The Shelton Laurel Massacre

Certainly G W Kirk and on occasion some of his brothers were know to venture into the Unaka Mountains and recurit.
You might enjoy the book " Kirk's Raider's a notorious bunch of Scoundrels and thieves" George Bumgardner Tar Heel Press. Kirk recruited Confederate POWs and Bumgardner has a chart on what states the soldiers of the 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Union came from. Mostly North Carolina and East Tennessee but also from other Southern states.
Leftyhunter
 
Certainly G W Kirk and on occasion some of his brothers were know to venture into the Unaka Mountains and recurit.
And it was reported that George's brother John Kirk was the person leading the raid on Marshall, NC on January 8th, 1863. Dave Fry, also of Greene Co., TN recruited Laurel men into the Union army as early as Nov. 15, 1861 - just after the bridge burning in E. TN.
 
From The Daily Progress, Raleigh, NC Jan. 19, 1863:

The_Daily_Progress_Mon__Jan_19__1863_.jpg
 
And it was reported that George's brother John Kirk was the person leading the raid on Marshall, NC on January 8th, 1863. Dave Fry, also of Greene Co., TN recruited Laurel men into the Union army as early as Nov. 15, 1861 - just after the bridge burning in E. TN.

I noticed one of the east Tennessee members of the 64th claimed to have been wounded by Fry. I didn't look at all the Tennesseans pension applications, but the ones I looked out were captured at Cumberland Gap and ended the war in prison.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/re...s-in-the-civil-war.129343/page-8#post-1912799
 
I noticed one of the east Tennessee members of the 64th claimed to have been wounded by Fry. I didn't look at all the Tennesseans pension applications, but the ones I looked out were captured at Cumberland Gap and ended the war in prison.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/re...s-in-the-civil-war.129343/page-8#post-1912799
Best I remember the one was Marion C. Jones. I did that list many moons ago and don't remember any details. I've got to read more of your thread. Great stuff!
 
Can history back-up Southern newspaper accounts?

Kevin Dally
Certainly the pro Confederate newspapers represent the Confederate view point. The Confederacy could never quite end the Unionist guerrillas activities in Western North Carolina. Try to remind me to look up some of my books on Unionist resistance in Western North Carolina this weekend. Some of the Unionist guerrillas were recruited into the 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Union . The 3rd was armed with Spencer Rifles and could do some damage.
Leftyhunter
 
Can history back-up Southern newspaper accounts?

Kevin Dally
Are you speaking of the two articles I posted about this specific event? If so, the answer is yes AND no. Some things can be documented as true; some things false; and some things we just flat don't know. I would say that's true with Northern papers as well - - - AND our papers today.
 
I wonder what it is that makes the events of the Shelton Laurel so fascinating to folks

To me personally, as one that had direct ancestors on both sides, the tragedy of Shelton Laurel is a synopsis the Civil War. The division of families, friends, communities, States, and our great Nation, all rolled into one tragic event.
 
Certainly the pro Confederate newspapers represent the Confederate view point. The Confederacy could never quite end the Unionist guerrillas activities in Western North Carolina. Try to remind me to look up some of my books on Unionist resistance in Western North Carolina this weekend. Some of the Unionist guerrillas were recruited into the 3rd North Carolina Mounted Infantry Union . The 3rd was armed with Spencer Rifles and could do some damage.
Leftyhunter
Wasn't Kirk boxed in by a large force of Confederates after a raid one time and they ran out of ammo? Leaving Kirk to ride on his way. He was bold enough but he also just had the devil's own luck.
 
I wonder what it is that makes the events of the Shelton Laurel so fascinating to folks. Especially those of us, whose ancestors are from Western NC. Don't get me wrong, the death of even one human is tragic, but we are speaking of a war whose casualties well exceed 620,000. Fights where rebs and yanks killed more than 13 all the time. Another thing I wonder about...Trotter says that the mountains of East TN and West NC are not only contiguous but the people alike in their political and economic divisions, so that it might be well regarded as a single theater of war. However, I feel that Unionist sentiment in West NC was quite minimal compared to East TN. So why would so many ex NC Confederates move to East TN after the war. Hard to figure.
Regards, TnFed.

I don’t think it would of been unusual for movements from that area to East TN, especially the Knoxville area or toward Asheville. Probably economic reasons. It happened into the next Century.
 
I don’t think it would of been unusual for movements from that area to East TN, especially the Knoxville area or toward Asheville. Probably economic reasons. It happened into the next Century.
Definitely. I imagine Oak Ridge was the big draw toward Knloxville in mid twentieth century. My wife's uncle broke his back and didn't get in WW2.He worked there, at least awhile.
 
My understanding is that Allen also moved to Arkansas. And later farther west.
Yes, he moved to what is now Decatur, Benton County, AR, around the same time some Keith, Craine, Peek, Chambers and Anderson families did. He then spent some time in Arizona (the duel story there is questionable). He shows up back in Madison County around 1900, and is very active in the Democratic party and Confederate veterans reunions. Actually spent a short stint in the veterans home in Raleigh. Don't know if he actually died in NC or AR, but his gravestone is in AR. Allen was a very interesting character.
 
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