The National tribune., 1904-09-08
NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON O. THURSDAY

what we're then called 'Secessionists' that
at that time infested the country. Capt
Mitchell-with the exception of two men-
gave all of his prisoners to Col. McHenry
to be court-martialed by United States of
fcers.-~ Capt Mitchell. in making his re-
port of these two men. said that one OF
| them was at a farmhouse near FOrdsville
| with muSket ball in his back. fired by
one of his pickets while the man was try
| ing to steal through his lines at night. and
that the other had been killed outright by
one Of his men while resisting arrest, and
he now lay in a paupers grave. The first
man spoken of was. no doubt. rs he then
said. trying to slip through the Union lines
to the rebel army, and though he is yet
living. that nights work spoiled all his ar
dor for the rebel army. Capt. Mitchell
stated that the one killed by his men he
thought was far more important inter
ception. From papers found in his valise
it was learned that he was from Missouri
and that his name was Bennett. One OF
the papers was a divorce from his wife,
and the others contained nothing of any i'm
portance. He struck Ohio County about
five miles east of FordsviIle. in n Union
community, and stopped at Newton He'd
ditiOnal advocate of the Union cause. This
man said that he was an itinerant school
teacher. and asked what was the prospect
to obtain a school in that district. Mr..
Hedden told him he thought one could be
made up i'm few days, and for him to re-
main with him till this was done: which he
did. and during that time he obtained the
Kentucky. When he was told that the
school was ready for him he manifested no
desire to teach it. but having made use of
some dangerous and reasonable language.
he inquired what road led to the nearest
town in that part of Ohio County. Mr..
Hedden showed him the road to Fordsville.
and knowing that he would get into trou-
BILE there. told him that when he got to
Fordsville the Home Guards would ask
him some questions. but to answer them po-
litely. and they would let him pass. He
appeared to get very angry at that, and
said no - Home Guards should stop
him. etc. In a farmhouse yard at what is
now Jones's Station, two miles east of
Fordsville. were two unarmed members of
the Guards. who told him to halt, as they
had orders TO examine all strangers passing
them. and he answered them by shot from
his old-time pepper-box revolver, and con-
tinued firing at them till he had fired the
six shots that the weapon contained. For
tunately for the men, the shots that would
have struck them lodged in the board fence.
George w. Roberts. Orderly-Sergeant of
the Guards, lived on the next farm. A
message was sent to him by a nearer way
than the main road to intercept Bennett as
he passed through his farm on the road to
FOrdsville. When Mr.. Roberts received the
message. as his musket was not at hand, he
seized his rife and shot-pouch and hurried
to the road on his farm. and as Bennett had
stopped on the road to load his pistol, Mr..
Roberts gained the road on his farm before
Bennett came up. When Bennett came up
Mr.. Roberts ordered him to halt, but he
waved his pistol and continued advancing
on Mr.. Roberts. who gave ground as he
ordered him to halt the second time but
he continued advancing. fourishing his pis-
tOl and cursing the Union men. Mr.. Rob-
erts gave back about 30 steps, and the third
time he ordered him to halt he said "Ain't
you going to stop?" Bennett said NO"
with curses. Roberts fired on him. Ben
nett elected a short imprecation, set his
valise down. and fell dead. Just then there
was heavy firing heard in the direction of
FOrdsville, and the members of the Guard
living in that community fastened to the
aid of their comrades. and the dead man
was left in charge of others. The firing at
Fordsville was the Guard there preparing
their guns to attack band Of secessionists
trying to break through the Union lines on
| their way to the rebel army.
The local Magistrate took charge of the
body and the effects of Bennett, had him
buried at the expense of the County, and as
no one ever came to claim his effects, they
are yet in charge of the Magistrates fam
ily, he having been dead many years. When
MIR. Roberts made his report of the affair
to Col. McHenry and presented him Ben
nett's pistol. the Colonel being West
Pointer and a stern lawyer, stopped him in
his report and said gruffly that some more
of them fellows would have to be killed be-
fore they would behave themselves and to
keep that pistol, meaning Benefits pistol,
as reward for his service. But the Colo
mel was wrong: for this was the last mill
tary killing in that section during the war,
though there had been two men killed over
politics in Kentucky before Bennett was
killed. Bennett was the first to fall in
Kentucky, SO far as l can learn, on the
rebel side in military capacity. which he
no doubt was in when he was killed. as no
Intelligent person doubted that he had been
sent to Kentucky by the rebel officers in
Missouri to learn the situation of that part
of the State that had done so little for the
cause of the South. Benefits conduct in
the State and papers found in his valise
| were satisfactory proof that he was in the
rebel service, and later it was learned that
he was without doubt the man that shot at
several citizens of Indiana as he crossed
| the corner of their State on his way to
Kentucky. Bennett was said to be-by
some not very friendly to the Union cause
of unsound mind, but the popular opin-
ion was that he was a man on the Kansas
border-rufian order. and suitable for any
outlaw or reasonable work, and his iusti-
fled end was warning to other rebel spies
to keep out of that part of Kentucky.
Bennett was buried in the strangers part
| of the little country graveyard. on the hill
short distance from where he fell. and
| though have lived in sight of the yard for
the last 30 years, could never find any
one that could point out the grave of Ben.
nett from the other neglected and forgotten
graves. and at this time / do not think
there is living person that can tell
the exact grave where the remains now lie
With the exception of few prowling guer-
rilla bands, | do not think he had any
friends to care what became of him or
| where his remains were laid George W.
Roberts. the man who killed Bennett. is
yet living and is hale and hearty for a
man of his age. He believes-and ALWAYS
has-that in killing Bennett he removed
dangerous enemy Of his country, and one
that was not only seeking to destroy his
life and property, but that of his neigh
| b0rs and friends. Mr.. Roberts is now in
the S7th year Of his age, and the prospect
is good for him to live for some years. AS
! married his Oldest daughter, since the
death of his wife. six years ago. he has
made his home with me. which is about 200
yards northwest of where Bennett fell. and
1 il in sight IF tho ,,,ho-.