vacated bed and made it look like it had not been occupied.

'Ve waited and waited, but the Rebel cavalry never came. Finally my father sent out one of the men to spy around. He returned with the information that the cavalry had gone to old man (4t«>rge W. Eaves' fann on Pond River to get some hogs for the Rebel soldiers located at Hopkinsville.

When the men learned this, they realized that the alarm 1 hail given was a false alarm, so they brought Mayhan back into the house. A few days later my father disguised his patient, put him in a buggy, and .sent him to Calhoun, where a regiment of Federal soldiers was .still encamped.

The spring of IfitiJ marked the beginning of the third year of the Civil War. Of the many letters that were sent by MuhlenlHTg men while serving in the army only a few, as previously stated, have fallen into my hands. The one written by E. R. Weir while at Shiloh has already been ipioted. Among the others is a letter of ditferent character, but it serves as a sample of its kind. The writer, by taking his ''pen in hand," succeeds in telling, in his own way. something alnnit his life with the soldiers in Warren County :

Muhi.E.S'Berg In' The Civil War

Mr. R. C. J. I with pleasure take my pen in hand once more to drop you a few lines and I am happy to say thes lins leaves me in gooil helth and I hope when this corns to hand it will find you and famly injoying good helth. 1 have mithing interestin to writ this time, only the hoys is all in goo<l helth and as lively as ever. I am agoin to send you the. history of this Regment to you and I want you to get a fram and put it in if you jileas. I wood be glad if I could com home once more but thar is no chance. I wood be glad to see you all, but you must writ, it gives me much plasure to Read your leters, tell Jeff that pal he is well and ed is not hear, he is in .seotts ville, but when he left he was well but wee ar looking for them back every day.

My Respecs to sarah Jane and I hope you ar well, I have had my picture taken and I tell you it is nice, it looks very much like me I think, but I was mad when it was taken, and 1 will tell you weir mounted but I g(*ss you have heard it la-fore now, and we will make the grillars get up and cluck when wee will get after them on our old broak down borsi-s, and when tlie boys chases one anuther tha want to no what tha hav dun that tha ar ridin a rail, so no more of my foolshines. So I must elos, you must writ soon, so nuthin more only far you well.

Two letters written during the latter part of 1863 by D. (.1. numphreys, of Spring Station. Woodford (Tiunty, to Gilbert Vaught Rhoads, contain much that pertains to this period of .Muhlenberg's bistory. 1). C. Humphreys for many years owned a tract of timtier land lying near the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, between Browder and Bellton. Shortl.v la-fore the Civil War broke out Ale.xander Todd came to MuhlenlH-rg to look after this land for his uncle, and with a view of making this his permanent home. He openi-d a .small farm and built a cabin, in which he lived for a few years. 1). C. Hum|>hreys' sister, Elizabeth Humphre.vs, was the seeond wife of Rola-rt S. Toild, who by his tir.st wife was the father of six children (among whom was .Mrs. Abraham Lincoln) and by his second wife wius the father of seven children, among whom was Alexander Todd and Mrs. Ben Hardin Helm. Alexander Todd, having received a special invitation from Abraham Lincoln, went from Muhh-nberg Count.v to Washington Cit.v to witness the inauguration of his brother-in-law, March 4, 1861. Shortly aft«-r his return he joined the Southern army, became ordnance sergi-ant in the First Kentucky Cavalry, was made aidede-camp on the staff of General Ben Hardin Helm, and on August 5, 1862. was killed at Baton Rouge. "Aleck" Todd was a bright young man, and during his stay of a few years in the county was a great favorite among the old people as well as among those of his own age. Although he had a well-furnished cabin of his own, he spent much of his time in the homes of two of his neighliors. David and Alisalom J. Rhoads. Alexandi-r Todd, after his death, was suecet-ded as overseer of the Humphrey tract by his friend Gilbert V. Rhoads:

Gilbert V. Rhoads, Esq. - My dear friend: - Your very acceptable letter of 30th Septemlier I received a short time since. It arrived while I was ab.sent in Illinois which will account for your not receiving an answer sooner. I am happy to learn you have recovered from the dangerous attack of sicknes.s you had in June la.st, and that you bid fair to be in the enjoyment of your usual health again. What a ble.ssing it is to enjoy health and how thankful we all are to Him in whom we live and move and have our being for it.

I have been an.xious for two years to pay you a visit, and had made my arrangements to send some hands down to open a large tobacco farm, but this cruel and unnatural war has broken up all my arrangements, and now 1 don't think it worth while to count upon the work or value of my negro laliour. If the war lasts much longer all our young and valuable negriH' men will be pres.sed into the service to make railromls, cut wood, drive wagons, make fortifications or perhaps enlisted as soldiers. I think the aliolitioni.sts are determined to give a finishing blow to slavery in America. Should they succeed I pity the poor negroes. I liope God will overrule and govern all things for our present anil eternal good, the gixxl of his church and his glory.

I have been speaking to a man who has lived with me several years about going to Muhlenberg and living on my land, lie has not .vet made up his mind on the subject. I don't wish you to rent my place to any one until .vou hear from me. M.v rent corn dispose of as soon as you can for the best price you can get, and retain the money in .your hands until further instructions. Write to me and let me know the amount .you receive for it. Corn here is in good demand at $3.00 per barrel in the field and will be higher. The crop of corn in Indiana and Illinois is very poor; the drought and the early frost have cut it down to almost nothing in places. Last year in Illinois I got only 12V-j cents per bushell for my rent corn; this year 1 am offered 40 cents.

I am glad to learn that my old friend Mrs. Rachael Rhoads is still enjoying goo<l health. Remember me kindl.v to her and all the family. Give my kindest regards to my old friend Isaac Woods who I sincerely hope is jirepared to live or prepareil to die whenever God in his ])royidenee shall see fit to call him. When you see Mr. Raker remember me to him and his wife whose kindne.ss and hospitality I can never forget.

M.y famil.y arc all well e.xeept my grandson David who has been confined for seven weeks with a swelled knee. I fear it is white swelling. He is much better and 1 hope will recover without a stiff knee.

Mr. G. V. Rhoads, - Dear Sir; - 1 am just in receipt of your kind letter of 21st November which by some mistake was missent. I am glad to learn you are enjoying peace and i|uietness ami sincerely hope you may long be exempt from the horrors of war. It is bail enough at a distance, but when it comes into our own hou.ses it is dreadful.

(iHUKliter (who was niarricd to (Jeiieral Helm who was killed at the battle of Chiekaiiiauga.) She gave me -no special directions about (Chaney, but 1 am satisfied she wishes her and her son and daughter hired out and would consult ('hancy's wish in a consideralile measure as to whom she would like to live with. Certainly from my knowledge of Mr. Taggart my sister will have no objection to his having Chancy, and if he is willing to give a fair price for tdiancy and she is anxious to live with him, let him have her.

1 would like to pay a short visit to Muhlenberg this winter if I thought the Guerillas would not overhaul me. I hope the country will soon be free of them.

Remember me to Mrs. Racbael Rhoads and all the family and accept for yourself and family my bi^st wishes for your health, happiness and pro.sperity. Yours truly,

These two letters, it might Ik- well to add. were found in the attic of an old two-story weatherboarded log house standing on a hill overlooking Hrowder. A few years ago a number of old papers, regarded as rubbish by the man who had rented the house, weiv burned after they had been removed from between two of the logs in the wall of this building. Evidentl.v tlu'se two had slipjied down behind the lower log when the other letters wen* removed. At any rate, they were there discovered by Miss Amy .M. lionge.st, who recognized their value as documents bearing on local history.

On or alauit May 10, 1864, there took place what is known as the Fight at Sullivan's Ham. Captain Henry L. Vickers, a recruiting officer for the Southern army, whose home was near Paratlise and who while a member of Company C, Ninth Kentucky Infantry, was woundi-d at Shiloh, was .scouting in Ohio and .McLean counties and had with him sixteen Confederates, most of whom were recruits. In their march through Ohio County this squad appropriated a horse belonging to .Vshby Woodward. When Woodward iliscovered that his animal had been taken he deelar(*d he "would get his horse back or die in the attempt." lie reported the robbery to his brother. Captain Steven Woodward, of the Twenty-sixth Kentucky Infantry, who was an officer of the Home Guards of McLean and Ohio counties, and who immediately organized a pursuing party of about tbirly-two men.

In the meantime Ca|>tain Vickers and his sipiad rode toward Green River, crossed that stream at Point Ph*asant, four miles below South Carrollton, and at about four o'clock in the evening arrived on the Raleigh Sullivan farm in Northern MublenlH*rg, three miles west of Green River. Knowing that he had come to the home of a Southern sympathizer. Captain Vickers a.sked Sullivan for f«)d for his men and forage for his horses, which reipiest was readily complied with.

After feeding their animals in the barn all the men walked to the house, a distance of about one hundred yards, to eat the meal that had been pn/pared for them. They, however, failed to put out any sentries.

This was either through an oversight or because Captain Vickers felt confident that such a precaution was ' unnecessary. At any rate, he evidently anticipated no trouble or attack, and lea.st of all did he suspect that the owner of the stolen horse had traced the theft to them and that a pursuing party was near at hand.

While Captain Vickers and his men were enjoying their meal, Robert N. Sullivan, the son of their host, heard two gunshots fired somewhere on the north or far side of the barn. The l)oy rushed into the house and gave the alarm. These two shots had been fired by Captain Woodward's pur- suing Kederals, who, believing that they were close upon the Confederates, wished to learn whether or not Vickers' men were concealed in the barn, and also desired to draw their fire in order to approximate the size of the sipiad.

As .s(K)n as Captain Vickers learned that the Fetlerals were upon him he rose from the table, and grasping a revolver in either hand and calling to his men to follow him, ran toward the barn. Most of Captain Woodward's soldiers were in the barn, and Captain V'ickers was therefore unable to form any idea as to the size of the party he was attacking. There being only a few Kederals in sight, he told his comrades they "would .soon chase the Yanks away,'' and ordered them to rush forward and to fire as they advanced. When they had covered alxmt half the distance to the barn, crossing the little ravine that separates the two elevations upon which the house and barn stanil, one of the Confederates, Mitchell, a l)oy almut sixteen years of age, was .shot through the bowels and fatally wounded. The Confederates continued their advance, and in the meantime the P'ederals fell back on the north side of the barn.

Mlmii.Enbkru In The Civil War

This retreat jjave Captain Viekers' men temporary possession of the liiiildini;. While attempting to hold a position near the entry until his men eoiild get their horses, Captain Viekers sought to shield himself behind a narrow post. This post probably saved his life, for while he was standing ladiind it a Feileral soldier fired at him with a gun loaded with buekshot, two of whieh lo'lged in Captain Viekers' neek, infiieting painful though not serious wounds. The shooting continued for atmut five minutes, when the Confederates, having regained their hors<*s. hastily retreated under fire. They ran down the road and around a hill, and .soon got beyond the reach of bullets.

As a result of this fight the young Confederate, Mitchell, who had been shot, died in the Sullivan home a few hours later. Ilis Imdy was interred in the New Hope Chureh burying-ground near by and remained there for a number of years, when it was exhumed by relatives and taken to Daviess County. Captain Viekers was captured and .sent to Camj) Cha.se, Ohio, where he was imprisoned until the close of the war. A young unwounded Tennes.sean was captured near the barn. The Federals lost one man, Ashby Woodward, who was shot through the heart. Ilis corpse was taken to his home near Livermore. Only one of Caiitain Woodward's .stpiad was wounded - a man named King, who was shot in the leg. A horse owned by the Federals, another belonging to the Confederates, and five of Sullivan's sheep that were penned up in the barn preparatory to shearing, were killed in the fight.

That night Captain Woodward ijuartered his troops in the Sullivan house, which he kept well protected during his stay by posting sentries in the immediate neighborhood. The next morning he returned to Ohio County with his two prisoners; not with the stolen horse, but with the corpse of Ashby Woodward, who the day before had declared that he "would get his horse back or die in the attempt."

One day toward the end of December, 1864, the people living in and near Greenville were very much aroused by what might be called "a false alarm." It was reported that General Ilylan B. Lyon had burnetl the courthouse at Madisonville and was on his way to Greenville and Hartford to burn the courthouses there. When this report reached Greenville the citizens liecame alarmed and immediately prepared to defend the place. All the people, whether sympathizing with the North or the South, seem to have ignored their antagoni.stic principles and stoo<l united in their desire to save the courthouse. They made ready to resist by iniprovising what might serve the purpose of dcfen.se works. Alfred Johnson and Henry Jenkins were* then building the stone jail. These two men pushed out a few stones from its unfinished walls and thus constructed some porthob's. The brick building on the northwest corner of Court Square was converted into a fort. The windows on the second floor of the Weir store were opened and arranged as places to shoot from, and in one of the brick walls which had no windows two holes were cut.

While all the.se preparations were being made, some of the people lieeame very excited and others grew very impatient. Seba.stian C. Vick, or "Captain Bass Vick," as he was called, was in town at the head of a company of citizon-soldiiTs. After the supposed time of General Lyon's arrival had i>assed, Bass Viek and his men mounted their horses and rode up the l>ower Hopkinsville Road, hoping to locate the expected enemy. However, they saw nothing of him. When they reached Mount Pisgah Church they concluded that General Lyon must have heard of Greenville's preparations for defense and therefore had marched on and left the place in the hands of its five hundred plucky and patriotic citizens. Vick and his men then returned to town and informed the people that General Lyon had gone elsewhere and that all danger was past and the courthouse saved.

One version of this incident ends hy saying that when Bass Vick reentered Greenville with his men he was hailed as the hero who had saved the town, and that if he had killed every man in General Lyon's command ho could not have had a more rousing reception.

It is jirohahle that on this raid General Lyon did not come within the l>ounds of Muhlenberg County. He and his .squadron left Tenne.s.sce during tile early part of Decemher, 18ti4, and after going to Hopkinsville, Princeton, Kddyville, and Madisonville they crossed Green River at Ashbyhurg, in Hopkins County, and then continued to Hartford, Leitchfield, and various other places and arrived in Hopkinsville January 15, 1865. In Hartford and some of the other county seats they hurned the courthou.ses.

Possibly all the men who had joined either army were anxious to return home long before they were mustered out of service; nevertheless they were willing to "stick to the end'' in spite of the many hardshi|>s they hail experienced. This feeling is shown in the following letter written near Atlanta^ hy James W. Wood, of the Mud River country, who enlisted in Company B, Elevioith Kentucky Infantry, in September, 1861, and remained in that company until his regiment was mustered out in Decemher, 1864. The letter is addressed to John II. Wood, Laurel Bluff, Muhlenberg County.

"We entered the town of Hartlord. garrisoned by a baltallon of Federal troops who, on our approach, took shelter in the courthouse. They were speedily surrounded. captured and paroled and the courthouse burned. Just here I beg to remark that all the courthouses burned by General Lyon on this raid through Kentucky were In every case used as Federal garrisons or prison-houses for our Southern- friends. ... It was considered by General Lyon 'a military necessity' to destroy these courthouses. These courtlinuses were no longer needed by the citizens of Kentucky as houses of law and temples of Justice, but as military barracks and stockades for Federal soldiers and prison-houses for unoffending Kentuckians who dared to entertain any sympathy for the Southern cause."

< Mr. L. 1). Griggs, who since 18S5 has made .Muhlenberg County his home, was a member of Company D, Twenty-llfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which saw hard service in front of Atlanta In July, 1864. During this siege he found time to compose a prayer that has been widely published and commented on: "Our Father Abraham, who art In Washington, honored be thy name. Thine administration come. Thy will be done in the South, as It Is done by the Republicans In the North. Give us this day our daily ration of hard tack, beans and bacon. And forgive us our foraging, as we forgive those who forage upon us. And lead us not Into the field of battle, but deliver us from the land of the enemy: for thine la the administration, and the power, so long as thou art In office. Klght men."

We have had a hard time during this campaign ; hut we have no right to grumble, for our regiment hasn't suffered hardly any compared to what some of the others have. Our regiment hasn't been in any general fight lately, though our company had .several men wounded and two killed in a skirmish on the 6th of this month. 1 have written ail about it to John. The wounded were sent hack and the last we heard of them they were doing very well.

I am sorry to hear that the ho.vs have to work so hard on the farm. 1 hope 1 will he at home to help them ne.xt year. I know I could enjoy hard labor at home Indter than soldiering, for soldiering is hard on both mind and body. I do hope and trust that this wicked war will soon he over, but I fear it will be a long time before it is ended. I believe if the head leaders on each side had to come out and lay on the skirmish line and fight and undergo the hardships that we do there would be peace soon.

I don't know what they will do here but there is one thing, we all hope this campaign will soon be over so that we can go home and live in peace with our friends as we have in bygone days. 1 think it has been on hand long enough, but no matter how much longer it la.sts I'll stick to the end.

It is now utmost a year since I was at home and the time appears that long to me too. But there is one giwd consolation: if we live, it will not be long till we .see each other again. If we are not permitted to see each other again in this world I feel that we will all meet beyond this vale of sorrow and tears where all our war troubles and earthly toils will Is- over.

You said in your letter that you had been to the preaching. I am glad to know you all have the privilege of going to church. It is more than I have. I was on (lieket last Sunday night. There was ))rcaching in some regiment; I could hear them singing but I could not leave my post to go. 1 always look forward to the day when I can go to church of a Sunday in |ilace of going on picket. I have heard but two sermons preached since we left Kentucky.

Harvey received a letter last night from cousin Allen, dated August the 5th. He said there were no guerillas in that neighborhood now. I was glad to hear if, for I expect the people hack there will have a hard time anyhow, without having their property taken by the rogue.s.

I would like very much to see you and the folks, but it is hard to tell just when that will be. We are getting along pretty well, considering the hardships we have to undergo. 'l\'e have a prett.v hard time, but the lioys take it cheerfully. We are getting plenty to eat now and the l>oys are generally well and in fine spirits.

H, Y. and J. L. Wood and C. W. McBride are well and send their respects to you all. Give my love and respects to all enquiring frii-nds, the girls in jiarticular, and keep a good portion for yourself. If our friends knew how highly we appreciate their letters down here they would write oftener.

Dear Mother: - We are in old Kentucky once more, and I'm glad of it. We will be mustered out before long. The prospects of peace and of us getting home again has put every single one of us in a very lively mood. We are seeing a fine time here. I am glad I'll be with you soon. .

II. Y. Wood is not with us. lie was left at Chattanooga guarding some government beef cattle, but we are looking for him on every train. The balance of the Ijoys are well and in fine spirits. John MeBride is here with us and is well and hearty.

We .saw a hard time after we left Decatur, Georgia. We left there on the 4th day of Octola'r and had to march nearly every day for over a month. We took the ears at Dalton, Georgia, last Sunday and pa.ssed through Howling Green Wednesday. They had our old battle flag on the depot and you ought to have heard the old Eleventh cheer when they saw it. We had a fine time. I was glad to be so near home.

This is the first letter I have had a chance to write since we left Decatur, and it has also been some time since I heard from you or had a chance to.

James H. Gross, of Hremen. carried a pocket memorandum book with him during the war and in it made brief entries of his movements. With the exception of a few memoranda relative to short visits home after his regiment left Kentucky, all his records pertaining to his career in or near Muhlenberg are written on the first and last pages. These I quote:

Tb«M fifteen Teternne attended the aoldiera* reunion held on May 4, 1912, at the home of William H. Smith, near Faradiae. All had fought In the Federal army except Lycorgna T. Bald, who wae a Confederate aoldier.

Shortly after the close of the war the Grand Army of the Republic was organized. The first post in Muhlenberg was the Columbus H. Martin Post No. 7, Greenville, organized in Octolier, 1883, with Doctor J. W. Church as commander. On March 2.5, 1908, this post was reorganized and its name was changed to the J. N. Paxton Post No. 17, Greenville. II. C. McCracken became commander of the new organization, and has held that office ever since. The post at Central City is the James N. Durall Post No. 64, organized July 4, 1889.

Many reunions of Civil War soldiers have taken place in Muhlenberg County during the past forty years, and they are still taking place. As years roll by the veteran.s are rapidly decreasing in numbers; nevertheless It is more than likely that the holding of reunions will continue until the la.st of the comrades are laid in their graves. All tho.se in this county have been held under the auspices of Federal soldiers. Confederate veterans were always and are still invited to these gatherings. The reunions that have taken place under the auspices of organizations consisting of old Southern soldiers, to whieh the men of Muhlenberg have bdonged, have been held in Logan, Christian, and Hopkins counties, where the fighters for the Lost Cause are more numerous than in Muhlenl>org.

Many of the soldiers' reunions in Muhlenberg have been conducted by the G. A. R. posts. In recent years most of these gatherings have taken place at the homes of old soldiers, where all veterans, neighbors, and others were the guests of the man who had invited the a.ssemhlage. Thus "on the firs-t Saturday in May, 1912,'' William H. Smith, near Paradise, gave a semi-annual reunion at which there were present one Confederate and fourteen Federal soldiers, a brass hand, and seventy other guests, all of whom ate dinner and .supper at the Smith hou.se and took part in an all-day jiicnic. Now, as in the past, the "boys who wore the gray'' are as welcome at these gatherings as the "hoys who wore the blue.''

NO CITIZEN in JIulilenlK'rg is lietter versed in the traditions of the county than Uiehard Thompson Martin. II is ancc'stora came to Muhlenlier^ more than a century ago. He lias lived in the county all his life, and has from early youth been interested in local traditions and current evenl.s. During the past few years Mr. Martin ha.s published a number of sketches of local history in the Greenville Record and in the Muhlenberg Sentinel. Much that he has written of past men and events does not find a place in formal history. It has, however, a value and inten'st all its own, being in the nature of personal recollections that vividly recall ami repeople olil times in an atmosiiherc of singular charm, of appreciative .sentiment and personal interest. Mr. Martin will always deserve a high place in the estimation of those who love native reminiscence. His ]>ublished recollections will inerea.se in value with the years, and should be preserved in some ])ermanent form for the benefit of later generations.

Mr. Martin is the third son of Thomas L. and Mahala (Bell) Martin. He was born on a farm near Old Ijiberty on February 27, 1841, and went to the county schools in that vicinity. He later attended the school taught in Greenville by Profes.sor E. \V. Hall, and completed his English education during the Civil War. For several years he taught school in Ohio, Muhlenberg, ami Christian counties, and then engaged in farming. In 1879 he married Viva Atherton, of McLean County, a daughter of A. J. and Susan (t. Ranney Atherton. In 1882 he left the farm ami took up his residence in Greenville, where he engaged in manufacturing tobacco until 1902, when he retired, leaving the business to his only son, Bureii Martin, who is one of the influential young men of the county.

Richard T. .Martin is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. He ha.s always lieen a Rejiublican in polities. No man in Muhlenberg is better known. He was about twenty years of age when the Civil War broke out. His sketch, "Recollections of the Civil War,'' was originally written in .lanuary, 1911, and published in the Muhlenberg Sentinel, ft was later rewritten for this history.

Recollections Of The Civil War

The stafement.s that 1 liere make eoncerning some of the incidents that took place in Muhlenberg County during the Civil War may not be correct in every detail, for nearly a half century has passed since they occurred. We have no written record of* tliese local happenings, so what I say is according to my recollections, some of which have l>een verified by the riM'ol lections of a few other men who lived in Muhlenljcrg during war times. I find that a number of tliese events have been almost forgotten, and that a few are recalled somewhat differently by different peoi>le. However, most of these incidents, as recalled by those who are still living, are almut the .same as I here give them.

Before the war, citizens of Muhlenberg County occupied a different status from what the.y do now. The pmple wert- then under the i)ersuasion of the old-time religion and the regulations of the old Constitution; their manner of procedure and their customs of living were different from what they are to-day.

On November 6, 1860, Abralmm Lincoln was elected President of the United States, greatly to the surjirise of all the Southern States anil to Kentucky and Muhlenberg County. Nevertl'.eless. the election of Lincoln occurred in the course of human events and undoubtedly proved a blessing to the entire countr.v, although it drenched the nation with the blood and tears of the .sons of libert.v.

The people of Muhlenberg, in the election of 1860, were divided on John Bell, Stephen A. Douglas, and John C. Breckinridge. I have always understood that Abraham Lincoln received only two votes in the county: that of Leonard Lewis and Andrew .Met'lelland. In the spring of 1861, after Lincoln had taken his seat, agitation became alarming; secession isjinmenced in the South: war-clouds began to gather on the horizon, and a revolution seemed inevitable.

Before entering into general details. I shall tell of an occurrence that tiM>k jilace the latter part of August, 1861, which will show the feeling then e.xi.sting among some of the .Muhlenberg people at the beginning of the war.

A protracted meeting was in progress at Pisgah Church, about six miles west of Greenville. One William Harrison, who was born and reared in Christian County, a son of Harvey Harrison, came over to attend the meeting, and during his stay put up with a cousin. Harrison wore, all buttoned up, a full suit of Southern soldier's uniform, of which he seemed very iiroiid. He attracted a good deal of attention in his war apparel. The people were considerably worked up about the rebellion of the South. Harri.son was an incessant talker and braggart. He claimed to have been at the battle of Bull Run, which was fought on July 21, 1861. He did much bragging and laiasting almut this, telling the peojile bow the Southern soldiers made the Yankees run and how the.v mowed the Federals down and cut them to pieces with corn-knives and .scattered the retreaters like sheop. He also asserted that the Yankees were all cowards, and that the South would whip them before long. Harrison was not advised of the sentiment of the people in the Pisgah neighborhood, who were then largely in favor of the Union. Although they had remained neutral up to that time in regard to the war, they had no inclination to worship a rebel hero, especially during a protracted meeting. Harrison attended the meeting only at night. His continued abuse of the Yankees and the Federal government began to create considerable excitement, and the Union boys discussed the question'''^f whipping Harrison and making him leave. Although he seemed to haVe found out something of the intended whipping, he nevertheless hung around. He would go to Greenville during the day, where he was as.soeiate<l with .some young men who expected to join the Southern army. Harrison brought them out to the church with him the next night after the whipping was first talked about, to serve as a kind of Ixalyguanl. They all wore caps and impnivised .Southern uniforms. There was no whipping done that night, for it was then believed, and afterward fouml out, tlmt llarri.son and liis company were all armed. The next night all of them came riding up again while the church people were as.sembling. But no fighting or whipjiing took place.

That night an old gentleman informed the elders of the church that he had discovered some guns behinil a log in the edge of the woo<ls not far away. So the elders thought best, under the exciting conditions, to adjourn the meeting. When the people had about all assembled, and while most of the men were still standing around outside, one of the leading elders went to the front door and announced that the meeting had closed and that the people could all go home. lie did not give a reason, but simply said that it wa.s thought best to close the meeting. The young men around Pi.sgnh were greatly incensed Ixs^ause the .services had to be closed on account of llarri.son's capers. That same night three young men rode over the neighixirhood and notified a number of persons in whom they had confidence fo meet at 01<1 Liberty C'hureh the next morning at sunrise. At tin- appointed time alxmt twenty met, among whom were five old men who ha<l also lii'ard of the arranged meeting. The object of coming together was to consider the propriety of hanging Harrison. Most of the young men favored the hanging. The old men dissented; they rea.soned with the young men. One old man got up on a log and made a little talk to them, .saying; "Hoy.s, we .seem to have a fearful future before us. Our county and State are api>arently in great danger of being made a bloody field of battle. Armies are being rai.sed in Ixirtlering States, north and south. A big war, I believe, is inevitable, and we do not know into whose hands we shall fall. Our honu's may be in the midst of battle, and we should be very careful how we act and w'lat we say and do. To hang Ilarri.son would not profit any one, but such an act might lx" the means of great harm to ourselves." The old man. in closing his argument, said; "Hoys, take an old man's advice for once. While you are doing well, let well alone." After the old men had talked with the young men, they proposisi that one of the crowd go and notify Harrison to leave the county at once. This was done, and Harrison's cousin immediately conveyed him back to Christian County. That was the last seen of Harrison around I'isgah. He died afterward, in Hopkinsville.

Most of the citizens of Kentucky sought neutrality, and wi.sheil to take no part in the disturbance. Tlu; majority of the people of Muhlenberg County were opposed to war, hut were for a peaceable settlement of the difficulty if po.ssible. While some few were for secession, a large majority were for the protection and perpetuation of the Union on peaceable tenns. The step taken by Kentucky and her counties was armed neutrality; the State Guard was organized and went into camp service at once, and in the various counties the Home Guards were formed and held in reserve. Tlinx!

Home Guard oompanies were made up in Muhlenberg - one eomiuanded by Edward R. Weir, sr., of Greenville, one by Doctor Shelby A. Jackson, of Paradise, and a third was formed in the southern part of the county. The company of Edward R. Weir, sr., was the largest in the county and was drilled regularly at Grt'enville. These eompanies were organized in the spring of 18G1, and were at that time i-omposed entirely of Union men. who were opposed to the dissolution of the Union. All of the Secession element lookeel upon the Home Guard procedure with suspicion.

In the spring of 18(il the veterans of 1812 and of the Mexican War held a reunion the day the Home Guards gathered to drill. Many of the old soldiers were present, some of whom took part in the exercises. Hut the maneuvers were according to a later manual, and the old men appeared a little awkward in the new commands. Of the War of 1812 soldiers I .saw that day 1 now recall Joseph (J. Reynolds, .John Shelton, M. Collins Drake, Joseph McCown, Ephraim M. Brank, George Penrod, Charh« Fox Wing, Larkin N. Akers, and Thomas Terry.

Thomas Terry, the father of Az(>l Jl. Terry, took the new company through some of the evolutions used during the War of 1812, and gave the crowd a good idea of the old-time drill. Thomas Terry was a soldier in the second war with England, and his son, Azel Jl. Terry, was a Federal soldier in the Civil War.

At this gathering Edward Rum.sey addressc-d the old soldiers, complimenting them on their great service in the defen.se of their country. Rumsey seemed a little trammeled on this occasion. In his early life he was an advocate of the principle of the abolition of slavery, but now his sympathies had turned. A short time afterward he i.s.sued a printed circular stating that his sentiments were with the South. He was the owner of some negroes, and it was .said b,y some of the abolitioni.sts that he feared that the.v would be freed, and that he did not want to give them up in his old age.

Edward R. Weir, sr., was a nephew of and a law student iiniler Rumsey, who taught and impres.sed Weir so favorably with the prineipli's of abolition that Weir still adhered to them even after Rum.se.v changed. Hence Weir and Rum.sey stood on opimsite sides in |)olities after the war broke out. After Rumsey had made known how his s.vmpathies were he took no very active part in polities, but lived retired and devoted most of his time to his [M-rsonal affairs.

Edward R. Weir, sr., iH-eaine the leader and advi.s<>r of the Union element of the county, and Robert S. Biis.sell beaded the Secession element. Ru.ssell was selected by the Secession advocates to represent them in a Confederate legislature which met at Rus.sellville, Kentucky, November 18 to 20, 18G1. Rus.sell, together with some two hundred others, adopted an ordinance of secession and declared Kentucky out of the Union. Three weeks later the Confederate Congress at Richmond, Virginia, went through the form of admitting the State into the Southern Confederac.v. Hut the Rus.sellville legislature was short-lived. It was routed by the Union arm,v. Rus.sell went south, and did not return until after the close of the war, when he came back and movisl his etfeets to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he died in 187.1.

Till* U'l^islative race in 1861 took place between Jinlffe Joseph Ricketts, representing the Union sentiment of the county, and R. 11. Reynolds, representing the Secession element. Ricketts wa.s elected by a very large ma.jority.

The Home Guards met regularly. About the middle of September, while they were drilling in the western part of Greenville, a small company of young men who had been recruited for the Southern army in Daviess, McLean, and Ohio counties came through Greenville on their way .south, and stopped in town for a few hours. Some of the Home Guards wanted to drive them out, but were told by Weir to let them alone unle.ss they acted imprudently, in which event they could attack them. The southbound boys .soon left without causing any trouble or raising any disturbance.

General Simon Bolivar Buckner, who wa.s at the head of the State Guard, ,ioine<l the Southern aniiy in September, and took with him much of the State Guard equipment and nearly all of the men under him. He afterward had his lusuhiuartei's at Bowling Green. In the meantime a number of the Home Guards began to disband, for many of them were divi<led in their sympathy. War was threatening on the southern liorder of the State; the guns of Weir's company of Home Guards were ordered in at Bethel Uhureh, and were hauhal from there in a two-horse wagon to Christian County, but they were soon returned to .Muhlenberg. Some of these firearms were left in the Pisgah neighborhood, with the request that they be hidden away for safe-keeping. We Iwys, together with Uncle Riehmontl Pace (R. O. Pace's grandfather j, hid about three dozen of the guns under the floor of Old Liberty Chiireb, which had been abandoned as a place of worship before the war. The guns remained there for several months, when they were called for by the Federal authorities,

Excitement began to run high ; the social relations of thase who favored the Union were somewhat estranged from those who favored the South. They became like the Jews and the Samaritans, and had but little dealings with one another outside of business matters. "Birds of a feather flock together.''

Some families and many old friends were divided u|)on the Union and Secession (piestion, and consequently hard feelings and high words would often occur between the Secession and Union people of .Muhlenberg. At that period a largi' ma.iority of the citizens of Muhlenberg favored the Union. William G. Jones, who was reelected county .iudge in 1858, was in sympathy with the South; so was Moses Wiekliffe, who was elected sheriff in 1860 and who shortl.v after n-signed and .joined the .Southern army. The remainder of the county officials were for the Union.

By the first of September, 1861, the war talk and feeling became general in Muhlenberg and throughout Kentucky, and preparations wen* made for recruiting the increasing number of volunteers.

Toward the last of September, lafil. General Buckner, with aliout fifteen hundred men, moved from Bowling Gri'cn to Hopkinsville. He marched by way of Rmdiester, where on September 26th he attempted to de.stroy the lock and dam on Green River. His .soldiers created considerable excitfim-nt aloDR tlic line of mareli. The rear guard of his army was very reckless, and treatwl the people along his route somewhat roughly.

On his way to Ilopkirnsville General Uurkner pa.s.sed through Greenville, where he viewed the remains of Charles Fox Wing, who had died the day before. He camped that .same night at the Reuben Kllison spring, southwest of town. I well rememher when, on the next morning a little after sun-up, he resumed his march. The day was clear and calm. We could distinctly hear the rattle of the war-drum as it .sounded oiit on the morning

THE PBOWSE 0U> BBIDOE AOBOSS FOND BIVEB It Stood near the site of the Old Beno Mill and was built in 1861 on piers that supported a former bridge, over which General Buckner and his men marched, September 27, 1861. This wooden bridge was replaced In September, 1911, bp an iron bridge, a few daps after this picture was taken air, althougli we were live miles from the camp. This war tocsin sounded the alarm to the people of Muhlenlierg that danger was ahead. Its music touched and fired the patriotism and nerve of the Union element in the count.v. This was the first army that had ever pa.s.sed through Muhlenberg, and considerable excitement prevailed, especially along Buckner's line of march. A good many of the natives left their homes and took to the woods.

1 had never seen a marching urm.v, .so I rode over to the upper Hopkins ville Hoad, ladieving that I could there .see Buckner's entire command. But when 1 arrived there I found that part of the army had taken the lower Hopkinsville Road, which ran past our home, that I had left only an hour before. General Buckner was with that part of his arm.y, and the General himself stoppisl at our hou.se and talktsl with my father, who knew him when he was a boy at the old Buckner Furnace on Bond Creek.

1 was infornu'tl that tlie divisions would he reunited at the Prowse Hridge, on the lower Hopkinsville Road. So I followed on to the bridge, where I saw General Huekner and his men. including the JIuhlenherg hoys with whom 1 was acquainted, who had joined the Southern army. They were ail in good spirits, although marching to become targets for the missiles of death. Some of them never came hack, lluckner's army continued its march ami reached Hopkiasville on the 2!)th, after having had a little skirmi.sh with .some of the Home Guards in Christian County.

I do not think there were more than twenty-five or thirty men from Muhlenla-rg who joined the Southern army during 1861. Doctor John E. Pendleton, of Hartford, organized a company in Ohio County for the Southern army, and most of the Muhlenla'rg lM>ys enlisted under him.

Buckner's passing through Butler, Muhlenberg, and Christian eountii's aroused the Union element, and gave impetus and acceleration to the organization of (,'olonel P. B. Hawkins' regiment of Gem-ral Thomas L. Crittenden's division, which had commenced to form at Calhoun. I am under the impression that William James, jr., was the first man in the county to enlist in the Federal army. Five companies were recruited in Muhlenberg and Iweame parts of the Eleventh Kentucky Infantry and Third Kentui-ky Cavalry. Company B of the Eleventh Infantry was the first formed, and was organized by Edward R. Weir, jr., and W. F. Ward; Company K by .M. J. Roark and C. H. .Martin; Company II by l.saae R. Sketo and J. K. Freeman. Company D, of the Third Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by Colonel J. S. Jack-son, was organized by A. N. Davis. Captain Davis was taken prisoner at the battle of Sacramento, and was suceeedeil by T. J. liovelace. Company F, of the same cavalry, was organized hy Isaac .Miller and Elisha Baker; Baker smm succeeded t'aptain Miller. These five companies were made up itrincipally of Muhlenberg men.

General Buckner, during October, 18til, left a garrison at llo|ikinsville under the command of Colonel Janus L. Alcorn, of Mississii)pi. who was later succeeded by Colonel Lloyd Tilgliman. Colonel N. B. Forn-st was also stationed at Hopkinsville until the fii-st of February, 18t!2. During the stay of Forrest at Hopkinsville his men di<l a good deal of scouting, and oftsn eame into -Muhlenberg. Their raids kept the people terrified, and were the means of driving some into the Federal army at Calhoun who might not otherwise have joined. A number were so frightened that they rushed to ('alhoun for safety. Some of the strong Union people of Greenville also went to Calhoun for prateetion, and remained there until almut the middle of February, 1862, when the Federal army left for the Soiilh.

To show that young people will have their fun and will play their pranks even during the terrors of war anti in the face of battles. I will relate an occurrence that toftk place al>out three mdes from Pisgah Church in November, 1861, shortly after one of Colonel Forrest's first raids into the county. 'Fhere were .some families living in that neigblHirhootl at that time who were very easily scared, and who were giMMl liamls to frighten others with false report.s.

For th<* sake of liavinf; a little fun, a dozen or fifteen Itoya, just grown up. led l>y some older ones, concluded that they would play "Forrest" and make a raid among the natives. So they met at a designated house on the upper Hopkinsville Koad and in the vicinity of the place they had decided to "raid." The crowd met just alxnit dark, and rigged thenuselves up in true cavalry style. They carried a numlier of pistols, which they loaded, hut without halls; some of them fastened chains on their persons or horses, to rattle like sahers; many had sticks to repre.sent guns. A little after the stars apjieared this hugus cavalry started on its raid.

A f('w minutt>s before remounting their horses they .sent a man ahead, named AVells. to call out at the fence of their first victim, to tell the family that there was a company of .Southern cavalr}' at the hou.st' he had jiLst pas.sed who were tearing things up generally, and that he had come to warn them to 1k' on the lookout. Wells was instriieted to pretend to he in a great hurry and to change his voice as much as possible, .so that no one would recognize him. He had the family pn-tty well aroused when the "cavalry" was heard approaching. "Here they come!" he said, and then started oft' on a gallop. There was a lane about two hundred yards long leading from the main road down to the house, and as Wells rushed uj) the lane the company da.shed in and took after him. .shooting rapidly and yelling "Halt! Halt!" As arranged in advance, they captured Wells within hearing distance of the house. Home of the hoys called out, "Have you killed him?" and tin- answer came hack, "No, hut he is fearfully wounded." One man then asked in a very loud voice, "(.'aptaiii. what must we do with him?" The captain, wanting every word to hi- heard, cried out. "Don't kill him - we want to find out what he was up to at this hou.se. .Surround the house and field at once!" Some were ordered to go around the field, hut they did not go. In the meantime the frightened family threw chunks of fire out the fmnt door, and made their esea|»e. A few of the "raiders" then went down to the hou.se, and found that everylKidy had tied. The family consisted of a father, three grown sons, two grown daughters, and a daughter-in-law. The crowd had rea.son to believe that the hoys had run to the woods and that the old man and the women had hidden in the barn or stables. For the benefit of those who might he in these buildings some of the Iioys shouted, "Hum the stahh-s!'' Then the captain, in a voice that could he heard all over the place, said. ".\'o! let the stables alone! I am confiiient that these pi-ople have all gone to the woods. Home, let's take our prisoner and move up the road to tlie next farm." The family little realized that this "cavalry" was composed of the same persons who, some two months before, had chari varied the married son at his father-in-law's home, located about three miles up the road. The noise on that occasion was kept up for many hours, and was discontinued only after the old lady had repeatedly requested the l)oys to "stop that there shiver-de-freezing.''

Ju.st before the "raiders" reached the next house they saw the family there run acrass the road and down to the woods. These people had heard the racket at their neighbors' and were doing the best they could to make their escape. When the erowd came up to the gate everything was still ; no light was to lie seen. The captain's loud voice now rang out "Nobody at home here!" The "cavalry" then turned and left the public highway and took a country road leading to a nearby neighlior's house.

When they entered the lane running by the house of their third victim they started one of their men in a fast run ahead of the crowd, and the others, shooting in every direction, charged after him, and as they passed the house shouted, "Halt! Halt!" They capturwl the man so noisily pursueil, and then brought him back near to the farmer's front door. One of the leaders hallooed several times, and tlnally the old lady .stuck her head out of the door. 'I'lie captain asked her who lived there, and she told him. He then requested her to tell her husband to come out. She .said that he was in bed sick, and not able to be up. As a matter of fact the erowd knew he had gone to Greenville that day. The captain then a.sked her whether he was a Lineolnite or a Southerner. She answered that he had never taken sides, but had alwa.vs la*en neutral and stayed at home and attended to his own busines.s. The captain then told her that he and his soldiers would camp up on the road and wanted her husband to come up early the next morning, and eoncliuhsl by saying that if he did not come they would return and make him lake the oath to support the South. Then the erowd r«le off, feeling a little ashameil of themselvi-s for having seared the old lady .so badly. After a little talk on the subject they decided to disband. They agreeil, however, that every one would deny any knowledge of the affair, and that all would meet at Pisgah Churvh the next day, Sunday, to hear the report of the raid.

All the parties were on hand before the church services began, 'riie young men who were routeil from their homes told a wonderful tale of how a company of Southern cavalry had raided the whole neighborhood, "torn up jack generally," and had wounded or killed a man near their hou.se, and how all night long they had heard the raiders shooting. They said they believisl that the man who was captured and perhaps killed was Wells. Hut while they were talking alnuit the affair Wells came riding to the church, and after he had hitched and come up he was a.sked what he knew about the ease. Wells said he had not noti<'cd any signs of a disturbance and hail not heard the shooting, and ili-elare<l that this was the first he had heard about the excitement. He made many inquiries, and they told him that they tmik him to be the man who had notified them that the raiders were coming. He convinced them that they were mistaken in the man. The people were greatly puzzled for awhile, but it finally leaki'd out that this was a laigus raid.

It was learned tliat the three hoys living in the first house "raided" ran about a mile to the home of some friends, and the whole family, with the refugees, slept in a straw-stack all night. It was a cold, frost.v night. The people living in the second house .stayed in the wimils until just before sun-up, when they crept cautiou.sly back home. The man who, the night before, was reported sick and not able to stir, got eonsiderably better the next day: but he did not go to the camp to see almut taking the oath.

This kind of procedure wa.s, of course, a very dangerous one, and had it been carried on in some other neighliorhood it probably would have terminated very seriously. In fact, after it was all over every one of the boys in this Saturday night "raid" began to realize what might have been the result of their wild frolic. As far as I know, there are but three now living who belonged to this "Ixigus cavalry" of ISfil.

There were some youngsters who thought if the bogus cavalry could play "Forrest," they could play "Buckner." When General Buckner pas.sed through the county he had several little brass cannons with him, that were greatly admired by all the young fellows who saw them. These Iwys concluded that they wanted a cannon to shoot and to scare the timid natives. Three or four of the youngsters got together and called on Eiiward O. Pace, then a black.smith near the Pisgah neighborhotid, and a.sked him if he could help get up a cannon. lie said that he could. Pace wa.s then a young man, and although he had been married a few years he nevertheless enjoyed the fun and pranks of boys. So he told the youngsters to go to the woods and cut out a black gum log eight or ten inches in diameter and about three feet long and bring it to his shoj), and he would manufacture a cannon for them.

A log was procured, taken to Pace's shop at night, and the work on the cannon was commenced at once. The bark was shaved off nicely. Pace had a two-inch auger with a long shank, and with this he bored a hole in the end of the log down to a depth of fifteen or sixteen inclies; lie then hored a half-inch auger hole through the log to the tiottom end of the two-inch auger hole. This smaller opening was for the fuse and served as a touch-hole. He had a lot of old wagon-tires in his shop, and out of these lie made a number of bands an<l drove them on the wooden cannon as close as he could conveniently get them. He then loaded the big gun with some powder and made a trial shot to test its strength. It .stood the test and wa.s pronounced ready for "warfare."

The youngsters carried the cannon to a field near Pisgah Church. They procured all the powder they could get, and one night commenced a regular cannonading. They' put in heavy' charges of powder and the report fairly shook the eartli; the nois<> rolled and reverberated in the distance like thunder. The whole neighborhood became alarmed. Some of the people were badly scared, for they thought Buckner or some other army was right in their midst. James Jones, of Long Creek, who happened to be visiting the nearby house of W. C. Martin, became so frightened at the first shot that he crawled under the la*d and remained there for some time. The whole neighborhood was diinifoundcd at the loud shooting. The roaring of this cannon was heard in Greenville, over on Pond River, and near the Christian County line. The next day there was a eonsiderable stir among th(> natives, for most of them inquired almut the shooting. No one seemed to know who liad kept up such a cannonading. In the meantime the boys were reaping the plea.sure of having played "Buckner" .so well.

After the cannon had rested a while it was taken over on the upper Hopkinsville Road, where .some repairs were made on it at the James Rice hlaeksmith shop, then run by W. II. and E. Rice. E. Rice did the work for the lioys, and a few nights later the cannonading was carried on in that neighl)orhoo<l, where it caused considerable alarm.

The cannon was next carried near to a house in which Billy D. Rice then lived. There it was again put into service, hut before discharging it E. Rice loaded it with a shop-hammer for a ball and aimed the haiT<'l at a nearby tree. The ('annon went off with a tremendous roar and sent the .shop-hammer deep into the trunk of the tree, where I presume it has remained buried ever since.

During the list days of Deeemla-r, 1861, Colonel Forre.st, with .some three hundred men, made a raid down through ('hri.stian and Muhlenberg counties to near Sacramento in Mcla>an County, where he came in contact with Major Eli II. Murray amt alRuit one hundred and eighty men of the Third Kentucky Cavalry. Colonel Forrest brought on the attack with part of his men, and Major .Murray formed a line and ri-pulsed the first charge, ft is said that Murra.v might have stood his ground against Forre.st 's entire force hail not some of Murra.v *s recruits commenced a retreat to Sacramento, in consequence of which he was unable to check or rally his men. Colonel Forrest, seeing the disorder, charged them, and a running fight ensued which continued for a few miles, after which Forrest's cavalry returned. Murray's men never stopped on the road until they reached Calhoun, hadly .scattered and generally excited. Six of Murray's command were killed, including Captain A. (». Bacon, of Frankfort, and Isaac Mitchell, who lived near the old Buckner Furnace, and seven were wounded and captured, among whom was Captain A. N. Davis, then living near Friendship Chundi. Forrest's loss was two killed, one of whom was Captain Ned .Merriwether, and three wounded. It was claimed that some of the citizens of Sacramento did damage by shooting at the Federals as they passed through the town. Some arrests were afterward made anil the parties dealt with.

Colonel Forrest came back through (ireenville, left some prisoners in town, and continued his march until he reached Pisgah Church, on the lower IIo|>kinsville Road, where he went into camp. Colonel Forrest and .Major D. C. Kelly occupied a tooiu in a residence near the church, where they ate supper and breakfast. In the meantime their men helped themsi'lves to the corn and hay, and left a perfect wreck of feed from the crib and barn all the wa.v to the church house. Thesi- things, however, were paid for in Confederate money.

While in this house Colonel Forre.st related a good deal eoneerning the battle he had had with .Major Murray. He told almut the capture of Captain A. N. Davis and John E. Williams. lie stated that in the running fight Davis rushed uj) behind him, and that he would have received a fatal thrust had not Davis' horse fallen, for in the fall of the animal Davis' arm was tlislocatcd ami la- rose and surrendered. lie also said that he saw -lohii L. Willianis, the Gn*enville earpenter, on the ffround, rode up to him, and demanded that he surrender; but Willianis looked him straight in the eye, and drew Imek his pistol and threw it with great force, .striking him on the brea.st, and would have knocked him olf his horse had he not been a large man; that imiiuKliately some of his (Korrest's) men rushed up and la-gan using their sabers on Williams, but he (Forrest) stopped them at onee. He remarked that Williams was too brave a man to 1h! butchered when overpowered.

Williams was a Mason and so was Colomd Forre.st. Forrest brought Williams to Oreenville, the home of Williams, and left him with his family. He also brought a prisoner to Oreenville whase name was, I think, Ed Baker, a lieutenant from Princeton, Kentucky. T saw this prisoner the next day at Ueno's Hotel. He was badl.v wounded; shot in the legs, arni.s, ami body, and was absolutely helples.s. He remained in the hotel for two months, and then went home. This was the last raid made in .Muhlenberg County by Colonel Forri'st or his men.