What really happened in Columbus, NC on 30 December 1864? I've spent all evening reading through the various papers I culled from the loose estate records in Raleigh, and realize that the story of the deaths of these three ancestors of mine is a larger story. I would greatly appreciate hearing from someone who has some expert knowledge on the social issues in western NC during and after the Civil War. After reading an accusation against Columbus Mills by Mahulda Weaver, widow of Frank Weaver, for engineering her husband's murder, and a rambling but fascinating counter-accusation by Columbus Mills, I pulled Sadie Patton's "Sketches of Polk County" and found this paragraph, which I'd never really read closely before since it didn't have names. Now I know the names. Patton (p. 46): "After the Civil War came to a close, peace returned slowly to the citizens of Polks County. During the months immediately following Lee's surrender, conditions which were considered by some to be a threat to the general public arose; a group of Home Guards from Henderson County was stationed for some time at the sourt house in Columbus. In an encounter between this band and citizens of Polk County, which occurred at the Chevalier House, later known as the Hotel, one man was killed, some wounded, and others were carried to a nearby site and there executed. No reason has been definitely assigned for this action, which at this late date seems hasty and unwarranted--and was perhaps the outgrowth of earlier events." The next paragraph relates to Mills: "Sometime after the war had ended, a band of wandering renegades entered the home of Dr. Columbus Mills, which stood where the Mimosa Inn now is, and after robbing the inmates, so terrorized them that they left, and never returned as citizens of Polk County." >From what I can gather, Peyton Hunter, who I believe owned the Hotel, was the one killed in town, and his son Sam Hunter and his father-in-law Francis A. Weaver were shot outside of town near Houston Rd. In 1865, widows Huldah Weaver and Jane Hunter accused Lee Grant, JR Ponder and JL Ward of the murders of their husbands. In 1870, Huldah Weaver sued Columbus Mills for $10,000, accusing him of masterminding the murders. He denied it, accusing Hunter and Weaver of being the leaders of the marauding renegades. He also filed suit against Weaver's estate for a debt he shared with Govan Mills (there is apparently more information on this in the Govan Mills estate papers, which I didn't get a chance to pull while in Raleigh). The court ordered that to avoid extended legal proceedings, Mills should pay Mrs. Weaver $150 and court costs, and drop the suit against Weaver; Mills maintaining his innocence in the murder charges. What do you make of this? Does anyone know about the troubles during this period, about the Home Guard situation, etc.? What were the politics of this time? I am absolutely fascinated by all of this, and want to understand what was going on. I find it hard to believe that Weaver and Hunter, who were fairly prosperous businessmen, would lead bands of marauding renegades, as Mills accused. I do know that the Weaver family (FA Weaver's father) was originally from Rhode Island, so I don't know if his northern ties were part of the tension or not. I haven't seen any mention of slaves, so don't beleive that racial issues were involved here, but may be wrong. Both of these families lived in town and were merchants and landlords, seemingly well educated (all the women were literate, which contrasts with many of my rural families of the same period). Hunter had only moved to Polk County from Spartanburg CO SC in the late 1850s; his wife returned there after his death. If you are knowledgeable about this period of history, and especially about local history in Polk/Rutherford/Henderson Counties, please let me know. Insights, please! Thanks, Pam Wilson [email protected]