The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-25
Death of a Noted Kentucky Guerilla,


At about half-past 10 o'clock yes
terday morning, one of the most ter
rible bush-whackers that figured on
either side during the war, breathed
his last at our city hospital. The
noted Captain Ed. Terrell is no more.
These words will cause q feeling of
relief to hundreds of good men in
Shelby and other counties in this
State. He was without doubt one of
the most heartless and wicked men
that has figured in this age. It is
believed by those who know whereof
they speak, that Ed. Terrell murdered
no less than twenty men during his
life. He was conspicuous in both
the Confederate and Federal armies.
at the breaking out of the war he
enlisted in the Dixie Guards, a com.
pany commanded by Jack Thomp-
son, OF Owensboro', which was mus
tered into the First Kentucky (Con-
federate) regiment. He afterwards
Joined General Morgan's command,
from which he deserted in 1868, and
turned up as captain of company of
independent (Federal) scouts. It
will be remembered that it was Capt.
Ed. Terrell who murdered Hercules
Walker in 1864, on his farm. a few
miles from the city, on the Preston
street road. Terrell rode up to the
house of Walker and inquired for
him. Walkers wife called him from
his work in the field, and, upon his
coming up to the door, Terrell deli
berately shot him down without utter
ing word. He said at the time that
he had commission to kill ten men.
and Walker was the first of the num-
Der. After committing this bloody
deed the desperate rode off in search
of new victims.
He also murdered Ennis Wood, an
industrious and worthy blacksmith,
at Taylorsyille, in Spencer County.
Terrell had got number of horses
shod, and upon being asked by Wood
who was to pay for the work, he
became enraged and shot the poor
man down in cold blood
In 1854, he murdered Mr.. johnson.
a worthy citizen of Indiana, who
came to Kentucky with a drove of
cattle, which he had sold and for
which he had received the money.
Terrell deooyed the unsuspectinp
drover out few miles from Shelby
vile, when he knocked him on the
head, stripped the body of what
money was upon it, and then threw
it in Clear Creek, where it was dis
covered and the crime traced to Ter
rell. He was indicted and lay in
Jail for long time, until he broke
out, and shortly afterwards visited
Shelbyville with his gang. He was
attacked by posse of citizens and
fairly riddled with bullets, vet his
time had not come for death. He
lived, but in very crippled condi-
tion: He was afterward captured,
butb some machination got released
on his own bond.
On one occasion, we arc told, he
was courting beautiful girl. Her
brother had come into the parlor
and was introduced to Terrell. The
young man had ON ine pair of new
boots. Terrell set his affections upon
them, and on that same night. shot
and killed the young man for the sole
purpose of getting his boots. Terrell
afterwards boasted of this exploit
His trail was marked with the blood
OF his innocent victims throughout
the war, and long after its close.
While on the Confederate side, he
was boon companion of Sue Mum
day and Charap Ferguson. He was
outlawed by all Confederate forces.
and bush-whacked on his own hook
for plnnder. until he got into the
Federal camp. He then obtained a
rowing commission, and commenced
his bloody career anew, killing the
friends with whom he had camped
and fought in common cause.
About three months ago, Terrell
was shot and wounded in FIVE or six
places by q brother-in-law whom he