This was sent to me by a friend that she got from a surname list she is on.> > > JOHN HUNT MORGAN DIDN'T DO IT ALL; COUNTY HOLDINGS - > GALLATIN THROUGH GREENUP > (c) 1997 by Sandi Gorin > > > I recently saw an article reprinted from the Paducah Sun- > Democrat-not dated. But thought it might be of interest to the > readers. This was reprinted in an Edmonson Co KY quarterly > entitled "Echoes From Edmonson > County" by by Kathie Rajewich: > > "Confederates Torched a Dozen .. 22 Courthouses Burned in Kentucky > During the Civil War." Written by Hall Allen. > > "Twenty-two Kentucky Courthouses were burned during the Civil War-19 > of them in the last 15 months of the conflict. > "The Kentucky Historical Highway Marker Program, under the direction > of W. A. Wentworth, Frankfort, has just finished placing markers of > the historic sites. > > "One side of the marker tells of the buring at at that paraticular > place, and the other contains a map of Kentucky, showing the > locations of all the burnings. > > "The greatest 'courthouse burning spree' was conducted by Gen. Hylan > B. Lyon, a native of Eddyville. He invaded Kentucky with 800 men in > December, 1864, to recruit Confederate soldiers, securing supplies and > divert forces from the defense of Nashville which was under attack. > > "With Confederate fortunes fading rapidly, Lyon found recruiting > slow, and he undertook to enforce the Confederate Draft Law. > In several towns he conscripted all able-bodied men and put them > under oath to join him on Jan. 20. Later he complained bitterly that > all failed to show up for induction. > > "Lyon's forces entered the state about Dec. 12th, and promptly burned > the Christian County courthouse at Hopkinsville. As in most cases, he > allowed officials to remove their records. After commandearing > clothing and other supplies, he moved tdo Cadiz on Dec. 13. > > "The Trigg County courthouse there was occupied by Union soldiers who > fled as the Confederate forces advanced. They left behind one soldier > who was too ill to travel. A member of Lyon's command promptly > decided the soldier was suffering from smallpox, shot him on the > spot, and burned the "contaminated" building. > > "The following day Lyon reached Eddyville, his home town. He routed > the Union troops but spared the courthouse because it was across the > street from his home and a member of his family was reported to be > ill in the home. > > "The other courthouses burned by Lyon and his men: > > CALDWELL COUNTY: Lyon and his forces arrived at Princeton on Dec. 15 > whre, as the general said in a report, "I burned the courthouse and > annoyed the people." > > HOPKINS COUNTY: At Madisonville, on Dec. 17, Lyon's men burned the > courthouse and conscripted a number of men who failed to join him > later. > > OHIO COUNTY: On Dec. 20, Lyon's forces captured and paroled a group > of Union soldiers quartered in the courthouse at Hartford. Then he > burned the courthouse. > > GRAYSON COUNTY: On Christmas Eve a contingent of Lyon's forces > burned the court house at Leitchfield. > > TAYLOR COUNTY: The courthouse at Campbellsville was burned Christmas > Day. By this time desertions had reduced his forces to about 250 men > and Lyon started moving out of the state to rejoin Gen. Nathan Bedford > Forrest's command. > > CUMBERLAND COUNTY: The Lyon raids ended at Burkesville on Jan. 3, > with the burning of the courthouse, robbery of stores and seizure of > the houses. Lyon then moved south to Alabama. > > "Other courthouses burned during the Civil War: > > BRECKINRIDGE COUNTY: On Dec, 28, 1864, guerillas burned the > courthouse at Hardinsburg but citizens saved the records and a part > of the building. > > MARION COUNTY:The County Clerk's office at Lebanon was burned July 5, > 1863, by Gen. John Hunt Morgan, to destroy treason indictments against > some of his men. > > MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Confederate cavalrymen burned the Mt. Sterling > courthouse Dec. 2, 1863, to prevent its use as a Union garrison. > > POWELL COUNTY: In the spring of 1863 guerrillas burned the courthouse > and other buildings at Stanton. > > HARLAN COUNTY: In October, 1863, the courthouse at Harlan was burned > for reprisal for the burning of the Lee County, Va. courthouse. > > DAVIESS COUNTY: Courthouse at Owensboro burned by guerrillas on Jan. > 4, 1865, while it was being occupied by Union troops. > > LARUE COUNTY: The courthouse at Hodgenville was burned by guerrillas > on Feg. 21, 1865. It had been used by Union soldiers as barracks. > > BATH COUNTY: On March 21, 1864, Union troops fled the courthouse at > Owingsville as a Confederate force approached. An overheated stove > started a fire, destroying the building. > > MONROE COUNTY: The courthousse and other buildings at Tompkinsville > were burned by Confederates on April 22, 1863, in reprisal for burning > in Celina, Tenn. by Union forces. > > CLINTON COUNTY: The courthouse at Albany was burned by guerrillas > late in 1864. > > CRITTENDEN COUNTY: The courthouse at Marion was burned by guerrillas > in January, 1865. > > ROWAN COUNTY: The courthouse at Morehead was burned by guerrillas > March 21, 1864." > --