The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
CAPT. WILLIAM STRONG.

ofthe Three Forks Battalion. He served with
distinction under Gen. Wolford, and was mus
tered out on July II. 1865. Returning to his
home near Crockettsville, in Breathitt county,
be began the mining of camel coal, which he
shipped by fatboat down the Kentucky River to
Gays Ferry and Brooklyn, and he sent several
cargoes to Frankfort.
While in this business, in which no earne d
enough money to buy considerable land, Strong
became involved in a dispute with the Amos
family, several members OF which had belonged
to his companies in the war. Wiley Amos was
the father. and his grown sons. John, AL, and
Robert, incurred Strong's displeasure by steal
ing, so Strong alleged, several shoats from the
etrong hogpen. The Captains friends say that
during the war Amos and his sons were noted
%poachers, and when the Captain thought that
they had stolen his shoats he made very caustic
comments as to the honesty Of the Amos family.
This was in the spring OF 1870, and a few days
after Strong had charged them with stealing the
hogs Amos and his sons accosted him in his field
while he was ploughing and began firing on him.
The Captain ran to his house, got his gun, and
shot John Amos through both thighs.
John Amos did not recover until late in August,
and then he and his father and brothers began n
warfare on Capt. Strong. They got a number of
their friends and armed them with old
round.barrcl reviewers and rifles, and one night
early in September of that year they surrounded
Capt. Strong's house. The next morning they
began firing on the dwelling. The only persons
In the house were Strong. his wife and little
children. a mulatto who had served with him in
The war, and 9 l7-ycaT-old negro who was assist
ing on the farm. The Amos crowd shot tho
house almost 10 pieces. One bullet struck Hiram
FREEMAN, the mulatto. in the thigh. badly
Nouhdlng NM, Capt. strong was not well
armed at that time and was unable to make u
trees and knobs.
After the Captain had been besieged three
Gays and his provisions and ammunition were
GGefnuns low he concluded to put his little boy
rnG9 10y started early in the morning and rode
rap,d'S y to this place where he called on "a:
c CSFI M NRo hni th Been C caSS. s G,e1k s IieS GSnnty
IN the army. Lieut.. Marcum was also a nephew
o, Capt. strong. and when he heard that his
tosether twelve or fourteen determined men.
near!y an o. whom had fought under Strong,
ana at their head rode 10 the scene of conflict.
they arrived on a high hill about half n mile
rom CAPT; StrOng's house at IL o'clock in
f fI TB% cI MEM The, There was a large corn %rInc
captain "n5 watching from a window for the re-
engagements, and when they appeared on tho
ny ne .siEnallei hem TO come through the corn
neiu; aihrc'!m deployed his men SO that they
Mouil make . long line. and they dashed into the
sCrnEeid yelling like Indians and firing their
mt or ire. supposed that the rescuing party
pWHmnered 100 or more, and beat a hasty retreat.
I "rtm tne endorsements arrived Capt. Strong
ing, with his entire party, left the place for his
rUtntrs mouse, some ten miles distant. After
NslultihH Il rev more men Capt. Strong placed
AAn nus az Their head, and went to look for the
n n party, hut they had all taken to the woods
ana he disbandcd his forces.
"A lew weeks later the Captain and two or
.hree OF his friends were standing in his yard
newt dan amos ana MS gang fired on them. The
Lm M ny y, ne captain received word from the
stlpOo fUlllI maj they Nyprn dat rtninaH Tn Kill
nMn. he came TO Jackson and advised with the
sbounIi,t Judge and county officials MS to what he
10 protect him and 1t would be better for him to
Rpo.sel himself. The Captain secured twelve or
i Ssf,fen men on whom he could rely. and arm
~ mem well, he set out to meet his enemies.
iiGs parties met one moonlight night In October,
bS, = IN an open meadow. The Amos force out
SsId OF them werc old soldiers, us were also
s al az They began firing, on each other
ysp So1 ,Sards; For u while both parties ad:
ss,,ch side eventually retreated. Then Capt.
uibn r,n ran out in, front OF his men and urged
fieSan nt Al Amos fell dead, shot through the
No nSSa R%o. in the leg, William SandliIn. also OF
T ~m 1tners belonging TO the Amos party were
was he Capt, Strons's Oldest son, Flint, who
Sss the only one on the Strong side to receives
'JnS,. re suffered a flesh wound in the thigh;
and I've Ss thls battle the Amos crowd dispersed.
hull, 4 ~ VI lOhllu uCtth Win
BBS y holcs in them, tho others concluded that
thea h county was not II healthy locality for
la or ana they went West. Capt. Strong then
ddSSrrggrht The old home place with the proceeds
iyrsfi W from the sale OF camel coal, and has
TO- vu mere over since. Io was never indicted
STtS Sna 81 the killings. as It was plain, to tho
ITIhorilles that he was fighting TO save his life.
hhStrlo a number OF Killings which occurred
Al I,uio TO lime in Breathitt county wore laid
6r, n.1pt' Strong's door by his enemies.
H. H. mere was never enough evidence against
Az attain 10 cause n Grand Jury TO indict him
bb% n ne ilyed in peace until the trouble between
~ ana Callahan broke out two years ago.
pon VOh after the war and after Capt. Strong had
eone 70 work TO nay for his home the ku-KluN boz
ssnt 70 ierr9rizo he community. 1t was conceded
senT rn That the clan was composed chiefly OF
iSUuhR men who were not old enough 10 enter
b %S army AT tho breaking out OF hostilities. but
against the tnionists, Capt. Strong was re-
s raHs as 2 leader among tho Federal vet
TS a. ana no was n strong Republican. He
las ogtspoken against the Ku-Klux, and
u'JKfsenitel with having organized an anti;
SuS1ting down the clan. About two years
~ some Of tho men who had come into
oreathltl aimee the ndvent af tho railroad mr.