What a route.
Historical marker 509, in Eddyville, reads, "Several brisk skirmishes took place in this area because of the importance of Cumberland River navigation. Oct. 17, 1864, General HB Lyon with small CSA force attacked Union garrison, which surrendered and was taken from town. Union gunboat 'Silver Lake' shelled town, took Lyon's wife hostage. Lyon then released Capt. Hugh M. Hiett and 8 USA officers."
577, in Hopkinsville: "... Lyon with 800 men invaded Ky., Dec. 1864, to enforce CSA draft law and divert USA from Nashville. In 23 days he burned seven courthouses used by Union forces. See map on reverse side. Courthouse at Hopkinsville burned Dec. 12. All county records saved. Commandeered clothing and went on. ..."
578, in Cadiz: "... Lyon came to Cadiz, December 13. US force fled courthouse, leaving man with smallpox. Lyon burned 'contaminated' building, moved to Eddyville. County records saved."
579, in Princeton: "... US troops fled Princeton as Lyon came from Eddyville. Courthouse burned on December 15. Records saved. Next day, Lyon stopped US force, then moved toward Madisonville."
577, in Hopkinsville: "... Returned on 16th, skirmished with US force and moved to Madisonville."
580, in Madisonville: "... Courthouse at Madisonville burned December 17. All county records saved. All able-bodied men conscripted, took oath to meet Lyon, Jan. 20, released, but oath not fulfilled."
581, in Hartford: "... At Hartford, garrison captured by Lyon, Dec. 20--later paroled--and courthouse burned. Records, in other building, saved on plea by Samuel O. Peyton, local doctor."
589, in Leitchfield: "Dec. 24, 1864, a contingent of CSA Gen. Lyon's force, ordered to harass and delay pursuing Union troops, burned courthouse at Leitchfield. Records destroyed."
582, in Campbellsville: "... The courthouse at Campbellsville was burned December 25. Some records saved. Desertions had reduced ranks to 250 and Lyon moved out of state via Burkesville, Jan. 3."
583, in Burkesville: "... Raid ended at Burkesville with robbery of stores, impressment of horses and burning of courthouse, Jan. 3. All county records saved. Lyon then moved south to Alabama."
For the record, he wasn't very successful -- but similar tactics would prove much more successful after the War.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, until flipping through a book on Kentucky highway historical markers while accompanying my daughter to the library's story hour the other day, I didn't realize that Adlai Stevenson (the one who was Grover Cleveland's second vice president) was from southern Christian County, near what is now Herndon.
ReplyDelete