"On April 7, 1863, May's Co. of the 10th KY Cavalry [CS] entered Booneville and reportedly put all public buildings to the torch before proceeding to the home of Abijah Gilbert, a prominent local Unionist. In a letter dated April 13, 1863, which was afterwards published in a Unionist newspaper [no name given], Gilbert lamented that May "took every horse and mule I had, numbering thirteen..." He then related, "They got after my two oldest sons, up the branch from my house, and shot most of their ammunition at them: (William P.) Lacy then charged upon my oldest son, with his musket in hand, cursing him - swore he would hang him. My son drew his pistol, shot Lacy through the arm, and into his canteen. Lacy threw up his hand, hallowed out, don't. My son fired again, took Lacy under the ear, dropped him off his horse dead. The boys then broke - the musket balls cutting all round them - ran down a steep cliff...and made their escape...." ...Gilbert continured, "The rebels then set fire to my houses; burned everything I had, leaving my wife and children with nothing but the clothes they had on. My wife got on her knees to them and offered them one thousand dollars in cash, not to burn our houses. They kept her off with their muskets; some few things, however, which she did get out were taken from her by the rebels...The balance all went to the flames." [John B. Wells, III, 10th KY Cavalry, CSA, pp.19/20] Sherry Baker Frazier Nashville, Tennessee President Owsley County Historical Society http://owsleykyhist.org http://sherryfrazier.com