The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-03
GuERRILLAs IN KENTUCKY,
How Dayison's Band Terrorized Citizens or
HnWGsyiIIc.


wish to give the readers of your paper little
"Reminiscences of the war; The Cincinnati En-
gtirer some time ago had column headed
Bill DAWSON" written by someone who no
doubt WAS a sympathizer with the party Bill
Dawson represented; ut least l am led TO be-
lieve so by the incorrectness of tho statement
made of the affair In which Dawson was killed.
The writer says that Dawson was waylaid and
fired on when he did not know the enemy was
near.
That statement ID incorrect. Dawson and
10 of his men attacked Charles Hale and 81
Taylor on Sunday morning about six miles
above Hawesville, when Hale and Taylor rode
their horses behind trees and after several
rounds were fired Dawson was fatally wounded.
Ho dropped his revolver and overcoat, but
managed to stay in his saddle. When his men
saw that he was shot they took him and re-
treated, and we have always supposed that he
was taken to tho house of q relative of his, who
lived seven miles from Hawesville, in the
country, where no died and was buried. The
men who shot him were not Home Guards, as
tho writer to the Enquirer says they were.
They were private soldiers in Co. ID of the
Green River battalion, which was recruited
in March, 1865, TO serve one year or during
tho war, and Charles Hale was one Of the first
to enlist. He was one Of the loyal men to tho
Union who in that part of kentucky suffered
untold misery from those cruel outlaws who
rights.
Comrade Hales brother William, who was
peaceable citizen, was called to his door one
night after he and his family had retired, and
was brutally murdered in the presence of his
family by the highway robbers whom the
writer to the Enquirer speaks of as being brave.
He also says Davison's name made the Union
soldiers of Kentucky shudder when it was
mentioned. Dawson was never known to at
tack party of soldiers, but always sought to
shun tho men who wore the blue. Their meet
ing with Hale aud Taylor was accidental.
They had been detailed to go to farm above
Hawesville to order a load of corn for our
horses.
Through respect for Davison's mother. who
was an honorable Christian lady. his body was
never sought for nor molestcd, although 81 900
reward was offered by the Government for the
body, dead or alive
Dawson was q man OF medium size of very
dark complexion, and wore his hair very long,
which was as black as a raven. In appear
ance he rescmbed Mexican. He was no re-
specter of persons. | have seen him ride into
the stores of our town--which was tho place of
his nativity--and help himself to anything he
might fancy. II was the custom of he and his
band to- ride into business houses without dis
mounting They spared not even the laboring
man If they thought he had money. They
took Mr.. Starks from his house, who lived in
HawesviIlo on tho river bank near the old
saw mill and hung him. TO compel him to give
up money which ho had received for buildinga
1atboat. lie was afterward cut down, before
life was extinct, by his family. IL is true Dav-
ison had many friends, but they were guerrilas
or rebel sympathizers. His band consisted of
Is men. Ike Morton was his right bower. l
never learned tho names Of the others, bnt
their faces were always familiar. Il was their
custom to carry four large navy rcvolvers, two
IN. THAR hpIfu nd mn in
To show the reader the grit of these men l
will give you an incident which occurred in
my presence. One morning we were standing
on the corner OF Main street. aud six of these
brave men were in a saloon, when ono man in
blue was coming down the river road.
Someone notified them that a man in blue was
coming They ran out and mounted their
horses, when they discovered that tho Yankee
was alone and without arms. Then they showed
their bravery by dismounting aud questioning
him little; then they went through his pock-
cts and haversack and relieved him of his
watch, which was on leather guard around
his neck. This they jerkcd In two before he
had time 10 take ii on.
Many deeds similar 10 these were committed
in tho vicinity Of HaHesville and the adjoining
Counties OF Daviess InHd Breckenridge, which
have not gone into history and probably never
will. For months all steam boats which carried
mail were forbidden by the Government TO
land on the Kentucky shore. One evening we
were surprised 10 sec the steamer Morning
STAR which was the Louisville and Henderson
mail. packet, coming up tho river close 10 the
Kentucky shore. / supposed she had Union
soldiers on board. and IL 80 we would sec some
fan. as the town was full of rebels. whose chief
was Walker Taylor bat when the boat landed
Bill Dawson aud Isis band marched off In good
humor, aud satisfied with their success Ia capt
uriug tho mail boat, on which they found some
disabled and sick soldiers, whom they muir.
dered. Two were shot in the river while try
ing to make their escape. The others prayed
to he spared that they might sec their families
but all in vain. There was no mercy shown
them.
The rebel sympathIzers In our town were 10
10 one Of the Union side at the beginning of
the war, and they concluded not 10 allow any
Linconitea To remain with them in their little
village, which Is situated under Lovers Leap,
the noted rock that later on was our main
picket post. as we could SEQ all the roads from
this cltf that came into town.
The Union citizens could plainly see their
time WAS short uulcss something was done; that
they must have protection or leave their homes
20 the mercy of tho rebels.
About this time the first gunboat had made
It's appearance on the lower Ohio. aud was
anchored at Owcnsboro. Half dozen Union
citizens made their condition known to the
commander OF the Funboat, and the next
morning "A black object was coming up the
river. No ono could imagine what ID was as
such monster had never been seen on these
waters. The Union people had nothing to say,
| IA they were we'll aware of its coming, and tho
rebels soon found out It's mission, as IL was the
Conebtoga She landed at Cannelt0n on the
opposite side OF the river. A skiH was sent
with white flag on its bow. The Union people
were notified 10 get out OF tho town by one
o'clock, as the town would be fred on at that
tlme 80 they crossed tho river and tho rebels
went TO tho hills. When the time was up for
the destruction Of the worst rebel town on the
banks OF the Ohio, the boat moved to tho mid.
| die Of tho river, where she was hailed by u
| party on the beach. She went TO the shore TO
| inquire what was wanted, when the Captain
| was asked To spare the town, which he agreed
| to do, providing they would guarantee the
safety OF tho Union people and allow them to
| live in peace II not they would come back and
| would not leave one shingle on top of another
What have written is correct as | was an
| eyewitness to these incidents. / did not SEQ
| Dawson shot, but was the first to SEQ Hale and
| Taylor, who gave me the information after the
skrmsh with tho rebels i was private in
the same company with them.-CoMRADE.
Capt Groce and the ForlOrn Hope.
VI 4 =