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 union on the board and were readily driven off by the firing of whole volleys from the boat. There were casualties on both sides. The boat's captain refused to land to allow the infantry to burn the town, citing orders to not land on the Kentucky shore.
Another dated incident that took place at Weston was on Sept. 4, 1864, when 14 Confederate prisoners who were being transported under guard on board the steamboat Colossus, overpowered the guards, killing several of them and forced the boat to the Kentucky shore at Weston from which point they escaped.
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The seconded documented military action in the county occurred at Bell's Mines about 3 miles east of Weston. Lt. Thomas W. Metcalfe with 46 men of Company C, 56th Kentucky Mounted Infantry departed Cloverport, Ky., on July 5, traveling through the Green River country. They were attacked at Bell's Mines on July 13, 1864 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 1 killed, 11 captured and 22 horses and rigging taken.
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There are a few Civil War markers at Bells Mines Cemetery. There may have been more but are now lost to time.
John W. Jarrell, He was a member of Co. E, 48th Illinois Infantry, Union. The Databases of Illinois Veterans, says he was 5'6, hair, light, Eyes, Blue, Complexion Light. His occupation was a farmer, birth about 1838 Crittenden Co, KY.
When he was discharged from the war he came back to Crittenden County and lived in the Bells Mines community and worked in a grocery store. He married Sarah Mandeia Gray and had 4 children. When he died about 1880, Sarah remarried and her and the children moved away from Crittenden County.
How he got to Bells Mines is a mystery and have nothing on his family or his life.
According to his information provided for his military stone, it does say he died on March 2, 1879 but no information who ordered the stone.
On the 1870 Bells Mines Census he was working in the coal mines.
George W. Tudor, born in 1846 to William H. and Sarah Catherine Miller Tudor.
Enlisted at Henderson, Kentucky, as Corporal and Served with the Union, Company C, Kentucky North Cumberland Infantry Battalion.
Mustered out on Aug. 28, 1865 at Henderson.
He was back home and living at Bells Mines in the 1870 Census and was working in the Bells Coal Mine.
His death date on his military headstone request is Aug. 3, 1873. His papers for request of his military headstone doesn't say who it was requested by.
J. P. Gore (John P. Gore).
Enlisted in Company K, Kentucky 17th Cavalry Regiment on Aug. 16, 1864 at Owensboro, KY.
Lived in Union County. No family information other than his Union County Death information said he died Dec. 28, 1875 of pneumonia. His occupation was listed as a miner.
He must have worked in the Bells Coal Mines.
Elias Cissell.
Company D, 120th Regt. Illinois Infantry.
Family lived in Union County, KY
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