Crittenden County In The Civil War -
Crittenden County appeared to have been fairly regularly visited by
Federal troops, although it by itself rarely served as a military
target. More commonly it was an east west through route for Federal
troops.
The largest military action in the county took place at Weston on
June 21, 1864. The steamboat Mercury, carrying the entire 7th
Ohio Infantry was fired on by Confederates as it passed the north end
of town, the attackers firing from behind a bluff and buildings on or
near it. The attackers apparently didn't realize the strength of the
unit on the boat and were readily driven off by the firing of whole
volleys from the boat. There were casualties on both sides, but the
boat's captain refused to land to allow the infantry to burn the
town, citing orders to not land on the Kentucky shore.
The second documented military action in the county occurred at
Bell's Mines in the extreme northeastern corner of the county. Lt.
Thomas W. Metcalfe with 46 men of Company C, 56th Kentucky
Mounted Infantry departed Cloverport, Ky. on July 5th
traveling through the Green River Country. They were attacked at
Bell's Mines on July 13th by a reported 300 guerrillas and
the force was reported captured by the Evansville Daily Journal of
July 19, 1864. The company record gave its loss as one killed, 11
captured and 22 horses and rigging.
The next dated incident in the county took place, again at Weston
on September 4, 1864, when 14 Confederate prisoners who were being
transported under guard on board the steamboat Colossus, overpowered
their guards, killing several of them, and forced the boat to the
Kentucky shore at Weston, from which pint the escaped.
(Some of this information from research History Pays, by James E.
Jacobsen who was gathering information for the Civil War markers that
were placed in our county in April 2005.)
Following are local stories handed down through families of some
of the plundering and terrorizing that was done to innocent people.
Most of the stories, that I have been fortunate to learn about, have
been in the north and northeastern part of the county.
Out in the Cave Spring area on top of a hill was the home place
of William and Mourning Brantley, (Now owned by Paul Edward Crowell).
William was killed in his own yard standing by his well by a Capt.
Fountain Hawkins as he and his troops plundered and terrorized the
neighborhood. William wouldn't pledge his allegiance with the Union
troops, so they shot him. The date was Jan. 13th, 1863.
William was 70 years old. He is buried in the Brantley family
cemetery not far from the old homestead.
This happening is documented in a book titled "Incidents
From The Farm Account Books of James Beard Crutcher 1857-1893, Union
County, KY. By Tess Elliott".
The entry in this book states "Nov. 14, 1865, The Grand Jury
of Crittenden Co. found a true bill against Capt. Fountain Hawkins
for the killing of William Brantley whilst in command of a Company of
US troops. Brantley was a citizen and was killed at his own house
some 2 or 3 years ago. Hawkins is arrested and was committed to the
Crittenden Jail not allowed bail. Fountain P. Hawkins commanded
Company A of the 48th KY Volunteer Infantry (North) all
Union Co. men.
I don't know what happened, but
Hawkins didn't stay in jail, for later he was documented as raiding
Robertus "Bart" Moore's store, (in the Mattoon area),
cleaning out his smokehouses, and taking all of his metal farm
implements and other items.
There were more men in Crittenden County that joined the Union Army than the Confederate Army. There is only one government Confederate monument in Crittenden County, it is at the Repton Cemetery. It belongs to Stephen F. Crider.
Sir, Thank you for your service, we salute you.
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