Muhlenberg County, Kentucky - The whole text, 1913 (part 9 of 13)

I remembiT that when the battle of Fort Donel.son was being fought on February 1-1 and 15, 18t!2, we could di.stinetly hear the cannon roar, although about fifty miles away. I also remember that on Weilnesday, the 14th, it was cloudy in the forenoon and that in the aftermxin it eommenoed to rain a little. The breeze was from the west, and about half-pa.st two o'clock we heard some rumbling noise which we at first took to be thunder, but about three o'clock we were eonvineisl that it was the roar of cannon, and that a battle was going on somewhere. A eontiniious rumble was heard until night. Snow eommeiieed falling about sundown, and the next morning it was three or four inches deep. On the 15th the noise was more distinct, and from the information we could get we .itidged that the roaring came from Fort Domdson. Some .lluhlenlM'rg laiys immediately started to Hopkinsville to learn what they could about the battle. I'pou their return the.v told us how, after a two-da.vs' battle, General Buckner had surrendered to General Grant.

-\fter the Southern army left Hopkinsville, about the first of February, 18<)2. the peo]ile of the county felt some relief. They believed that the war was going from them; but the political sentiment of "I'nionism" and what was called ''RelMdism" was still being agitated. During the first part of lHt!2 "war talk" was the ]irinei|>al entertainment. During the first two years of the Civil War there were more lies told and tnoix' statements exaggerated about things connected with the war than during any other i>eriod of the country's histor.v. One old gentleman, who made a tri|) to Greenville onee or twice a week to get news alamt great battles, defeats, and surrenders, told nn? that when he went to Greenville and proeiirtsl the truth, wra|)ped it up in a silk handkerchief, look it home and opene<l it, that it would then be a "diirn lie."

Lying was a great feast for the i>eople during the war, and did much giKsl for a time. -Ml preachers claim that lying is bad medicine and should Ik* avoided, but 1 notietsl that during the war it did many people good. I have seen whole crowds shake themselves, shout and halloo, on the presenta- tion and reception of a lie, as if they had gotten religion. A well-woven and well-founded lie would la.st .some time, and would he boosting and bracing to either the Union or Secession elements in the county. When the Union people received a favorable report, although unverified, they would get together, rejoice, and feel good. The Southern element .sometimes got a favorable but unconfirmed report, and they too would have a rejoicing. Hence all the people were cheered and strengthened, at times, during their troubles. On the other hand, there was no time, from the commencement of the war until peace was declared, during which there was not a good deal of uneasinc.ss and an.xiety manifested by the people of the county.

Among the great events of the year 18li2 was Morgan's march through ^luhlenherg. His coming was a surprise to cverylxidy. (lencral John H. Morgan entered Greenville on Saturday, the 25th of Octola-r, 18(12. Snow fell four inches deep that night and it was cold and chilly, although the trees were still green. It was an unfavorable day, nevertheless there was a large crowd in town, and Morgan's men did a good deal of trading and swapping of horses and saddles with the people who had come in from the country. 'Fhey also contracted a large hill at Hancock & Reno's .store for such things as they needed in military life. In making the.se trades and swaps Jlorgan's men always got the best of it. After they had finished trading with the natives they marched out the upper Hopkinsville Road about three miles from Greenville and camped near the residence of a Southern sympathizer, who was a large slave-owner and who had ln>en a soldier in the War of 1812. He was as clever a man as ever lived in the county, alwa.vs generous, kind, and accommodating. His home was open at all times to respectable peo|)le, rich or pixir. No doubt he was glad to have an opportunity to e.xtend his unre.served hospitality by entertaining so noted and distinguished a general and patriot of the South as General Morgan.

While General Morgan and the landlord were enjoying a nice repast, prepared I'specially for the occasion, and while being comfortably entertained before a nice wood fire, talking about the possibilities and probabilities of the Southern Confederacy, Morgan's men, who were left outside to brave the failing snow and bleak winds of the night, were helping them- .selves to the landlord's beehives. The ne.xt morning (Sunday) after breakfast, and after bidding General Morgan good-by and wishing him suee(»s.s, the old gentleman thought that he would look around and see if things were all in place. He .soon discovered that his lasdiives were gone.

"Well, well, sirs!'' he murmured. Then, returning to the house, he called his wife and said, "Well, well, sirs, Polly, those dirty rascals of Morgan's have actually taken our la-ehives!''

"You don't say so!" exclaimed his wife. "If I bad known that. General Morgan would not have slei»t in our best bed or gotten anything to eat here!"

The old man followed their tracks in the snow, found his empty beehives, a lot of frozen liees, and a little hone.v scattered over the abamloned caiiip. When he returned to the house he remarked to his wife, "That sure was a dirty act, Polly, hut I was a soldier onee myself and know something about such capers and shall not raise a fuss."

Some of Morgan's men, being of a religious turn of mind, went to church that same Sunday morning. General Morgan gave them leave to attend meeting at Friendship. Xot many of the people were aware of Morgan's presence in the neighlwrhoixi. There was a large crowd present, including the religious part of Morgan's men. The .sermon was a little too lengthy for Morgan's men, so they had to leave before services were over, for fear of getting too far behind their commander. Rut in their haste nearly all of them mistook somebody rise's hor.se for their own, and rode off in .such a hurry that they apparently never discovered their mistake. Rut when meeting broke, the people who owned the horses that were taken saw what had been done.

There was at least one horse-trade made that day in which the owners of the horsi's gave their consent to the exchange. I remember that II. N. Martin, then a young man living with his parents near Pisgah Church, owned a large, fine-looking black horsi? called "Hector," of which young Martin was very proud. Hiding the horse out to Friendship Church on Sunday, he met up with Morgan's men and was induced to make an even swap with one of them. lie exchanged "Rector" for an old broken-down stove-up, twist-tailed horse, which he rode home expecting to surpri.se his parents. Swa|>ping horses on the Sabbath they thought was bail enough, but the trade made was even worse.

Morgan's march through Muhlenberg and Christian eountii*s, as stated bi-fore, was unexpected. No one knew, at the time, for what purpose it was made. It was believed by .some that General Morgan was induced to come into Muhlenberg and Christian counties to defeat Kdward R, Weir, sr., for Congress. An election came off on the following Monday between Weir and George II. Yeaman. The presence of Morgan .so terrified the people that not many went out to vote in .Muhlenberg and Chri.stian counties, Weir's stronghold, and consequently Weir was defeated. The Secessionists did not like Weir; he took an active part against them. For a long time Weir himself thought that .some of the leading Secessionists had planned to have Morgan's raid in Muhlenberg and Christian counties take place at the time of the election.

During 1862 there was considerable excitement in Western Kentucky, caused by guerrilla warfare, recruiting, and bushwhacking. Companies of both Federal and ConfiHlerate armies were moving over diffenmt counties. Colonel Adam R. .lohn.son, of the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, did some fighting for the South. Detached coiii])anies from Johnson's command made raiils. and plundered many of the towns and villages along their course. A1 Fowler, Jack Porter, Jake Rennett, Ray, Syi>ert, and others InJonging to some of his companies were troublesome and caused considerable uneasine.ss for a long time. These guerrillas were often chased, scattered, and driven out of the State by Federal troops, but most of them

A1 Fo\vU*r and Jack Porter, both residents of Hopkins County, livint^ between Pond River and JIadisonville, did a good deal of scouting among the natives while recruiting men for the Southern army. Some of the Muhlenh<'rg Imys joined them. Fowler was active in the guerrilla service.

During the latter part of 1862 Fowler made a raid into Muhlenberg County, and was followed by a eompany of Federals commanded by Colonel James II. Holloway, of the Eightli Kentucky Cavalry. Colonel Holloway and some of his soldiers crossed Pond River near Hugh W. McNary's, and on reacliing tlie McNary farm wanted to go into camp for the night. But MeNary rc«iuested them to move farther up the road, explaining that some of his famil.v were sick. JIcNary knew that A1 Fowler and his men were in JIuhlenberg, and suspecting that the.v were close by feared a fight would take place near his home. Colonel Holloway then marched up the road near the residenee of Thomas C. Summers, where the town of Earh^s now stands, and went into camp at what was known as the Becky Summers house, a vacant house on the (ireenville and Matlisonville Road.

Fowler and his .s<piad were south of the Summers place, and liaviug located Holloway moved along a lane leading into tlie Greenville and Madisonville Road to where the Federals liad gone into cami). It being night, h''owler and his men tried to .slip up on the Federals, aiming to surpri.se and .stampede them. But the Federals were rcad.v for the attack, and when they were shot at returiiisl the fire. Man.v said that the first volley fired I>y the Federals killed Fowler; others stated that the Federal picket killed Fowler. His own men believed he was accidentall.v shot by one of his own sipiad. After Fowler was killed his men were routed and seattered and left the countj'. Porter succeeded Fowler as captain of the company. Holloway pas.sed tlirougli (Ireenville tlie next ila.v, going east, carr.ving Fowler's hat on the end of a long stick. Captain Fowler was with Forrest in tlie .Saeraniento fight and also took part in tlie liattle of Fort DoncKson. It is said that Fowler was the man who used his saber on John L. Williams

The brick residence erected bj Thomas 0. Summers at Earles In 1867 stands near the old store building and the abandoned log house, occupied bp him during and before the OItU War.

After the death of Captain Fowler, Jack Porter made a raid into the count.v and tlirougli (ireenville. Jack Porter was a .son of Henry Porter, a strong I'liion man who lived on the (Ireenville and Madi.sonvillc Road near where Luzern is now located. Thomas C. Summers, who conducted a store and tobacco hou.se at his home on the JIadisonville Road near Pond River, was in Greenville one da.v during this raid, getting some ca.sh for use in his hiisiness. When he heard that Porter intended capturing liim and raidinf; his store, Summers, having no desire to be captured or raided, sprang into liis saddle, left town, and rode home as fast as possible, hoping to reach his store before Porter could get there. Porter's men followed Summers for awhile, but he outdistanced them so much that they turned and moved in a body toward Pond Kiver. Morris Moore and Dave Cain were with Porter. Both were Muhlenberg boys, and took great delight in bushwhacking around.

Moore, on one occasion, came to Greenville on a spying expedition and was run out of town by Buck Boone, a Federal soldier of the Third Kentucky Cavalry, who was at his home near town on a furlough. Boone determined to arrest Moore when apprised of his presence. Moore heard of this while in Sam Elliott's shoeshop on the Weir corner, and .seeing Boone approach, snatched up a pair of boots and made for his horse, which was tied to a post on Cherry Street. Boone followed, and came within shooting distance of Moore just as Moore was getting on his horse. Boone blazed away, and Moore put spurs to his horse and left Greenville in double-quiek time.

During the winter of '62- 'C3 Isaac Miller resigned as ea]>tain of Company F, of the Third Kentucky Cavalry, and returned to his home near Bremen. Moore, Cain, and a few others concluded that they would raid the Miller place and capture him and his horses, and they made a raid for that purpose. Captain Miller heard of the coming of the raiders just in time to mount his lie.st horse and made his escape. After he had gotten out of their reach his horse fell and crippled him. Moore's raid proved a failure. Some Home Guards and Federal soldiers got together and followed his .squad. Moore and his friends ha-stened back to their homes, located in the neighborhood that shortly after became .McNary .Station, on the Illinois Central Knilniad. During this retreat Moore wanted his men to lay in ambush and fire on their pursueis as they pas.scd, but he could not prevail on them to do .so; each went his own way home. The Union sipiad, expecting to find Moore and his gang at Cain's home, on the Esquire John S. Eaves fanu near Clark's Jlill, moved on it during the night and commenced firing at the hous<-. A ball passed through the wall and struck the headboard of the bed, about six inches alsive his wife's head. Cain rushed out of the room, and while running from the house was shot in the back; he ran a little farther, when he fell dead. Moore continued on the warpath, .sometimes in the Southern army and sometimes out, and after the war closed was killed by his brother-in-law, who shot him in self-defense. .Moore was a son of Bob Moore, who lived m*ar .McNary Station ; he was a relative of Thomas C. Summers and a nephew of the Reverend I.saae Banl.

Through the winter and spring of 1863, squads of Federal and Confederate .soldiers were occasionally seen in .Muhlenberg County. A few Federal companies camped in Greenville some time during the spring and summer. Now and then a number of guerrilla companies would dash through the county, led by Jake Bennett and others. Six men belonging to the Thirty-fifth Kentucky .Mounted Infantry came into Greenville one day during the month of November, 18(!3, and sto|iped at the Reno Hotel. They stacked their gmis in the reception room and tlien took their horses to the livery stable. While they were gone Robert M. Martin, with fifteen or twenty men, rode up and .seized the guns of the Federals, went to the livery stable, and there made prisoners of all the Federals except one, who tore out the back way and escaped.

The prisoners who were captured by Boh Martin informed him that about forty men of the Thirty-fifth Kentucky Mounted Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Ed M. Randolph, were on their way to Greenville and would he in town in a short time. .Martin at once sent the prisoners down to the bridge on Caney Creek and put out pickets on the different streets. Martin then made a visit to Hancock & Reno's store, and while there Lieutenant Randolph, with four or five men, came up but were halted by Martin's picket. When Martin heard what was going on he ran out, got on his horse, and, with his jiiekct, rode down the street in a hurry. Lieutenant Randolph and his men came up, and after inquiry, pursued and came in collision with one of Martin's pickets, who fired on one of Randolph's men, named Brown, but to no effect. It being dark Lieutenant Randolph followed only a short distance. Martin went down to the bridge on Caney, jiaroled his five prisoners, and left the county.

One evening during the middle of Ueeember, 186.3, Martin and some of his men dashed into Greenville after dark, and with a few shots came very near taking the town. At lea.st the people kept shy of him. lie and his squad robbed the post-office and helped themselves to such things as they could use. Bob called upon his brother. Lieutenant James II. Martin, who belonged to the Thirty-fifth Kentucky Mountesl Infantry, and who was then at home visiting his family. While Bob's men were lining up near the blacksmith shop preparatory to leaving, by reque.st of Charles and Alney McLean he dismounted and stepped into their store. The Mela'ans were .strong .Southern men, and while Martin was in the McLean brothers' store, Elisha Weir, a negro boy, came along and took Jfartin's saddle-packs off the horse, hid them near by, and then pas.sed on down the strt'ct. When Bob came back to his horse he discovered that his saddle-packs were gone, lie pnauired a lantern and made a search, but could not find them. The squad did not stay long in town and left without Bob's saiiille-packs. After .Martin and his men had gone, Elisha Weir bid the saddle-paeks until the next morning, when he opened them and found they contained a number of handy tricks. The negro was highly pleased with his booty, and often remarked that he would like to see Bob Martin in town again.

The day following this raid there t(Mik plai'c what we Iwys regarded as the greatest event of 1863. This was the battle at the Coal Bank, fought about two mites north of Greenville. This so-ealb'd battle took place between Colonel Robert .M. Martin with a force of Southern troops, and Captain T. J. Lovelace in command of a force of Fislerals. Ijovelaee had lH>en following Bob Martin for several days, and finally brought him to a stand near the Cwd Bank. When these men faced each other, they hesitatisl. Captain Lovelae<', doubting that he bati a sufficient number of men to capture Martin, dispatched an orderly sergeant to

Greenville, where Captain M. J. Roark was teaching school, and asked for reinforcements, stating that a battle was going on at the Coal Rank.

Captain Roark had quite a number of seholars who were of the muster age, and they were nspiested to prepare to follow him as soon as possible to the field of blood. We were all glad of the chance to show our valor and chivalry on the battlefield. We got ready, and - together with other recruits obtained in the town - formed a considerable squad. We all galloped olT down the Rumsey Roail at breakneek speed. The rattling of our horses' hoofs resounded upon the still air of the evening as if a furious charge of a grand cavalcade of a thousand dragoons was taking place. On and on we sped until we reached the Coal Hank, where to our surprise everything was as stilt as death. Twilight had kis.sed the hilltops and day was fading into night. We looked in every direction, but could see no human being. We put our hands to our ears, but not a .sound could we catch except the voice of a night-owl perched on a limb and crying out his uncouth interrogation, "Who - who are you all?"

Our leader, Captain Morgan, of an Indiana regiment, was outwitted. He said; "It is strange that a battle should be fought in so short a time, leaving no sign, and that everything should be so quiet. We surety have mi.ssed the place of engagement." Hut the orderly sergeant as.sured him that we were on the battlefield.

We then reeonnoitered to the right to see if we could discover a camp. AVe swung around about two inili-s to the ea.st and then turned toward Greenville, but were disappointed at the result of our chase. As we came into the road running from Greenville to South Carrollton we discovered a laxly of trcwips just ahead of us, so we followed on and when we reached the old Hraiik place near Gr«*nville we found it was liovelace's men going into camp.

We learned from the men that when the two sipiads had arrived near the Coal Hank they were within sight of each other. The two eomraanders, Hob Martin and Captain Ixivelace, then rode forward ami met between their forces to make terms, but they could not agree. However, .Martin promist'd laivelace that his men would not fire on Ixtvelace's men until Lovelace had gotten back to his place, for Lovelace had farther to go than Martin. Hut as soon as Martin got to his men, so we were told, they eommenced firing on Ixivelace's company, and Imvelaec returned the fire and advanced on Martin. .Martin then beat a retreat and Lovelace pursued. Martin was soon last in the darkness of the night.

That .same night we returned to Greenville, much disappointed in not having bad an opportunity of imniortali/.ing our names with heroic deeds achieved upon a battlefield in defense of our country. We went to bed meditating upon our misfortune in not having reached the Coal Rank .siKUier. Hut the war was not over, and we thi-refore looked forward to fighting on another day.

The next morning at daylight Colonel E. R. AVeir, with a company of the Thirty-fifth Kentucky .Mounted Infantry, appeared in the courthou.se yard, where his men fed their horses and then had breakfast. .\ little while after sun-up Colonel Weir moved off with his eommand up the Mud River Road. In the meantime Captain Lovelace had left tlie Brank place and had moved down the Morton Ferry Road. Colonel Weir and Captain Lovelace joined forces about three miles east of Creenvillo and soon came up with the force under Bob Martin. After considerable skirmishing a regular encounter took place. Captain Sebastian G. Vick, wbo accompanied Colonel Weir, seeing Martin's forces beginning to waver, brandished his sword, ordered a charge, and succeeded in dividing Martin's command. .Martin beat a rapid retreat, tbe right wing of his squad going north and tbe left wing .south. Pursuit was made, but no one was captured, wounded, or killed.

Captain M. J. Roark was the Provost Marshal of Greenville. When the Bob Martin excitement began he declared martial law and put out pickets on every road leading into town. Captain Roark retained the .scboollmys and some others to garrison the town in case there should be an attack.

News was received from the eastern part of the county that heavy firing could l>e heard in that section and that troops had Ix-en .seen along the road. Rumors reacluHl us that shooting was going on at various places in the county, but very little attention was paid to most of such statements. A dispatch came to Greenville ordering Captain lioark to send a .squad of men to Li>ad Hill Church, on l^ong (Veek, to intercept some of Jlartin's men. ('aptain Roark hated to disobey orders, but disliked very much to part with any of his reserve force, for in ea.se of an attack he might not he able to hold i)0.ssession of Greenville. However, he sent part of his reserve to Lead Hill Church. W'e, who remained in town, kept under arms and stood prepared.

Later in the evening another order came. It had been sent from the western part of the county and asked for help to be sent to Clark's .Mill, on Pond River, to cut off the e.scape of some of Bob Martin's men. This was a "deadener" on Captain Roark, for to send off the remainder of his reserve woubl have left Gre("nville defenseb>ss. But he saw that it liad to Ih' done, so he ordered tlie remainder of the reserve (which consisted principally of schoolboys) to go to Clark's Mill at once. We were very anxious for another chance, and hoped we would he more successful this time in getting into a real battle. Captain Morgan was our leader, and we moved off down the .Madisonville Road.

There was an old gentb-man witli us wbo lived out on tbe road we traveled. He wanted to continue with our company, and had us stop at his home until he could see his wife and tell her where he was going, for h«? did not know but what he might be killed, and therefore wanted to kiss her goodbye. But it was .some time liefore bis wife came into the hous<'. Captain Morgan did a little cussing while we were waiting. When the old lady returned, tbe gentleman informed his wife where he intenihsl going ami for what juirpose. She told him that he could not go, but must stay at home. So he came out and said, ''Well, boys, the jig is up with m< - the old lady has done is-sued orders for me to stay at home!"

We rode on ; as we neared Clark's .Mill it began to get a littb- dusky. We noticed a woman on a horse, riding toward us. When she got within alKMit one hundred yards of us. t.'aptain .Morgan cried out to her, ''Halt!" anil she stopjieil. Some of the Iniys reeoKnized her and told ('a|itain .MorRan that she was a well-known lady of the neiffhltorhoiHl. ifoinir home. Captain Morgan replied, ''Sometimes men h.Hve on women's elothes." He said that he would invi'stigate. When he I'ame up to where she was Morgan took a good look at her. He let her pass, hut she was nearly seared to death.

We arrived at Clark's Mill before it was entirely dark. ,\s we came up, a gentleman, wlio seemed hadl.v seared, told us that Hoh .Martin with part of his men had crossed the river not more than twent.v minutisi before. We were disappointed again. We felt that if we had not stopped to wait for the old man on the road, we would have had a ehanei- for a glorious battle and could have had something to recommend us. In the meantime night came on and we went into eamji, thinking there was still some ehanee for us with the remnant of -Martin's "army." We put out pickets and relieA'ed them every two hours. About eleven o'clock that night the (liekets reported that some men had come down the hill toward the river near our camp, and had then gone hack.

The next morning we started on our return to Greenville. man living on the hill near by told us that a IkxI.v of soldiers had come down elo.se to the river, and swing we were located there, went up the river above where we were encamped and crossed into Hopkins County. So that ended this campaign, and we returned, not as victors, but as would-be valiant sons of liberty. We reached Greenville and found everything ipiiet. We were told that Bob Martin's entire arm.v had left the county and had gone into Hojikins.

However, Bob Martin was finally captured, and altbough that event took place nearly two years after the Battle at the Coal Bank, I shall henrelate the incident and in that way try to give in a more eonneeted form an account of Bob Martin's military career in .Miiblenberg.

Martin's last romance in Muhlenberg took place during the fall of 1805. He had come to his father's, and while he was there a Federal offieer. Ma,jor N'el.son ('. Lawrence, of the Seventeenth Kentucky Cavalry, of Hus.sellville, was in Greenville for the purimse of capturing .Martin. This Federal officer, with some of the citizens of Greenville, went to the residence of Hugh .Martin, the father of Boh, arrested Bob, and brought him to town.

While .Major Lawrence and a crowd of citizens were on the .street in front of the Keno Hotel, Bob .Martin stood near a raised parlor window of the hotel, where there chanced to l)e sitting a Miss Beard, of Hartford, a young lady who was visiting Mr. Reno's family. Martin, then under arri-st, was near the window, and while conversing with Judge W, 11. Yost, inquired who the lady was. Judge Yost told him, and Bob tben asked for an intriKluction. After the introduction Bob asked Miss Bearil if he could come in. She gave her coasent. He then turned around and got perini.ssion from the officer. Major Lawrence, who had him in charge, to speak to a lady ac(|uaintancc in the hotel parlor. When the reipu-st was granted, Martin stepped into the house through the window. In the meantime, while the officer was hii.sy talking and showing a .silver pistol to tin* people who were standing around him, -Martin went through the hotel and nut the liaek way and had made some headway before any one knew of liis escape. Tlie alarm was given and a pursuit commenced. Martin lieaded toward tlie old brick college on Cherry Street, where Profes.sor K. W. Hall was teaching school; hut it happened that the scholars were then having recess and heard the racket. The boys saw Boh Martin running and the men after him. They joined the chase, hut were ahead of the men and .soon recaptured him and turned him over to the authorities, lie was taken to Rus.sellville and from there to Louisville and thence to New York, where a few months later he was pardoned.

Boh Martin was born in Muhlenherg in 1S40 and lived in the county until a few months before the breaking out of the war. I knew him well. He fre(|uently visited in the neighborhood where I was raised. Martin had spent four years in a great war, and had been in many dangerous and daring encounters. During the Civil War he faithfully spent all his time in active service for the South. His military experiences in Muhlenherg were triH<>s compared to his maneuvers in the South and in Canada and New York. He planned and executed with considerable military skill, hut was at last captured by us schoollxiys - at lea.st we Iwya at that time felt confident that the men who were after him would not have recaptured him without our help.'

On one occasion during the year 1863, while a squad of Confederates .skirmishing anmnd (ireenville had the town under piekids, two Keileral soldiers - Captain C. H. Martin, of the Rleveiith Kentucky Infantry, and Sergeant T. H. Martin, of the Third Kentucky Cavalry - were at home on a furlough. Both of them lived west of Oreenville. They had called on some young ladi("s south of town, and were not awan* of the presence of the Confederate soldiers. They expected to .stop in (Ireenville a while on their return home. On arriving at the entrance to the Rus.sellville Road they met a picket, who iiermitted them to pa-ss, hut m'eing the Confederate soldiers on the .streets the.v turned out on the Hopkinsville Road, desiring to get awa.v as (piiekly .as possible. They soon came to a picket on that road, who .veiled "Halt!" to them ns they were hurrying along. They, however, did not slop, hut put s|uirs to their horses and were smm out of reach of the picket's fire. They made all po.ssihle speed for home, a di.stani'c of alsmt six miles, and there kept watch for awhile. They ha|ipened to he wearing citizens' clothes, otherwise they would probably have lieen captureil.

Several comimnies of Federal triM)|>s passed through Muhlenherg during 1864. Some of the.st* camped for a while in (Ireenville; however, the people of the county were still more or less annoyed by guerrillas. Some of these hands were led by .lake Bennett and some by Boh .Martin.

In the fall of 1864 Captain (^uanlrill, a noted guerrilla and a desperate man. came from .Mi.s.souri to Kentucky with a company of men ilres.sed in the Federal uniform. They passeil through Hopkins County, where his men eai>tured a horse from a man named Dick Davis. Davis, lielieving them to he Federals, followed them into Middenherg Count.v and through (ireenville. The people of (ireenville were puzzled about the ideiitit.v of

IjiiHntrill and his men, hut some of them were suspicious and advised Davis not to follow ; however, Davis followed on. When they reached the Bhoads Settlement they killed Davis. When his body wius found it was brought to Greenville and then conveyed to his home in Hopkins County. Some time afterward Quantrill was shot in an attempt to capture him in Meade County, and was taken to liOuisville, where he died unrecognized in an hospital. It is .said that Frank and Jesse James were with Quantrill when lie i>as.sed through Muhlenberg.

Some time during the same year S. D. Chatham had a daring adventure. S. D. Chatham, or "Uncle Sam," as he was called, was for many years iluhlenherg's leading cabinet-maker.' He owned a fine mare, aliout four years old, which was grazing in a pasture where now stands the Greenville Light and Ice Plant. A band of guerrillas, after passing through Greenville, went into this field, took out the young mare, and rode her off. A few liours later, when Chatham went down to get his stock, he saw that the mare was gone. He immediately suspected the guerrilla company, and observed signs convincing him that they had taken her. He rushed liaek to town to get help. No one seemed disposed to follow, for it was getting late in the evening; so he determined to attempt the trip by himself. He mounted the dam of the stolen mare and started off, declaring he would get his highly |irize<l fouryear-old.

He traveled up the Russellville Roail for some distance, and although it had grown <iuite dark continued his search. Finally his attention was attracted by a noise in a fence corner, and upon investigation he discovered that it was the snoring of a sentinel, who had fallen asleep at his po.st. With ears alert and eyes now wider open than ever, he cautiously rode on. Before long he came to the guerrilla camp, where to his surprise he found all the men sound a.sleep, lying close to their horses. He paused, and while studying the situation heard a low nicker of recognition given by his stolen filly to her mother. By the dim light of the camp-fire he saw his four-year-old tied to a tree. He cautiously dismounted, .slyly stepped over, untied her, and tiptoed back to the old mare, followed by the stolen animal. He remounted and slowly started away from the camp, the young mare walking behind her mother.

' S. D. Chatham was born In North Carolina February 14. 1810, came to Muhlenberg in 1836, and died In Greenville on April 25, 1882. Mr. Chatham and his wife, Madeline Gordon Chatham, were the parents of: L. Clark: Mrs. Martha (T. P.) Boggess; Joseph G.; Mrs. Lucy (T. J.) Tinsley; Mary A., who after the death of her first husband, W. H. Wilkinson, became the second wife of W. H. Dewitt; John E., and Mrs. Jennie (D. H.) .Mann.

He a^ain passed tlu* sleeping .st*ntinel, and with his two horses delilhTately returned to Greenville. The next morning, when the guerrillas found that the stolen horse was gone, they believed it had worked loose by not being sufficiently well tied ; the captain reprimanded the man who had had her in charge for not tying her better, and as a punishment made him walk to Uus.sellville.

S. D. Chatham's feat was similar to those performed by Ethan Allen, Jasper, and Newton in the early history of the nation. It was a miracle he escaped with his life. Chatham was a brave and fearle.ss man, as much so as any man who ever lived in the county, for in this incident he performed a feat that very few persons would have undertaken, and it is to be ranked as a remarkable act.

Tile next man wbo arou.sed the peojile in Muhlenberg was General II. R. L.von. General Lyon was born and reared near Eddyville, in Lyon County, and was a member of a family of distinction. His grandfather. General -Matthew Lyon, was a noted man. Lyon County was named after II. R. Lyon's uncle, Chittenden Lyon. General Lyon was graduated from West Point in 1856 and shortl.y afterward entered the United States arui.v. He had some experience ns an Indian fighter on the frontier la'fore he joined the Southern forces. General Lyon started toward Greenville with the announced intention of burning the courthouse. When he entered the northern part of the county the people of Greenville were apprised of his plan, and jirepared to fight him and defend (he town. The schoolboys and citizens got together all the guns and ammunition that could be found. 'I'lie crowd converted an old brick house on .Main Street into a fort, had port-holes made in its walls, and jirepared to hold Greenville at all hazards. We intended to give General Lyon the warmest reeeiition of the war. The schoolboys and all tbe fighting men of the town fell into ranks. We were placed under the command of Captain Sebastian C. Vick, who was then in Greenville with his sepiad of scouts known as "The Hold Kentucky Eouaves. ' '

There was a certain lawyer in town who was in sympathy with the South. He got his gun anil joined our crowd to help defend the courthouse. In walking back to us he passed a lad.v who was also in .sympathy with the South. She said to him, "What do you mean! Colonel Lyon is our friend.'' He rejilied, "Jladnm, 1 do not know who our friends are; nobody can be our friend who attempts to burn our jiropcrty.'' The courthouse was this lawyer's den - the place where he made his living - and he felt, therefore, that his duty was to help defend it. All the Union lawyers stood with him, and like him would have died in the defense of the old courthouse.

.\fter we had made our preparations for General Lyon we waited and waited, until the time he could have gotten to Greenville had long pas.sed. Rut he did not appear, so Lieutenant Sid Lewis, one of Vick's mo.st valiant scouts, was sent down the Kumsey Koail - the road over which Lyon would be most likely to conn." - to see whether be could learn an.vtbing atsiut the movements of the enemy. Sid started olT and was gone .some time. When he returned he .stated that he had not .seen nor heard an.vtbing of the expected enem.v.

However, mast, of us still had hope tliat he would come. Later in the day a man from the northern part of the county came to town and reported that r,yon had pone west of Greenville. Thi.s news was a cloudburst on the fire. If anybody was ever disappointed it was the schoollioys and Captain Hass Vick's men. Upon receipt of this news Vick and his "Bold Zouav.'s" immediately mounted their charpcrs and galloped off toward Pond Kiver, thinking that perhaps if they could not capture Lyon before he got out of the county they could, at Iciest, scare him away from the courthouse. It turned out afterward that they were not only too late, hut had gone in the wrong direction.

We schoollaiys were also greatly disappointed the way matti'rs turned out. We were expecting a glorious battle, in which we were to have immortalixed ourselv(*s upon the pages of our country's hi.story as the most gallant and deserving lici-oes of the Civil War, for slaying the "Lyon of the Hebcllion." Hut next morning, upon serious reflection, we came to the eoueiusion that a living man was worth more than a dead hero, and that .several of us might have been killed in a battle with General Lyon. Such a loss, we Iniys thought, would have been a great blow to the county. We also knew that, after all, some of the greatest heroes in the world weri' those who had avoided many of the greatest difticultii*s in life. We had the consolation of having helped turn "the Lyon" from his prey and of preventing a great fright in Greenville, and of having saved the courthnu.se.

We later learneil what might have been General Lyon's reason for not coming to flreenville. 'I'he Secessionists, at this stagi' of the game, had become bolder and more numerous in the town and in the county, and they hail much better facilities for communication. The Secession leaders in town sent him woril warning him not to enter Greenville, saying that if he did he would have one of the warmest receptions and hardest fights he had ever had during his military cart*er, for the .schoolboys and most of the eiti/eiis of Greenville, backed up by ('aptain Vick's "Itold Zouaves," were fortified and jirojiosed to "do him up." He received the report, but to what extent it intlueueed him to change his route was never known. At any rate. General Lyon did not come to Greenville, and the great excitement was soon over.

What was probably the Imldest iirank that took place in Muhlenberg during war times occurred in Greenville a short time before the close of the rebellion. A dozen men, some of whom it is .said lived in Christian Count.v, east and south of Wildcat Hollow, had rigged themselves up on the order of guerrillas, 'riiey were hsl by Captain Sypert, and made a dash down through Muhlenla-rg and into Greenville, robbing a number of hou.si*s along the road they traveled. The.v rushed into Greenville, flourishing their old pistols as if there were a regiment of men just behind them. A good crowd was in town that day, and these boys made everybody stand in line, except a few who dialged back. They then commeneed a general search through the pockets of about one hundred natives, and got .some goial-sized wads of greenbacks. After they had finished searching pockets they turned their attention to the stores, and procured a lot of ealieiN-s, ribbons, shoes, gloves, and all kinds of wearing apparel. Then tliey mounted tht*ir horses, took their plunder, and returned the way they eaine. On reaching their homes they disposed of the booty, returning to their work as usual.

There was an incident tliat took place during this raid of the twelve men to Greenville which I shall here relate. It was on Saturday that the raid was made. On Friday evening Eugene Eavt-s and I went out from Greenville to my father's house near Pisgah Church, intending to go hunting the next day. So, early on Saturday morning, we took our guns and started to Pond Kiver Hats, where we hunted awhile and then turned hack, reaching my father's about twelve o'clock. Upon our return we were told that twelve men had .stopped there, rau-sacked the house and tore things up generally, and had then gone on toward Greenville.

I had bought a new suit, which I had worn home the day before and had left in the hou.se, in the meantime wearing my old hunting-elotlies. One of the men picked up this new suit and would have taken it had not my sister interfered. They also went into her trunk, and among other things got hold of an envelope in which, unknown to the robbers, she had her money. She snatehed the envelope from the men, .saying that it contained her sweetheart's letters, and she wanted to keep them. She followed them through all their search, and in a good-humored way stopped them from taking anything of value.

The twelve raiders did not .stay long, but started for Greenville in a hurry. They had left our home alH>ut an hour and a half before EaV(>s ami I got back. We juit our guns away and all of us were talking about the daring men when James F. Shelton, who lived about a mile south, on the road along whii-h the di'sperad<s"s had traveled, came dashing up at breakneek speed on his horse 'Charlie," a large Imidfaeed sorrel with spraddled hind legs. He stopjied and halloed out in an ('Xcited manner, ''Hoys, get your horses ami let us go to Greenville and help tight the guerrillas!" We told him to get down, and that as siain as we could eat a bite we would go with him. He came in. and we continued our talk about the robbers. While Eugene Eaves anil I were .still eating, some one in the riHUU suihlenly cried out, ''Here come the guerrillas back!" Everybody was thunderstruck, for this was something unexpected.

Shelton inquired if there were any guns about the house. My brother, ('harle.s, told liim that they were out in ''the cabin." Our guns were always kept in order in what we called ''the cabin," a one-room hoii.se in the back yard, about seventy-live feet from the main building. Shelton and ('harles ran to this small bou.se. Our available fighting force was Shelton, my two brothers (Charles and Tom), Eaves, and Lee. Hut before we could get together the di"speradoes divided us and none but Shelton and Charles could get to the guns. The dash was so sudden that Eaves, Lee, niy younger brother, and my.self were cut off from the arsenal. Our force were all game men except myself, and I knew I would tight when hemmed.

About half of the robbers rushed info the house. Hefore they came into the room where Eaves and I were eating. 1 threw my pocket-lsiok under the clothes-press. As soon as two of them entered the room. Eaves and I^ee got up from the table. I kept my seat and continued to eat, hut they seemed not to noti<!e me. They .searelied Eaves and Lee, and got a plug of tobacco from one and a pocket-knife from the other.

One of them next stepped out on the porch fronting the cabin and in full view from where Shelton and ('harles were located with the guns, lie was getting a drink of water, and while standing and drinking, Charles leveled his gun and whispered to Shelton, "Jim, must I shoot T'' Slielton said, "No, don't shoot.'' When the man left the porch Charles and Jim came out of the cabin with their guns, preferring to have an open field fight. We do not know whethe,r tlie marauders saw them or not. They probably did, for in the meantime one of them asked my sister what so many miui were doing there, and she told them that they were neighitors. At any rate, the "Dirt.v Dozen'' got away in a hurry.

As soon as the rohla-rs had left the dining room Eaves, Lee, and myself made a break for the eahin, hut Shelton and Charles were not there, and some of tile guns were gone. We turned around and looked toward tlie road and saw the raiders leaving in a dash. We also saw Charles leveling his gun at one of the running men and heard him a.sk Shelton, "Jim. must I shoot?'' And Jim answered, "No, don't shisit unless they take my horse.'' The nihhers rushed up the road, hut did not take his horse.

So they got off without any of them lH*ing killed. We were really glad of it, for we did not want to kill anybody, nor did we wish to he killed. It was Shelton's .self-control and di-liherate judgment that no doubt saved several lives. Shelton was game and would fight an elephant if ncces.sary, hut he was governed on this occasion by prudence and discretion. Several of us might have been shot if the fight had commenced, for we would all have taken part. Shelton .said that it was folly for two men to attack a dozen. Shelton was then a young husband, and no doubt thought of his young wife and children who needed his a.s.sistanec. If we had known that the raiders were coming back so soon we would have been properly prepared to give them a warm reception.

They did not remain long. On their return from Greenville iny sister met them at the door as they came in, and in her good-natuissl way checkeil them from any molestation. She was .shown the nice plunder they had gotten at Greenville and was offered some of it, but declined to accept any. After the robla-rs had been gone alauit half an hour, five neighbor men came riding up with guns. They had been hunting on Pond River. We told them of our experience. The crowd discussed the question of pursuit, but finally came to the conclusion that the "Twelve Raiders" coidd not be overtaken.

I remember that, on one occasion during 1864, Jake Hennett pa.s.sed through the county and Greenville. He came in from the southern part of Middeiiberg, where he captured Jesse Taggart, who was a leader of the Home Guards and a very active Cnion man. Jteunett .shaved Taggart's head, then turned him loose, and came on to Greenville. He da.shed into town one Sunday morning with about twenty men, greatly to tbe surprise of the ptmple. Quite a crowd of negroes was on the streets at the time. IJennett's men bi'gan "shooting up" the town, and the negro<*s (s)mmenced running and .si^attered almut like young jiartridges, .some hallooing, "Oh. liordyl Oh, Lordy!" After Hennett had cleared the .street his men broke oi)cn the d(S>r of Hancock & Reno's .store, went in and helped themselviw, and then left town, going north. In about an hour a company

Jake Hennett made his last raid through .Muhlenberg (.'ounty in 186.'). Hennett and Gi-ntr.v, with parts of two companii's, came down the Ftu.ssellville Road the best Momlay in .March, 18(i.'); it was county court day, and many people were in Greenville. It was Hennett 's intention to pa.ss through the town and raiil the place, but when he heard that there was a comi)any of Federal infantry then in Greenville he and his men turned out from the Russellville Road at a point about tbre<- milm south of town, and lM)re around east. All the pi'ople who had come to town anil were returning home on the Ru.ssellville Road were stopped. Some were turned hark, some eagitured; .some were relieved of their money, and some were forced to swap or surrender horses. 'Phey kept picking up the nativisi, and simui had quite a crowd of prisoners on their hands.

They e.xperieneed some trouble with Alney Newman, who lived in that neighborhood near Pond Creek. A lieutenant under Gentry asked Newman what his politics were. Newman, la'ing angry, answered in a stublmrn manner that he was a I'nion man. He was then ordered to get off his horse; he refusi-d, and they beat him over the head with their pistols. After he had been pretty badly bruised be got down. They next told him to take off his saddle, and when he refused to comply the lieutenant ordered the .sipiad to cock their guns and level them at .Newman. .\t this juncture

Davill ^fartin, one of the eaplives and a neiBrldior of Newman, rode up to Newman and advised him to take his saddle off. Newman then said, -'If you say .so, Dave, I will do it." Newman then removed his saddle, and in e.xehanije for his youni; animal they pave him a poor old horse that ilied the ne.xt day.

Bennett in his march toward Greenville captured Joseph O. Chatham and his younper brother John, who were out after seed oats. Bennett told Jo.sc|)h G. Chatham that if he would pilot them east of Greenville and toward South Carrollton he and his horse would not be molested. So

Chatham led them around until they struck the Greenville and South Carrollton Road below I'owderly, where all their prisoners were turned loose. The captives, some twelve or fifteen in number, immediately started for Greenville. It was dark, but most of them were familiar with the old road. When they reached Caney Crt-ek Bridpe, just north of town, they wen- he.lted by a stpiad of Federals led by Captain Roark, who was on the lookout for Bennett. Roark's .soldiers were as much friphtened as surprised when they saw this sipiad of citizens cominp up the public hipbway at that time of nipbt. When Captain Roark learned that Bennett had taken the South Carrollton road he and his men started in pursuit, but soon returned. Bennett eontinued his march to South Carrollton, thence throuph the northern part of Muhlenberp and into Hopkins and I'nion eouuties, where they disbanded the first of April, a few days before the surrender of General Lee.

The Greenville Hotel, which still stands, on the east side of .Main Street about fifty yards north of Main (!ross Street, and the Reno House, which stood on the northwest corner of Jlain and Main Cross streets, were the war hotels.

The Greenville Hotel was the hea<lc|uarters of the Secessionists and the hotbed of Southern sympathizei's of the county. It was a general Confederate rendezvous, where the Confederate interc'sts would be discussed, plans suggested, and seeret-s divulged by the lovers of Dixie living in the county. They would report at the Greenville Hotel to give and receive war news, and would sympathize with one another at the reeeption of unfavorable reports. The best drinks were always kept in this house, to help brace up those who might become despondent and disheartened as a consequence of the way in which matters went. The place was always kept lively and full of fun. It was a noted place for the relating of wonderful and windy narratives, conundrums, yarns, and sells. No melancholy disposition existed there. Its life and invigoration were kept up by the generous and affable disjiosition of the proprietors, together with the frequency of stimulating drinks. After the close of the war the Greenville Hotel became the Democratic headquarters of the county. Here al! their councils took place and their methods and policies were adopted for the campaigns.

The Reno Hoiisi- was the Federal headquarters for the county during the war. Caucuses and consultations were held within its walls. Plan.s and methods were considered as to how to save the Union and put down the Rebellion. News was received and sent out from this hotel. In 1864 Major Hud.son Drown, son of pioneer Nathaniel Brown, was shot and killed by Fred Harper in front of the Reno House, near the Imrnxnn. They were both Muhlenberg men and Federal soldiers. Bniwn was a young man, who had just been promoted to the rank of major in the Union army. .\fter the war the Reno House was made the headquarters of the Republican party of the count.v, and remained so until the death of L. R. Reno.

Democratic leaders fought shy of the Reno House and the Republican leaders did likewise to the t.ireenville Hotel. The two houses were competitors in policies ns well as in business.

The length and enormity of the Rebellion surpa.s.sed the expectations of everybody. To most of the people of the county the freeing of the negroes was an unexpected act. Lincoln's proclamation put a different phase on the situation and caused many Muhlenberg citizens to backslide and lose much of their love for the Union. Some of the jieople in the county came to the conclusion that they had been pulling too hard at the wrong end of the political rope. 1 shall here briefly refer to the development and changes in ])olitieal affairs.

While the war was still going on some felt that the Rebellion with all its bullets was a failure. .So in .Muhlenberg County and in Kentucky a rebellion was raised and fought out with ballots. .Many who had .supported the Federal side in the Ri4x4lion with bullets, joined the Secession foreisi to fight under their Hag and colors in the battle with ballots. Those who joined the Secession ranks to fight with ballots called themselves Conservatives. They were opposed to the continuation of the war with bullets, saying that it was a failure and ought never to have been fought. So, by 186.">, a general uprising against the Republican party took place.

The war with ballots began to Hourisli about tlie time the war with bullets ended. The Insurgents fused with the Seeessionists to wage the war with ballots, which gave them a good majority in the county and State. This kind of warfare became national, and continued for a number of years.

Great was the change in .some of the most detennined and valiant Union men from jwsitions they bad oeeuiiied in 1861 and 1862. I recollect hearing a man say, in the fall of 1861, that he could hew the rebels down with a broada.v, and in 1864 the sanu* man declared that the war was all wrong and that the negroi>s ought not to have been freed. lie seemed to advocate the doctrine of Secession, but called hiniself a Conservative; yet he admitted bis regeneration by Southern grace.

When the Secession element saw the stami>ede of the Union men coming from the supiiort of the Federal government they rejoiced and were glad. They told the Insurgents and backslidden Unionists that the Kadieals, as they called them, would certainly ruin the country by putting the negroes to rule over the white people of the South, and would make slaves of them. This kind of talk fired the simiile-minded people to a high degree. The leading Seee.ssionists of the county and State told the heart-broken people: ''Vote with us, and we can save the country from an awful doom; it is the only way it can be done. Now wo want the Insurgents to lead off in opposition to the Kadioals, for opposition is all that we can recommend or propose, and we will follow you through evil as well as good report."

So, as stated before, in 1865, at the clasing of the rebellion of bullets, a general uprising agaiiLst the Kepubliean party took place. The Repub. lican party, that had put down the rebellion of bullets, had enacted and passed the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution of the United States, in order to make our nation a great and I)rogressive country, one that could be truly called ''the land of the free and the home of the brave."

In order to defeat the Republicans for what they had already done and for what they might do, the Secessionists advised the selecting and nominating of candidates for office from among the Insurgent or deserting ranks, as a kind of feeler for the future. So in 1865 the Secessioni.sts and Insurgents agreed on the nomination of a man for Congress in the Second Congressional District of Kentucky, of which Muhlenberg was then a [>art. This nominee, in 1861 and 1862, was a vehement uncom- I>romising Union man, and at that time denounced the Secessionists and the rebellion of the South. Hut his feelings were hurt by the enactment of the amendments to the Constitution, which caused him to have different views, lie was an example of where ''circumstances alter eases." He made the raco in 1863 and beat his Republican opponent by a considerable ma.jority, opening up the way for better time.s. Hut in the next congressional election a thoroughbred, wool-dyetl Sectsisionist got the nomination. The Insurgent then concluded that he would run on his Conservative strength, but in the race he received very few votes ; the Secessionist won by a large majority over both the Insurgent and the Republican candidates. This was the retirement of the Insurgent, and he ever afterward remained pa.s.sive in polities.

In 1866 the county election was held in Muhlenberg for county officers. The Union, or Republican, party had held the county offices during the war. The Secessionists thought best to bring out and nominate the Ins\irgent.s. So, for county judge, a man was nominated who had Ix-en a eoloni'l in the Federal army but who had gotten his feelings hurt on account of the freeing of the negroes, which eauseil him to backslide. For county attorney they brought out an old man who had reached a point where he had coascientious scruples in regarsl to the etnancipation of the negns's and the Republican management of the government, which cau.sed him to apostatize. For county clerk they nominated a man who was at the beginning of the war an uncompromising Union man, but tin; ebanges re.sulting from the Rebellion did not altogether meet with his approval, for they stood between him and his Union patriotism, causing him to see as through a gla.ss darkly. For sheriff they had a man who had alwa.vs remained neutral, and .stood for the Union and the Constitution as it was. For a.sses.sor th(*y brought out a man who at the eommeneemenl of the Rebellion was a Union man, but became an Insurgent for the want of faith in the run of things. For jailer they nominated a man who never knew for certain what his political inclinations were. All of tluse men were elected over their Republican opponents. The Insurgents and the backslidden Unionists became steppinR-stoncs for the regular Secessionists to get official control of the county and the State. They were then retired to the rear and became "hewers of wood and drawers of water," and were used as safeguards for the regular Secessionists, who held control of the county for a quarter of a century.

As remarked in the Iieginning of these reminiscences, my memory regarding these occurrences may not Ik- correct in every detail. However, such are my recollections of some of the military, political, and other maneuvers that took place in Muhlenberg County during war times.

Robert M. Martin

The Civil War produced no hiffher type of the fearless and dangerloving soldier - no more perfect exemplar of the romantic and picturesque partisan ranger - than Robert Maxwell Martin of iMuhlenherg, who came to be known, in war and in peace, as Colonel "Hob" Martin. Ilis daring exploits, his narrow escapes, his coolness and good humor in the very face of death, his keen search ever for the post of danger, won the admiration of friend and foe alike, and have been noted generou.sly in several hooks of Civil War history. These were written and puhlLshed after his death, and were not the products of friends seeking to celebrate a living man. He was most modest, and always reticent of his own adventures. To the day of his death he |)Os.ses.sed that natural quality of the buoyantly active man of living wholly in the present, and paying little regard to the glories of the past or to the prospects of the future.'

Robert Maxwell Martin was horn in Muhlenberg a few miles northwest of Greenville, January 10, 1840, on what is now the County Poor A.sylum farm. His father, Hugh Martin, reared four sons and three daughters, all of whom were born in the county, hut who an* no longer represented here. All of the family were followei-s of the Union eau.se except Robert. Two of the sons were in the Union army - Lieutenant Templeton B. .Martin, of Company H, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, and Lieutenant James 11. Martin, of Company F, Thirty-fifth Kentucky .Mounted Infantry. William, the elde.st son, did not take up anus. The father was a strong Unionist, as were the McDonahls and Roarks, to whom the Martins were related. Robert was the only one who threw his fortunes in with the South, and he fought from the beginning of ho.stilities in Western Kentucky until the final surrender at Appomattox. He was twenty-one when the war began. He was an ideal free cavalry lender, unsurpa.ssed ns a scout, and the idol of his soldiers ns the leader of a forlorn hope.

JIartin was one of the first to enlist in Colonel N. B. Forrest's regiment of Confederate cavalry, where his qunlitit's as a scout were quickly recognized and made ii.se of. When Adam R. Johnson came up from Texas and enlisted with Forrest in 18B1 it was on condition that he be made a

' Colonel Martin's military career Is treated of at length In "The Partisan Rangers." by General Adam R. Johnson (1904); ".Morgan's Cavalry." by General Basil W. Duke (1909); and "Confederate Operations In Canada and New York." by Captain John VV. Headley (190fi). Authority for many of the statements made In this sketch may be found In these books. General A. R. Johnson Is now (1913) living at Burnet. Texas; General Duke and Captain Headley reside In l.oulsvllle.

scout, for which service long experience on the frontier well fitted him. "Very well," said Forrest. "If you can equal Bob Martin, I will have a fine team for scouting." Thus began a close a.s.soeiation between the two daring and fast-moving riders.

When Colonel Forrest and his men were on their skirmish movement from Hopkinsville toward Rum.sey, Martin and Johnson acted as chief scouts. On December 28, 1861,

There were no limits to the audacity of Martin and John.son, which they indulged at the outset with the delight of boys - as they were. On one occasion, getting information that Colonel James S.

Jackson had collected a large number of cavalry horses for the T'nion army on the farm of Willis Field, near Owensboro, these two scouts, needing horses for their recruits, jirepared an order for twelve horses in due form, to which they signed the name of General Thomas L. Crittenden, Jackson's superior officer. They then presented the order, got the horses - together with their breakfasts - and departed in triumph. It was not until two days later that Field, Jackson, and Crittenden compared notes and discovered that they had been outwitted of a dozen fine mounts. The horses were delivered to Forrest.

On another occasion they, with one other companion, attacked under cover of night a garrison of Union troops at Henderson. From clo.se range across the street on a summer night they fired into the garrison, causing excitement and confusion, alarming the town, and giving to the attack the appearance of an onset in force by a strong l>ody. They made their escape, and Martin had the during to return from the country three days later under a flag of truce, demanding the retraction of statements made in a town meeting and threatening an immediate attack on the town. The retractions were made, but the whole Confederate "force" amounted to three men. who greatly enjoyed the wild alarm they had created.

The thrilling experience of these daring scouts and spies of Forrest's at Donelson, and likewise during the Shiloh campaign, are told in detail by General Johnson. After the battle of Shiloh, Forrest loaned Johnson and Martin to General John C. Breckinridge, who sent them to Kentucky,

' A description of the fight at Sacramento, written by Adam R. Johnson, and another account by Richard T. Martin, are quoted elsewhere in this volume.

Robert M. Martin In Isss

where they began recruiting in Webster and Henderson counties and inaugurated hostilities hundreds of miles in the rear of Grant's army, and here fought and dodged from county to county until November, 1862, by which time they had enlisted a regiment of cavalry.

During this expedition, with about twenty-five men, they crossed the Ohio from opposite Newburg, Indiana, and took the guns that had been stored there in the Union arsenal. Johnson says that, before crossing the river, "I ordered our horses to be placed where they would make as big a show as possible to the people on the other side*, and from two pairs of

ROBERT M. MARTIN WAS BORN ON WHAT IS NOW THE COUNTY POOR ASYEUM Up to aboat 1865 thia was ona of tbo boat fanna In Mahlenborg. Soma of the brick housaa built and oceuplod by bia fathar, Hugh Martin, ara atlU atanding old wagon wIum-Is, with tbeir axles, a stovepipe, and a charred log. I soon had inanufaetureil two of the most foriniilable-looking pieera of artillery into whose gaping mouths a seared people ever looked." With these preparations Martin and .lotinson alone eros.sed the river in a skiff, bearing a flag of truce. The Union garrison was a small one, guarding a haspital and .sii|)plies. The two scouts demanded po.s.session of all the guns, and pointed to the frowning ''eaniion" on the opposite shore, discreetly ma.skisl behind bushes and just ns discreetly revmded in |>art. Fearing a bombardment of the town, the guns were siirremlered, with the ammunition, and Martin and Johason transiiorted them across the river.

The regiment they had raised was addeil to General .John II. Morgan's command as the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry; C. S. A. Johnson, as the elder, was made Colonel, and Martin Uieiitenant-Colonel. They went on Morgan's

Dei-fiiiber, 1862, raid into Ki-ntiifky. I^atcr .lolinson was detailed by the Secretary of "War as the bearer of dispatches to General MaKnider, in Texas, nuring his absence Martin commanded the regiment, and many daring; feats are recorded of his adventures and of his conduct in battle by John-son and also by General Duke in his history of Morgan's cavalry. Duke describes Martin as a man of extraordinary dash and resolution, very shrewd in partisan warfare. He was a very whirlwind to harry the enemy's supplies and interrupt their communication. He would charge his adversary on any good fighting chance, and would come out with a .seemingly charmed life. At Snow's Hill, Tenne.ssee, General Jlorgan sent him with his regiment to threaten the I'nion right, and he charged upon a battery with dauntless courage.

One incident at Jlilton, Tennessee, in March, 18(i3, was described to General Duke by an eyewitness. .Martin's regiment had been ordered to charge a Union battery and capture it or keep it busy. Tliey were repulsed at the first on.set, but Martin rallied them from the rear and then, some di.stance in advance, again led them against the hill ".lust here,'' says the eyewitness quoted by Duke, "Martin performed one of those act-s of heroic but u.selms courage, t(» common among our officers. When his regiment wavered and commenced to fall back, he lialted until he was left alone; then at a slow walk rode to the pike, and with his hat off rode slowly out of fire. He was splendidly mounted, wore in his hat a long black plume, was himself a large and striking figure, and I have often thought that it was the hand.somest picture of true and desperate courage I .saw in the war.'' ^

At McMinnville, Tennessee, in 1863, Martin received a bullet-wound in the lung, and was laid up for several months. Ho was at the head of his regiment on .Morgan's disastrous raid into Ohio; he I'seaped into West Virginia with four huixlred troops, and was soon clearing the country in Ka.st Tennes.see of bushwhackers while Jlorgan's scattered troops were rea.ssembling at Morristown.

This remnant of Morgan's command under Martin fought in Forrest's division at the battle of Uhickamauga. .Johnson .says; "Colonel Martin, with one of the battalions, was cho.sen to open in advance of our infantry the great battle of Chickamauga, on the right. By their gallantry in charging and running out of their fortified position the Federal infantry, the Kentuckians attracteil the attention of General Hill, who sought out General Forrest during the thickest of the fight and complimented him on their action. Subsequent to the b.ittle it was again iilartin who, with his battalion, drove the defeated Federals out of their advanced works at Chattanooga. ... It was a memorable morning the next day after this brilliant feat of arms; Martin had formed our lioys in the outskirts of Chattanooga, when General Forrest came riding down the line of the

- A Union soldier In the battery Martin charged, describing the circumstance after the Civil War, said: "He sat his walking horse with his hat In his band, scratching his head as If to say, 'Well, I don't understand this running away.' It was BO fine a display of supreme courage that our commander ordered the firing to cease, saying, 'It will be a d - - d shame for so brave a man to be shot In the back.'"

Kentucky battalion, and taking off his hat in honor of the prowess they had shown, exclaimed, 'Any man who says that Morgan's men are not good soldiers and fine fighters tells a damn lie!' "

Duke says that this regiment of Morgan's men at Chickamauga, under Colonel Martin, "fired the first and last shots in that terrible struggle."

After Chickamauga, Colonel Martin chose a small detail and started for Western Kentucky to recniit a new regiment, most of his men being in Northern prisons or dead. He had many adventures in Christian, Trigg, and Hopkins counties. In December, 1863, at the head of his recruits, he entered Muhlenberg, and at eight o'clock at night charged unprotected Greenville, his men yelling like Indians. Captain Headley thus records the incident:

"There was a general stampede and great excitement among the population. This was a hotbed of Unionism, and the offensive Union men dreaded Martin. Others greeted us cordially. A detail went to the post-office and got the postage stami>s and envelopes. We now had twenty dollars' worth of United States' spoils. After Colonel Martin had spent an hour with his friends we rode out toward Hartford, soon turned, made a circuit around Greenville towanl Hopkinsville, and camped with good fires until sunrise tlie next morning, -\fter breakfast we went toward the Greenville and Madisonville Road to learn if we had been pursued. It wa-s the jiurpose now to go back to Madisonville it any of its garrison had followed us to Greenville. We entered a long lane through a farm, and Colonel Martin impiired at the house, alsiut midway. He heard of three different companies that were in pursuit, but got no information as to where they belonged, -lust before we reached the end of the lane it was olwerved that dense woods were in front and extended around to the right over a hilly region. . . .

"The fence on the left extended about fifty yards farther than on the right side of the lane we were in. Cyrus Crabtree, wearing a Federal overcoat, was the advance guard, and at the end of the lane he observed a company of Federals about two hundred yards to the left across a little old iinfeneed field. There was a small ravine that ran through it. about midway between our ridge and the one where the Federals had halted. Crabtree stopped and motioneii back to us. .Martin halted the column and galloped nj) to Crabtree, then called out to the Federals and a.sked who was in command. 'Captain Jeff Roark,' was the respon.se. 'Where from!' impiireit Martin. 'Hopkinsville,' was the an.swer, followed with the inipiiry, 'Who are you!' 'Captain Wilkes from Henderseui. Send a man down half way,' answensl .Martin. 'All right,' said Roark. .Martin direi-ted Crabtree to go and get all that Roark knew about us. (,'rabtree and Roark met down in the little ravine, while laith sides s-at quietly and looked on. Colonel .Martin called out to Crabtree. 'Is it all right!' 'Yi-s,' responded Crabtree; 'he wants to see you, Ca|)tain.' .Martin trotted his hors<' down to meet his old friend. They had been boys together in the same neighborhooil. Captain Roark was astonished when he recognized Colonel Hob Martin. 1 heard Martin laughing as he .said, 'Well, Jeff, we ought to shake hands over a joke like this.' 'I think so too. Hob,' said

Koark, and they greeted eaeh other cordially. They then talked for a few minutes, and separated, each galloping hack to his command, and Martin announced that he was going to fight." t The small fight that ensued near the Coal Hank resulted in no serious ca.sualties, although it continued as a running skiniiish all next day. One incident illustrates Colonel Martin's marvelous resoureefulne.ss and activity. In retreating across a "branch" with high hanks, the overhanging Ijoughs of a tree swept him over the rump of his horse. As he slid down he grasped the tail of the animal with both hands and held on until a soldier caught the bridle and he remounted coolly and pursued his way, laughing at the accident.

.^[artin and his men found no welcome in Muhlenlierg and he went South, where he joined Oeneral Morgan, who had by that time made his e.scape from pri.son. In Tenne.s.see, Kentucky, and West Virginia he was ever busy and always in danger. At .Mt. Sterling, June, 1864, he was badly wounded in the foot, and had his horse killed under him; but he was in the field next day in a buggy, keeping up with his column. Two days later he was in the .saddle, his wounded foot on a pillow, his knee over the pommel of the .saddle, woman-fashion, the other foot in the stirrup, leading a charge.

This wound disabled him for a time, and he was sent to (Canada with letters from Judah P. Benjamin, Secretary of State for the Confederacy, where he was to aid in harrying the North from the frontier. At New York the plan of burning the city by setting fire to nineteen hotels at the same time was attempttsl ; the fires were started, but were extinguished before much damage was done. He was at the heail of a party of ten, including Captains J. Y. Hcidl, John W. Headley, and K. C. Kennedy, who were to attempt the rescue of seven Confederate generals while they were being transferred by rail from Johnson's Island to New York, 'riiey mis.sed the pri.soners, however, and the daring undertaking failed of aceompli.shment. Beall was arrested and hanged in February, 1865, as was also Kennedy .soon afterward, but Martin and Heaillcy managed to reach Cincinnati in safety and from there they went to Louisville.

Hcailley .says there were alsmt twenty thou.sand troops in camp in and around Louisville at this time, under .Major-General John M. Palmer. .Major Fossee, of his staff, kept three fine horses at headcpiarters. At»ut ten o'clock one morning .Martin and Headley cornered the orderly and hostler in the .stable, who being unarmed readily .surrendered. .Martin and Headley led two of the horsw out, handing the orderly a slip of paper on which Headley had written;

< The story of "Bob" Martin's military career as It appeared to Muhlenbergers is also told In Richard T. Martin's "Recollections of the Civil War." the preceding chapter.

On these horses they made their way to Virginia, only to hear of I^ee's surrender a few days after their arrival. Martin, after spending a few months in Cuba and Tennessee, proeeeded to Bowling Green, then down Green River to Paradise. lie had been recognized at Bowling Green, and ' was followed. He was arrested in Greenville and taken in irons to liOuisvillc and thence to New York, where he was thrown into Fort Lafayette on a charge of treason. lie was one of those men who by their daring and activity, especially in the North, were relied upon to incense the Northern people and bring about the trial and conviction of Jefferson Davis and the other leaders of the Confederacy on this same charge of trea.son. Colonel Martin was examined and held for trial under indictment. An attempt was then made to induce him to give testimony against Davis, as the price of his life. But the prosecutors were dealing with a fearless man. "I not only have nothing to tell about .Mr. Davis," he told his jailers, ''but if 1 knew anything I would not tell it!" It is said that he was triwi and convicted but that upon apjieal his ease was remanded for trial in another district. If this be true, he was the only man convicted of treason growing out of the Civil War. At any rate, he was not put on trial a second time. In the summer of 1806 he was pardoned unconditionally by Pn'sident Johnson.

From war Colonel Martin returned to the paths of peace cheerfully, and plunged into business with all the energy he had displayed in war. lie speculated in tobacco and made several fortunes, each of which he lost in turn. He traveled much abroa<l, and on one trip returning met on the steamer a Miss Wardlaw, of .Murfreesboro, Tennes.s(>e. This chance meeting resulted in an early marriage. They had one daughter, nam«l Oceania, after the steamship on which they had met. It was the death of this daughter, ''Oeey" Martin Snead, that brought her mother and maternal relatives into such trying and pitiful prominence in New York in 1910, nearly ten years after Colonel Martin's death. There was no son.

Up to a few years la-fore his death Colonel Martin occasionally visitetl friends in Muhlenberg. On one of his trips to Greenville, some fifteen years before the old and dila|>idated courthouse was replaced by the present building, he jokingly remarked, ''1 have often regretted that I did not try to burn that old courthouse when 1 passed through here during the war, for if I had .Muhlenberg would now have a better courthouse." Probably only those who remendter the olii brick courthouse during the last few years of its existence can fully appreciate the humor of this remark.

Martin was tall and slender, yet strongly built, walking with the erect, springy ea.se of an Indian until after he had received two severe wounds in war, one of which ultimately caused his death. He had a somewhat swarthy complexion, piercing blue eyes, a full nose with a hawk bridge, sandy hair that was inclined to curl, a winning smile, and a bearing in which courtesy and consideration united to render him attractive to all with whom he came in contact. He was devoid of all pretense, yet dwisive, resourceful, and grim in the execution of his projects.

1866, settled at Evansville, Indiana, and engaged in the tobacco warehouse business. In 1874 he removed to New York City. For fourteen years he wa.s manager of tobacco inspections for David Dowes & Co. in their Brooklyn warehouses. He located at Louisville in 1887, engaging in the tobacco brokerage business. In the fall of 1!)0(), his old wound in the lung having produced frequent hemorrhages, his health gave way. He bade me good-by in October, 1900, upon his departure for New York, where he hoped some specialist might prolong his life, but he died on the 9th day of January, 1901. He was si.xty-one years of age. . . . He is buried

Muhlenberg was represented in the Civil War by about one thousand soldiers. About 85 per cent of these wore in the Federal army, about 15 per cent in the Confederate army. The following are brief biographies of a few of Muhlenberg's soldiers who lived in the county during ail or the greater part of their lives. Oenerai, Do.v Caru)s Bi'EI.i.. For portrait see page 2.'17.

who settled in Muhlenberg in 1848, near Kockport, Ohio County. He was a sergeant in Company H, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry (Federal), and served with that company during the greater part of the war. After its close he took up farming until he was elected jailer, whi>n he moved to the county seat. He filled that office from 1882 to 1890. He continued to live in Greenville about ten years longer, filling in the meantime various town offices, after which he returned to his farm, where he remained until he retired from active life, when he again took up his residence in Greenville. He married .Mary J., daughter of B. T. Casebier, who was an intlueiitial fanner in the eastern part of the eiHinty. Their only son is Jo.seph Edwanl Coombs, a mereliant of Greenville.

Jahiia N. Di'kai.i. was born on a farm in the Bethel neighiKirhood, northwest of Greenville, -March 19, 1844, and died on the .same farm July 29, 1!I12. He was a corporal in Company 11, Eleventh Kentucky Infantr.v (Fetleral). Some of the most largel.v attended soldiers' reunions held in the county have taken place on his farm. He was a farim-r during the greater jiart of his life, and also operated a sawmill for- a number of years. His wife was America Jane Woodburn, a sister of Doctor J. T. Woodburn. Most of their children .still live in the Bethel neighborhood, where they oeeu|)y good farms.

John Coombs. Wife And Son

Francis M. Finley, a Federal soldier, and Thomas M. Finley, a Confederate soldier, were brothers, members of one of the dozen or more families in MiihlenlHTR that were represented in both armies. They were horn in. the Ijoiir Creek eountry on what is known as the Finley Farm, and were amonK the lH*st-known farmers in that seetion of the eonnty.

They were sons of William II. Finley, who settled in the southern part of the county about 1830, where he died in 1852. Ilis wife was Cynthia Wagner, daughter of a well-known local miller.

Francis Marion Finley was horn April 15, 1833, enlisted in Coni|)any I, Forty-eighth Kentucky Infantry (Federal), in March, 18t>3, and remained with that company until it was mustered out of service in December, IhlU. He married Susan S., japha n. dobaix. isei

Francis M. Finley, 1869 Thomas M. Finley, 1869

14, 1908, on his farm near Orcenbriar Church, eleven mill's south of Greenville, Ale.xander Y, Finley, of the Pond Creek country, is his only son, Thomas Monroe Finley was born June 17, 1835. He enlisted in 1862 in Company I), Second Kentucky Cavalry (Confederate), at Allcn.sville,

Todd County, and sensed with that regiment until the close of the war, when he returned to his Long Creek farm, afterward removing to Greenville, where he now lives. Ilis wife was Naney A., daughter of J. Jackson Robertson, who lived near the Buckner Stack. She died January 14, 1912. Mrs. Mollie C. (Charles M.) Shutt is their only child.

Ann Mason, of Breckinridge County, and shortly after removed to Bremen. He enlisted in the Eleventh Kentucky Infantry (Federal) on Septem- Iht 28, 1861, and was elected first lieutenant of Company II. On April 8, 1862, after the death of Captain Isaac W. Sketo at Shiloh, he became captain of the company. For a time he acted as aide-de-camp to General William Soule Smith, and at one time served as commander of the convalescent camp of Union .soldiers at liouisville; he also acted as provost marshal of Bowling Green. He was mustered out of service with his regiment on December 18, 1864. Captain Freeman moved to Central City shortly after the place was founded, and has since been identified with that town. He was postmaster of Central City from 1897 to 1005. Ills son J. K. Freeman, jr., is an attorney and at pre,sent the po.stma.ster of Central City.

JriHiE S. I'. Live, or, as he was more freipiently called. Colonel .S. P. Love, came to the <'ounty at the age of twenty-three, and after an active life here of more than half a century died in Greenville on March 26, 1903. No Muhlenberg man was more highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens than was Colonel Love. I ipiote in full from the Greenville Ibs-ord :

"Colonel Sniolotf Pallas laive died at his home at 7.15 o'clock last Thursday morning, after an illness that confined him to his bed for several weeks. He was born .May 10, 1826, in Lincoln County, and was reared in Garrard County. In 1846 he enlisted as a private in Captain Donovan's command, being mustered into service at Mexico, Missouri, from which point he marehed to Mexico, participating in numerous engagements during the .Mexican War and being di.seharged from the service after the battle of Buena Vista, lie had been appointed second lieutenant, but was never eomniissioned.

"In 1849 he came to this county, and on the 15th of July, 1850, was united in marriage by Rev. John N. Sharp to Mis-s Jane .McConnell, daughter of John Henry McConnell, of this county. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel in the Eleventh Kentucky Regiment of the Federal army, under Colonel P. B. Hawkins, in August, 1861. and in May, 1863, was made colonel of the ref^iiiicnt. He was constantly with his command, ami his bravery, fidelity and consideration for his men endeared every member strongly to him. He was in the engagements at Shiloh and Perryville and in all the skirmishes in pursuit of Bragg's army when it retreated from Kentucky. He also participated in the siege of Knoxville, in the campaign under General Burnside in Ea.st Tennes.see, and in all battles in which Sherman's anny was engaged on the march from Ringgold to Atlanta. He was discharged at Bowling Green, December Ifi, 18H4.

"In 1866 Colonel Love moved with his family from South Carrollton to Greenville, and in the same year was elected judge of the county, which position he held for two terms. After the expiration of his official term he engaged in the practice of law, and was an active and successful advocate. For some years he had bei-n a sufferer from a complication of diseases, and for the past few yeai"s had not been able to follow his profi'ssion.

"Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery Friday afternoon with full military honors, several hundred people being in attendance. Messrs. John A. Williams, W. C. Shannon, Natimn Mcf.'-lelland, 1). E. Rhoads, John Coombs and Robert Casebier were palllK'arers, and an (*scort of about forty men of his old command, and many otlicr members of the G. A. R., aided in the ceremonies of last respect.

Coni|>an.v F, Tliird Regiment Kentucky State Guard, under Captain R. C. .McCracken, was in line and formed the firing squad. Bugler Clarence B. Hayes blowing taps that clo.sed the service impressively.

Colonel Love united with the Presbyterian Church at this place in 1882. Rev. G. F. Bell conducted a .short service at the home, in which he was assisted by Rev. T. C. Peters, of the .Methodist Church."

Histobv Ok Muhlenuero Countv

The few reunions of the veterans of the Mexican War that have taken place in Muhlenberg were proposed and conducted by Colonel Love, who probably took a more brotherly interest in the veterans of the Mexican and Civil wars than any other man in the county. lie helped compile the history of the Bleventh Kentucky Infantry, published in "The Union Regiments of Kentucky'' (1897).

B. T. Vincent J. L. Wiijuns Wm. S. Obundy

Tbese tbree pictures, made durios tbe OiTll War, represent three Influential native sons and lifelong citisens of the Bremen country, who belonged to Colonel Love's regiment

"llis comrades in this county will recognize in this a personal aiipreeiation of the soldier which was always manifest in their brave and true commander, who shared with the rank and file all the <langers and privalioii-s,

Had Colonel I/OV<- published this poem during his life he probably would have dedicated it not only to the local veterans of the Civil War, but also to tile -Muhlenberg men in the .Mexican War.

Tiik Old .Soldi Icrs

Henry C. McCracke.n was Iwrn May '28, 1838, in Pulaski County, Tennessee, and emigrated to Muhlenlicrg in 1856. He enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry (Federal), at Calhoun in 1861, and lost his right arm at the battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862, shortly after

In 1896-97 he represented Muhlenberg in the Legislature. He was engaged in farming near Murphy's Lake until 1902, when he moved to Greenville. No man in the county has taken more interest in the local G. A. R. Post than Mr. McCracken. In 1866 he married Laura E. Green, daughter of William J. Green. Among their children are Captain Richard C. McCracken, contractor, and A. Elmer McCracken, jeweler, of Gr»*enville.

C.\PT.UN IsA.vc .Mhxer was Iwrii in Tennessee in 1810 and came to Muhlen- Iierg about 1832. lie lived on a farm west of Bremen the greater part of his life, and died in South Camdlton in 1887. He was captain of ('ompany K, Third Kentucky Cavalry (Federal),

He married Bettic Crumbaker, daughter of .Jacob Crumbaker. Among their children were: William T. (who was jailer from 1897 to 1905) ; James, who was a member of Company F ;

G.l Whitmcr - Mr. Vniitmer also being a member of ('ompany F. One of Captain Miller's brothers was .lames M., the father of John Simon .Miller, who was jailer of the county from 1874 to 1882 and Greenville's postmaster from 1898 to 1912.

Isaac Miller, 1861

Captain Joseph Mitchell was born in North Carolina, December 14, 1809, and came to Muhlenberg from Tennessee in 1846. He served as a colonel at many of the old militia musters. In the fall of 1863 he organized Company I, Forty-eighth Kentucky Mounted Infantry (Federal), of which he was made captain. He lived in the upper Pond Creek country and was one of the well-known farmers of the county. He died November 12, federate uniform in Elmwood Cemetery, Owensboro. At the breaking out of the war he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Kentucky Infantry (Confederate), one of the regiments belonging to what was later known as the Orphan Brigade. He reeeived a wound during the first day's battle at Shiloh which neee.ssitated the immediate amputation of his left arm. He moved to Muhlenberg in 1864 and taught school for a numlier of years. In 1874 he was elected eounty superintendent of schools. In 188.5 he moved to Daviess County, and seven years later returned to Central City. In 19(X) he served as doorkeeper of the State Senate.

He represented Jfuhlenberg in the House of Representatives from January, 1910, to January, 1912. In January, 1912, he was chosen doorkeeper of the House of Representatives. In 1871 he married Jennie H. Morgan. Mrs. S. A. Burns, of Daviess County, and Miss Lulu Richardson, of Central City, are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Richardson. "Uncle Joe," as he was called hy his many friends, young and old, was a unique character, and one of the most highly respected men in the county.

Lieuten.vnt J.iMF.s I/ouis Hu.iRic, son of John R. Roark and grand.son of pioneer William Roark, was horn in Muhlenberg County April 14, 1840, and died in Oreenville on April 3, 1893. In 18(!1 he enlisted at Calhoun and was elected first lieutenant of Company K, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry (Federal), which office he held until his regiment was imi-stert-d out. On account of di.sahilities received in .service he did not reenlist. He was in his day the best-known funeral director in the county. J. L. Roark married Jennie E. Morgan, daughter of Win. K. ^lorgan. Their children are: Orien L., Cecil E., and Charles W. Roark of Greenville, and Doctor J. Louis Roark, now of Seattle, Washington.

C.iPT.UN -M.irtin Jeffek.so.v Ro.vkk, son of pioneer William Roark, was l)orn in Muhlenberg Count.v June 2t>, 1833, and died in Oreenville on October 22, 1908. He enlisted at Calhoun in 18til and was elected captain of Company K, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry (Federal). He was severely wounded at Shiloh on April 7, 1882, and afterward was lionorably discharged. Shortly after his return home he was made deputy provost marshal of Greenville. While a young man Captain Roark taught school in the county. In 1866-1)7 he represented Muhlenberg in the Legislature, after which he devoted his time to the practice of law and to the duties of the various county offices to which he was elected. Captain M. J. Roark and his wife Nannie W. (Davis) Roark were the parents of Profe.ssor R. N. Roark.