USA > Kentucky > Henderson County > History of Henderson County, Kentucky > Part 19
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In addition to Foster's Regiment, Major Shook and Lieutenant Yarber, with their little cavalry commands, were stationed on Court Hill. This annoyance, to say nothing of the filth, associated with it, induced County Clerk Y. E. Allison, to remove the county records to the second story of the brick adjoining Vogel's confectionary, on the southwest corner of Main and Third Streets. During the summer Colonel Foster converted the Public Square into a horse pound, where he had stables erected sufficient to accommodate several hundred head of horses.
August 4, the first negro troops landed at the town.
About four o'clock Saturday morning, April 11, an incendiary stole the key to room No. 22, of the Hord House, then the Hancock House, kept by William P. Fisher, and set fire to the bedding in the room. The devouring element commenced its work, and gathered strength in volume as it raged on, until near daybreak, having burned through the floor into room No. 5. Mrs. Hancock, who was occupy- ing an adjoining room, came near being suffocated. The fire was dis- covered by Marshal W. W. Catlin, and through the heroic efforts of him and others, the flames were extinguished.
During this month negro thieves were numerous, and frequently forced the slaves to the opposite side of the river.
" GUNBOATS APPEAR."
On the ninth day of April, while the tobacco stemmeries were working a full force of colored hands, five gunboats and one trans- port steamer, anchored in front of the city. The colored people were
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
soon apprised of it, and were fearfully alarmed, lest they were to be pressed into military service and carried away. As a general thing they were averse to going. . Many appealed to their owners and em- ployers, as to what they should do, and were told to do as they pleased.
On this advice they scattered, many of them taking to the woods. Hundreds of them were seen stalking rapidly through the hot sun, in the endeavor to avoid being forced away from kind masters and good homes, to imperil their lives for a cause they knew but little of, and cared less.
Seeing the gunboats, and knowing of the villainy of one Col- onel Cunningham, in his piratical negro-stealing expedition into Union County only a few weeks before, slave owners were forced to the un- pleasant conviction that force was to be used by the government to rob and plunder them. The commander of the fleet on landing was informed of the true state of affairs, whereupon he addressed the following communication to the Mayor of the city :
"U. S GUNBOAT . MOOSE.' HENDERSON, KY .. June 9 1864.
" There seems to be a general impression that the gunboats are cruising up and down the river running off negroes and the like, consequently when a gunboat makes her appearance, all the citizens are thrown into a state of ex- citement and run their negroes back into the country. I would inform the peo- ple that the gunboats are on no such mission, nor will any vessel or officer un- der my command touch, interfere with, or molest the persons or property of peace ul citizens in any way whatever. I trust, in future, this fear and ex- citement will be dispelled, for I can assure you, that on the part of the navy, you need have no fear of molestation, so long as you remain loyal to the Gov- ernment of the United States.
LEROY FITCH, Lieutenant Commander, Commanding the Tenth District Mississippi Squadron.
MAYOR'S RESPONSE. " HENDERSON, June 9, 1864.
" Leroy Fitch, Lieutenant Commander, etc .:
·· SIR-I have received yours of this date, and think the assurances it con- tains will have a most happy effect in this community. 1
" Very Respectfully, D. BANKS, Mayor." " REBEL SOLDIERY ENTER THE CITY."
The following from the Henderson "News," of June 21, fur- nishes another evidence of the afflictions Henderson was heir to :
" On last Saturday night, June 18, about eleven o'clock, a force of twen- ty-five mounted rebels, under command of Captain January, entered the city and proceeded to the store of G. A. Mayer, Son's, and demanded an en- trance. Mr. G. A. Mayer, who resides over the store, knowing resistance to
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
be useless, sent down the key by his little daughter. The rebels ,then entered the store and appropriated eight shotguns and a lot of spurs. pocket-knives, cartridges, etc. After satisfying themselves with plunder, they went to Khlon- inger's grocery and obtained food, liquor, etc , and then departed from the city. During their stay, three of the number proceeded on foot, to the Union House, northeast side.of Second, between Main and Water Streets, and kept by Martin Schneider There was no one in the bar room, save Mr. Schneider, his barkeeper and Colonel Jim. Poole, of the Kentucky Militia Two of the three invaders stationed themselves on each side of Poole and one behind him. Poole was at the bar drinking and laughing. One of the rebels coolly asked him if he was Colonel Jim. Poole, to which he answered, "I am." Then, sir, said his interrogator, " You are my prisoner:" Poole stepped back against the counter, and drawing his revolver, answered, " I reckon not." Almost immediately three shots were fired. Pool's pistol did not explode the first time, and one minute had hardly expired. ere from nine to twelve shots were rap- idly exchanged. The three rebels then hastily retreated. Poole advancing un - til near the door. when he sunk on one knee. Mr. Schneider ran forward and caught him in his arms, asked: "Jim., are you killed?" Poole answered, “ I believe so-they have got me this time"-and immediately expired. Next morning Coroner John C. Stapp held an inquest."
Henderson News, July 12: " On last Wednesday evening, July 6, about 6:30 o'clock, a gang of twenty-one or twenty-two guerrillas invaded the city, and the following is a list of their heroic 'military necessity ' exploits.
On inoffensive non-combattants, watches, rings, &c. from Wmn. Steele. $300 00 Goods stolen from D. Hart's store 15 00
٠٠
P Hoffman's store. 4 50
66 Bernard Baum's store. 15 00
..
N. Heyman's store. 30 00
66
N. Schlesenger's store 28 00
66
66
F. Morris & Co., store 15 00
Total ¥407 50
"In addition to the above, these delectable warriors went to the packet steamer General Hallock, and the clerk being absent, removed the iron safe out of the office into the cabin, and attempted to break it open. The clerk re- turned, and opened it for them, when they secured a roll of greenbacks and made off. A gunboat hove in sight. and the chivalrous jewelry thieves scam- pered away in a hurry. The whole posse forced themselves that night on Mr. John Hicks, seven miles from town, where they behaved in a most dis- graceful manner.
" CAPTAIN DICK YATES."
"On Saturday July 7, Captain Dick Yates, with a rebel force, paid a visit to the farm of Esq. John E. McCallister, six and one-half miles from the city, and demanded three of his horses, one being a fine favorite stallion. Mr. McCallister declined giving up his property, and seized his double-barrel shot- gun. Two of the party threw themselves upon him in order to wrench the
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
gun from his hands. In the scuffle Mr. McCallister was thrown violentl , his body striking on the stock of his gun breaking two of his ribs.
" They then tied him in bed where he remained until the arrival of his sis- ter, Mrs Ben Talbott, in the night, when at the peril of her own life, she un- tied the ropes which bound her brother."
By this time Henderson County was completely overrun by guer- rilla bands; there were no Federal troops in the county, so of course, they were at liberty to do as they pleased. Over one-half of the dry goods held for sale in the city, were removed to Evansville, or Louis- ville, for safe keeping, and the following firms closed their houses : William S. Holloway & Co., James E Rankin, Morris & Co., H. Schlesinger, A. E. Gerhardt, B. Baum and J. C. Allen. All of the horses of any value were sent to Evansville for safe keeping. Hen- derson, commercially speaking, was as dead as a post, and one could walk six squares during the middle of the day without meeting, and, perhaps, without seeing a human. Of course this condition of affairs did not long exist, and was all brought about by the shooting of Mr. James E. Rankin, by guerrillas, and the subsequent shooting of two young men sent here froin Louisville - in retaliation.
"On Friday, twenty-seventh, the News says : 'Eight guerillas captured the Owensboro and Henderson mail carrier at Hebardsville, broke open the mail sack, took what there was of value in it, and then helped themselves to "what goods they wanted from the stores of that place. They crossed Green River at Calhoon's Ferry, and when three miles from Green River, they stop- ped Mr. W. C, Priest and robbed him of twelve dollars. They next plun- dered a grocery store near by belonging to a Mr. Long. From this point a portion of the gang returned to Curdsville, where they robbed the citizens of two hundred and fifty dollars in money. At Hebardsville they robbed Messrs Trice & Hatchitt of five hundred dollars in greenbacks and a horse worth eighty dollars. On that same day twenty or more of another party passed through the lower edge of Henderson.'"
On the morning of the twenty-seventh the large flouring and grist mill of Mr. James Hatchitt, near his residence on the Owensboro road, seven or eight miles out, was burned to the ground. There was a considerable amount of wheat in the building, and altogether the loss was estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars. On the same morning a frame cottage residence at the lower end of Main street, and near the Catholic Cemetery, occupied by Major William R. Kin- ney, was set fire to by an incendiary and burned.
Thursday, August 4, Major Walker Taylor and Adjutant Chinn, of Colonel Lee Sypert's command, came into the city bearing a flag of truce, which they displayed from the rear end of Clark's factory to the gunboat "Brilliant," then commanded by Captain Charles G.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
Perkins, and lying in the Ohio immediately in front of the city. Cap- tain Perkins sent out a boat, and in a short time the two rebel officers were ushered into the Captain's headquarters. A consultation was held and protracted until Friday evening, when the two officers, ac- companied by Lieutenant Herron, of the " Brilliant," were ordered by Captain Perkins to report to Lieutenant Commander Fitch, then lying off the Port of Evansville.
The true intent of this meeting was not known outside of the immediate circle interested.
On Friday evening, about seven o'clock, the whole town was thrown into an intense state of excitement by the arrival and disem- barkation of one hundred and sixty negro soldiers, commanded by white officers. Such a sight had never been witnessed before, and not knowing the object of their visit, or apprehending their approach, every citizen was more or less alarmed. These troops took posses- sion of the Court House. Apprehension of an early attack from the rebels was entertained by every one, and on short notice the ar- chives of both clerks' offices were removed from the building. At ten o'clock next morning all of the drays and wagons of the city were pressed into service to remove the plunder, including picks and shovels, from the Court House, to a high and isolated bluff on the river bank, directly in front of the present bridge office, at the inter- section of Water and Fourth Streets. The soldiers were provided with picks and shovels and set to work throwing up earth works and fortifying the bluff against any attack from the rebels. Here they were engaged until the evening when the officer in command received orders from Louisville to evacuate and proceed to Owensboro. The steamer " Echo," coming up, was made to land and take aboard this sable command and their picks and shovels. It is due to say, that the officers and men of this command were more pleased with the order removing them, than were the citizens, for it was generally be- lieved that an attack would have been made by a large force that night, and, perhaps, half of the colored troops slaughtered.
It was said, and subsequent history affirmed the belief, that Gov- ernor Dixon, Mayor Banks, and Mr. W. B. Woodruff were instru- mental in having these troops removed. So certain was it that an attack was to be made Saturday night, very many of the citizens had left for the country during the day. Judge Y. E. Allison notified the public that he had removed the county records to the "City Bank " building, on Main Street, then standing where Johnson's barber shop is now located.
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
The steamer "Echo," which came up the river and carried away the colored troops, had on board the following gentlemen, who had been seized by the Federal military as hostages for some Union men who had been captured by the guerillas . Caswell D. Bennett, after- wards Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of this district, and Judge William P. Fowler, Judge of this Judicial Circuit during the war.
The regular election for sheriff was held on the first day of Au- gust. The vote of Henderson District amounted to only five hun dred and eighty-five votes, distributed as follows: William G. Nor- ment, one hundred and twelve; Henry C. Kerr, one hundred and eighty-one, and William S. Hicks, two hundred and ninety-two. This was the first fair election held for some time, but nevertheless there was a very small vote polled.
About this time the Reporter suspended publication, as a sort of military necessity.
On Saturday, the thirteenth, Colonel Adam R. Johnson with his command arrived within three miles of the city, and great fear was entertained lest he would come in and the citizens be the losers thereby, for the gunboat "Brilliant " was lying directly in front, an- chored broadside, with her guns bearing upon the defenseless place. A committee of citizens waited upon Captain Perkins, of the "Bril- liant," to ascertain if it was his design to fire upon the city. Captain Perkins stated that he had no desire to imperil the city by fire, and thereby render houseless the women, children and non-combatants, but that he had imperative orders to fire upon it if it was occupied by rebel troops. The committee then went forthwith to see Colonel Adam R. Johnson, but he was absent from his camp. A communi- cation was left, and on Monday morning the following reply was re- ceived :
"HEADQUARTERS DEP'T. SOUTHERN KY., August 13, 1864.
'To the Citizens of Henderson, Ky .:
" I am just in receipt of a communication to the effect that the Federal commander of the gunboat had notified the citizens of Henderson 'if any of my men came into Henderson that he would shell the town,' and requesting me not to send any of my command to town. This request I cannot comply with. So long as Henderson remains ungarrisoned I shall send my men into the town whenever I deem the interest of the Government requires it. The shelling by the Federal commander will be uncalled for, unless an attack be
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
made upon the gunboat. Whenever depredations are committed by men un- der my authority you may rest assured I shall have them severely punished.
" Respectfully,
A. R. JOHNSON.
Colonel Comm'g. C. S. forces Southern Ky.
" P. S .- I do not expect to occupy the place or use it as a garrison. "A. R. J "
Colonel Johnson did not come into Henderson, but on that morning sent in a flag of truce, carried by Officer Thomas Watson, of Henderson County, who held a consultation with Captain Perkins and Lieutenant Little, of the "Brilliant," at the Hancock House, in ref- erence to two of the robbers who were with the invading party at the time Mr. James E. Rankin was shot. Colonel Johnson had cap- tured these two men, calling themselves Captain R. Yates and Cap- tain Jones, and now offered to surrender them to the civil authorities. They were subsequently surrendered to D. N. Walden, Sheriff of Henderson County, who took them before Judge C. W. Hutchen, who opened his court to give them a preliminary hearing upon the charge of robbery and also as accessories to the shooting of Mr. Rankin. Captain Perkins, in command of ten marines, came into court and demanded the men in the name of the United States, when Judge Hutchen very good naturedly complied by directing the sheriff to turn them over. The men were then marched to the river in charge of the marines and taken aboard of the gunboat. A few days after- wards Captain Perkins forwarded them to headquarters at Louisville where they were imprisoned and subsequently shot.
·
The News of August 16 said:
"Our city is nearly depopulated, particularly of the young men sub- ject to conscription or draft. As for ourself, we intend to remain until the last day of grace, believing that prudent council and patient endeavor can yet save Henderson from the flames."
"Colonel Adam R. Johnson's conscript order was soon to be rigidly enforced, that is, it was so said ; and every man of conscript age who was unwilling to leave his home for the war in either army, was dodging around as best he could to avoid the conscript officers.
COLONEL JOHNSON'S PROCLAMATION.
" Citizens of Kentucky :
" The alternative is now presented to you of entering either the Federal or Confederate army.
"All persons between the ages of seventeen and forty-five, who are not lawfully exempt, will be required to go into service at once. You must now see that after the sacrifice of all that freemen should hold dear. to avoid the
-
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
evil and save our property, that the one has not been rendered secure, and you have not saved yourself from the other, even by the sacrifice of principle and honor.
" Your country has been overrun by lawless bands, whose depredations are only equalled by the outrages of large bands of the Federal army, who neither feel nor have any respect for the submissionists, and you are plundered, robbed and murdered with impunity. How long do you intend this to continue ? To what depth of degradation and shame are you to be reduced before you will cut loose the bond of slavery and assert your rights as freemen ? Men of Kentucky, are you willing to see your families reduced to the level of your slaves ? Mothers, can you realize an affiliation of your daughters with the African ? Young men, can you expect to have any claim to manhood ? Can you hope to share the smile or claim the love of the bright-eyed daughters of this famed land of beauty, while those gentle beings are subjected to the in sults of Yankee hirelings and negro troops ? If not, then speedily seize the only way to bring you true liberty and honor. Too long have you listened to the siren song of the traitors of the country. Already too much has been sac- rificed to no advantage. Your only hope of peace is in the success of the Southern armies. Not alone your liberties, but your lives, are involved in this issue. The moderate Union man, the Democrat of the North, as well as the Southern soldier, will all owe their lives and liberties to this result.
" I appeal to you again, as I did two years ago, to rally and strike a blow for the freedom of your country.
·· COLONEL A. R. JOHNSON,
"Commanding Confederate forces in Southern Kentucky."
The whole country surrounding Henderson was in a tumult of. excitement, and intense anxiety was impressed upon every non-com- batant countenance.
On the seventeenth Generals Hughes and Hovey, with six hun- dred of the Thirty-sixth and three hundred of General Willich's bri- gade, all re-enlisted Indiana soldiers, with four twelve-pounders, left Evansville for Union County to intercept the rebel chieftain, and, if possible, to drive him from the country.
Arriving at Mt. Vernon, the command was reinforced by a large force of Warrick and Posey County Home Guards, with three more cannon. Most of these troops were finely mounted, many of them on horses, which had been sent to Evansville from Henderson for safe keeping, and, by the by, never returned to their owners. After marching through Union County, this body of wonderful troopers came into Henderson Saturday morning the dirtiest looking set that had been seen, bringing with them a perfect army of cattle which they had " captured," several captured buggies and their drivers, a great many captured teams and their drivers, a number of horses, fifty-seven
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
negroes, TWO rebel prisoners, six or seven CITIZEN prisoners and ONE wounded HOME GUARD as relics of the raid. The Generals fixed their headquarters at the Hancock House, while the soldiers took possession, with the cattle and other evidences of military ardor, of the public square. A number of these scattered over the city com- mitting petty thefts and otherwise insulting citizens. The horses (many of them owned in Henderson) were quartered at the various livery stables and fed, while the citizens, with their accustomed hos- pitality, invited the tired soldiers to dine at their tables. In the evening all of the soldiery, with the exception of one hundred vete- rans of the Thirty-sixth Indiana, left by steamers for Evansville. Those remaining took possession of the Court House. Next morning they were recalled to Evansville.
Previous to their departure, however, Colonel Moon, with sixty corps d'Afrique; arrived for the purpose of putting down the rebellion, but more especially to recruit the colored men. Moon and his lesser satellites took possession of the bluff on the river bank, which had been partially fortified by a previous company. Colonel Moon re- mained two days, and during the time forwarded to Owensboro ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOUR colored Henderson recruits,
By this time, Colonel Johnson's conscript program had been defeated, but the county had been relieved of one hundred and twenty-five or fifty thousand dollars worth of slave and other prop- erty.
A party of guerrillas went to the residence of C. Sechtig, on the hill in the upper end of the city, and in his absence forced his wife to give up a shot-gun and other weapons offensive and defensive.
The gunboat " Brilliant " let drop four or five shells in that im- mediate neighborhood, when the guerrillas retreated in great haste.
While all of this military activity was being witnessed and sadly felt in the city, the county was not let alone, but was paying an undue penalty to marauding bands of guerrillas and furnishing its quota of stolen slaves to ruthless, unauthorized recruiting officers and thieves of the Federals. On September 2 a band of fifteen men entered the town of Spottsville and boarded the steamer "Cottage " while she lay in the lock. They plundered the boat and passengers of jew- elry, money and other valuables, and left with an estimated capture of twenty-five hundred dollars.
RAID ON THE FARMERS' BANK.
On Saturday morning, September 10, at 11 o'clock, twenty-one mounted desperadoes dashed into the City of Henderson and drove
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HISTORY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, KY.
directly to the Farmers' Bank, then located in the elegant brick now owned by the Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Second and Elm Streets. Ten of the number entered the building with drawn pis- tols and went behind the counter, taking Colonel Leonard H. Lyne, Cashier, completely by surprise. They demanded the funds of the bank, when Colonel Lyne told them they had been removed, but their leader said : "You know your duty-do it," whereupon five of the robbers entered the vault and five remained outside. Colonel Lyne went into the vault with the five, so as to preserve some valuable pa- pers. The robbers soon after came out laden with bags and parcels amounting to eight thousand four hundred and thirty dollars, all being on special deposit except the first item. The following statement is taken from the Henderson News of September 13:
Postal Currency, Property of the Bank $ 277 00
John H. Lambert, gold and paper 3,000 00
James T. Norment, greenbacks .. 2,000 00
Larkin White, Kentucky money 1,735 00
John E. M'Callister, greenbacks.
500 00
L. R. Kerr, in gold. 328 00
Hull Higginson, in gold. 300 00
Sol. S. Sizemore, in silver. 90 00
M. F. Galloway, greenbacks 200 00
Total $8,430 00
On leaving the Bank they visited various business houses and perpetrated the following robberies :
From J. B. Tisserand, dry goods $150 00
" George L. Dixon, boots, etc. 175 00
" F. Millet, dry goods 50 00
William Wakefield. 5 00
66 Hancock House. 10 00
Total $390 00
Having plundered to their hearts' content, they retired with their ill-gotten gain and the ill will of every citizen. Shortly after their de. parture, squads of men collected on the street, and many of them gave vent to their displeasure in forcible language. The Court House bell was rung, and rich and poor, large and small, collected in the building, and every man and boy who could find a musket, shot-gun, or pistol, brought them forward. A meeting was organized, by call- ing Hon. Grant Green to the chair, and Prot. Henry B. Parsons to do the duty of Secretary. A committee, consisting of the following ·named gentleman, George M. Priest, George L. Dixon, Jesse Robin-
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