TIP #198 - BATTLES, DUELS, PANICS AND SKIRMISHES In this tip, I will begin covering some of the difficult times during the history of Kentucky. BLACK PATCH WAR: This "war" began due to the low prices being paid to tobacco farmers in the tobacco fields of western Kentucky and Tennessee in 1904. The prices had become depressed and the American Tobacco Company held pretty well a monolopy. The Planter's Protective Association was formed, giving farmers a place to turn for help and a sense of leadership. More than 5,000 farmers participated in the creation of this organization and by 1906, there were more than 25,000 farmers represented. The American Tobacco Company began paying higher prices to growers who refused to join the Planters group. Violence erupted in the Night Riders time frame when vigilantes on horseback rode into the tobacco fields and destroyed the plant beds, machinery and barns; with occasional murders occurring. The Planters group went out of existence in 1914. BLOODY MONDAY: Riots erupted in Louisville on 6 August 1855 due to anti-foreigner and anti-Catholic prejudice. At least 20 people were killed before quelled. Involved was a distrust of the German and Irish immigrants; the Whig party had been done away and there was increasing unrest over the slavery issue. Over 11,000 of the 36,000 plus citizens of Louisville had become immigrants from these two company and many of them were Catholic. The unrest started because most of the immigrants soon became Democrats while the Whig party floundered and its members split into the Know-Nothings. Between 1854 and 1855, there had been a few incidents resulting in violence and was brought to a head in May of 1855. The Louisville Daily Democrat appears to have played an active role due to its editorials. The rioting began, according to the Kentucky Encyclopedia on the east of the downtown Louisville area where most of the German immigrants lived. Mobs, consisting mainly of Know-Nothings ran through the streets, destroying shops, taverns and homes, beat up every one on the street, and set fires on Shelby Street. Gunfire rang out and the William Armbruster Brewery was burned. The mobs then proceeded into the Irish area, west of the downtown area, and began setting fires and beating residences. Fireman were warned not to try to put out the fires. The rioting continued for several days. DESHA-KIMBROUGH DUEL: This was fount on 26 Mar 1866 on a dueling ground along the Scott and Fayette Co line near the town of Donerail. It was supposedly among the last duels with the participants being Alexander Kimbrough and Joseph Deska, both natives of Harrison Co and Desha was the grandson of the Governor Desha. It is thought that the duel was flared because of ill-feelings between the two men; some have hinted at political causes. Desha was in the Confederate Army; Kimbrough in the Union army. The two had met in February and Desha was offended with Kimbrogh refused to accept his handshake. Kimbrough's second was William Long, a former major in the Union Army; Desha's second was his cousin Hervey McDowell - a former Colonel in the Confederate Army. The first shots rang out and both missed. In the second volley Desha wounded Kimbrough in the hop. Both men had to flee to Canada in order not to be imprisoned for the duel. Governor James McCreary, 1875, pardoned both men. Kimbrough went to Texas and later Arizona and then Los Angeles, CA. He died at Leavenworth, KS on 22 August 1921 at a home for disabled soldiers, buried in the Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana,KY. Desha turned into a cattleman in Harrison Co and died in Cynthiana 8 May 1902 - ironically buried in the same cemetery. EVARTS, BATTLE OF: This event occurred in February of 1931. The Harlan County coal operators and operators cut wages for their employees causing even more of a depression in the area. It resulted in a United Mine Workers drive with over 2,000 in attendance. This rally was held in Pineville. Black Mountain Coal Corporation fired many employees (as did others) and forced their former employees from the company housing. Miners, forced into poverty, often turned to looting to provide food for their families. On the 5th of May, three cars passed through Evarts escorting a miner who was not a union employee to the Black Mountain mine. He was ambushed by up to 300 miners who were in hiding. Carl Richmond and his three deputies, Jim Danies, Otto Lee and Howard Jones were killed - all miners. The Governor, Flem D. Sampson sent out the National Guard. The strike continued spreading and reached Bell County. By the middle of June the strike collapsed. Several miners were arrested - union president William Hightower and UMN secretary William B. Jones included. JACKSON-DICKINSON DUEL: This famous duel took place on May 30, 1806 between Andrew Jackson (later president of the United States) and Charles Dickinson. Jackson killed Dickinson over Dickinson's snide remarks about Jackson's wife, Rachel. She had been previously married to Lewis Robards. It appears that when Andrew and Rachel married, her divorce was not yet final. The two men met in Nashville, TN and agreed to duel in Logan County on the bank of the Red River. Dickinson was staying at William Harrison's home. Dickinson fired first at Jackson and missed. Jackson fired, but the gun jammed. Since this was not considered a legal shot, he was allowed to fire again and fatally wounded Dickinson who died that night at the Harrison home. Jackson was wounded. PANIC OF 1819. This was a time of economy depression. With the re-establishing of foreign trade at the conclusion of the War of 1812, the now unnecessary need for war materials, Kentucky was thrown into economic chaos. The only profitable goods for a time were crops due to an extended famine in Europe. But, my 1818, it was all down-hill. In 1816, the Bank of the United States, the second one, had been chartered. It allowed for branches throughout the nation and it was expected that they would be accepted. When the foreign trade flow became unfavorable, payments of enormous amount fell due on our debt broad. In July 1818, the bank called on all its branches to curtain discounts and then discontinued the policy of interchanging notes among the offices. Many businesses failed, unemployment rose rapidly. This led to the controversy called the Old Court- New Court controversy. It was not until the 1820's that the financial situation eased. REGULATOR UPRISING. After the Civil War, Kentucky became a place of lawlessness with vigilantees roaming the land. The "Regulators" ruled. An uprising began in Elliott Co in 1877 after outlaws burned part of Sandy Hook - the county seat. Attacks on women were waged in 1879 and the citizens of Elliott County decided to take care of the Regulators themselves. "Judge Lynch" told the people that lawlessness would not be tolerated. On the 20th of October 1879, 200 Regulators, armed completely, dragged two supposed outlaws from the jail and hung them. This started a time of terror against all lawbreakers in the area. Men who rode on horseback and were masked road the countryside and drove the lawless out of the area. By the spring of 1880 the movement widened to include the counties of Morgan, Rowan, Carter, Boyd and Lawrence. Judge James E. Stewart, 16th judicial district, although threatened with bodily harm, stated that he was holding the line. He contacted Governor Luke P. Blackburn, asking for state troops to assist. He promised clemency for the Regulators who surrendered. On 28 May 1880, 200 Lawrence and Carter County Regulators surrendered. By 1881, the Elliott and Morgan County Regulators had disbanded. SHANKS/SKAGGS/SKEGGS FAMILY MASSACARE. Although I have covered Indian raids in another tip, this massacre in 1787/1788 was not included. Indians, a small party, attacked the cabin of Catherine Shanks, a widow, with her family at Cooper's Run in Bourbon County. It has been noted that this name has also been shown through the years as Scraggs, Skaggs or Skeggs. Catherine, her two daughters and son were killed; one daughter kidnapped. The eldest son and two daughters (one with a baby in her arms), escaped and hid in the woods. One Indian was killed. Neighbors later investigated and 30 men, led by Colonel John Edwards, pursued the Indians killing one and wounding another. However, the Indians had already killed their captive. © Copyright 10 November 1998, Sandra K. Gorin, All Rights Reserved, sgorin@glasgow-ky.com Sandi Gorin - A Kentucky Colonel 205 Clements Ave., Glasgow, KY 42141 (502) 651-9114 PUBLISHING: http://www.members.tripod.com/~GorinS/index.html BARREN CO OBITS, WILLS, DEEDS & BIBLE RECORDS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/BarrenObits KYRESEARCHING TIPS: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Tips KYBIOGRAPHIES: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ky/Bios