2nd Alabama Cavalry
Sergeant
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
I have researched the guerilla leader, Capt. Robert B. Blackwell and his band of Tennessee guerillas and outlaws, referred to as the "Blackwell Crowd", for a couple of years now and found his story to be quite fascinating. As his story is entangled with Lt. Colonel, John Porter West, who was the Lt. Commander of the 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, whose resignation from that position was tendered, penned and submitted for consideration on 11 Mar 1864, and soon accepted. At which point he returned to his home of Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama and soon formed Capt. West`s Shelby County Militia and Home Guards in the fall of 1864. Capt. R. B. Blackwell, slipped below the Tennessee river and into Alabama where he was being sought out for his crimes, soon joined Capt. West`s Militia and Home Guards in Shelby, Alabama where he would in short order allegedly become responsible for numerous killings, murders, robberies and thefts of innocent civilians in the county and region. Unbeknownst to Capt. J. P. West who was under the impression that Robert B. Blackwell was a legitimate "Colonel" in the Confederate Army, who like him had previously resigned his commission for similar reasons. Which was a lie, one that would go unchecked for some time.
My 4th Great Grandparents as well as my 3rd Great Grandfather`s family, to include my Great Great Grandfather (9 years old), would have also been impacted by the "Blackwell Crowd", to some extent, as they were all living in Shelby, Alabama within just a few short miles of where the gang was headquartered and operating out of. My 3rd Great Grandfather was born and raised in Shelby, Alabama and enlisted into Capt. West`s Company of Alabama Cavalry at Montevallo on 16 Mar 1862, which was mustered into Confederate Service 4 days later on 21 Mar 1862 at Montgomery, AL as Company "B", 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry. From October 1864 until the end of the war in May 1865 my family, along with numerous others, would have been threatened by then "Colonel" Robert B. Blackwell and his "Blackwell Crowd", as they were all located well with-in the immediate vicinity of where the alleged crimes were committed against the citizenry there. Then the band of outlaws continued to allegedly murder, steal, rob and thieve for sometime in Shelby, Bibb and Chilton Counties, Alabama, bringing much fear and anxiety to the local population for some time, well after the close of the war.
What we know about this man... Robert B. Blackwell was appointed Sheriff of Bedford County TN during the war. Later during the Civil War he ran a ruthless band of guerillas and outlaws called "The Blackwell Crowd" and he was recognized as their Captain, who was reputedly making raids on both Confederate and Federal forces around Fayetteville and Shelbyville, TN by the summer of 1864. He may have or may have not enlisted on either side but certainly murdered officers and men of both sides. Interestingly enough "Major" Robert B. Blackwell was paroled at the end of the war. Following is what is recorded in his Confederate Service records: Confederate States Army, the rank of Major, surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama on 4 May 1865 (General Richard Taylor`s Surrender), POW Camp at Gainesville, Alabama and paroled from there on 10 May 1865 and sent home to Tennessee from there. Registers of Prisoners Paroled at Gainesville, Alabama. May, 1865. National Archives Microfilm, M598, Roll 73. So obviously at some point and time he did serve in the Confederacy as a Major in Buford's Cavalry Brigade, before going rogue by the summer of 1864.
He received a lot of notoriety during a raid that he and his band of guerillas and outlaws conducted in September 1864 where they captured a number of Col. J. H. Blackburn`s Federal soldiers at the depot at Shelbyville, TN, where all were let go but 10 whom were taken off and shot, 9 died and 1 somehow survived, who informed the Federal army who was responsible for the deaths of his comrades. At which time orders were given to shoot on sight and kill Capt. Blackwell and any of his men responsible for the murders and to burn his wife and children out for retaliation. Below is an account of the incident which was published in the Nashville Daily Press, October 6, 1864.
"Blackwell's Raid into Shelbyville; From Colonel Joseph Ramsey, who arrived here from Shelbyville, we learn some further particulars of the raid into Shelbyville several days ago, by Blackwell. Capt. Blackwell, he says, surprised and captured the Home Guards, thirty-two in number, and afterwards burned the Railroad Depot, containing about one hundred bales of hay, understood to belong to Robert Galbreath and Peter English.
A lot of arms and munitions of war, in the depot, were also destroyed. After this depredation, some of his men shot a negro, and arrested several others, which were carried off with their prisoners above named. Shortly after leaving Shelbyville, and while near Fayetteville, he selected ten out of the thirty-two Home Guards captured, and had them shot, some say in retaliation for the hanging of Jordan C. Moseley at this place on Friday last, while others understood it was in retaliation for a man named Massey, who was shot some time previous by order of General Eleazar A. Paine, then commander of the Post at Tullahoma.
Blackwell thought that he had murdered all his victims, but in this he was mistaken, for one of the number was still alive when the bodies found, and was able to give the particulars of the foul deed. Our informant was not able to learn the survivor's name, but understood that some hopes are entertained of his recovery. The citizens of the neighborhood where the infernal murder was committed, some seven miles south of Fayetteville, Lincoln county, were deterred for a day or two by threats from burying the bodies of the slain, but they finally got together in force, and interred them in the best possible manner. The man left for dead, but only badly wounded, was taken in charge by the citizens and properly taken care of. The twenty-two remaining prisoners were we understand, were afterwards turned over to General N. B. Forrest at Fayetteville, and six of that number had made their escape, and returned to Shelbyville before Col. Ramsey left.
A furloughed Confederate soldier named Bivins, made his appearance in Shelbyville soon after Blackwell left, and learned that there was a straggling Federal soldier in the place. He went to the Federal soldier, and demanded of him a surrender as a prisoner of war, which he did. The people of Shelbyville paid but little attention to the affair, from the fact that they suspected the man claiming to be a Federal soldier, to be in league with Bivins, and acting as a Confederate spy, Bivins then requested the soldier to go home with him to dinner, after which he took him off, and foully murdered him, as he is understood to have said, in retaliation for the murder of his (Bivins') brother. The remains of the soldier were found in the woods so badly disfigured by the hogs at to be scarcely recognized."
Below is another account which was published in the Nashville Banner in September 1915:
Blackwell`s Bushwackers - War Echoes by Will T. Hale, in the Nashville Banner:
"In my recent series in the Banner under the heading of "Crimes and Tragedies of the "Old Days," I noticed the fact that Robert Blackwell`s guerrillas, during the war between the states, attacked the depot at Shelbyville, Tenn., and capturing twelve of Col. J. H. Blackburn`s Federals, marched them out and killed them. I have just received from Alabama a letter written by an acquaintance of a soldier who happened to be with Blackwell in that raid, giving the particulars as they were told to him by that acquaintance.
To make the story better understood, let me say by way of preface that, in giving the names of the men of Col. Blackburn`s companies in my history of DeKalb County, I show that P.M. Melton, Berry Bruton, S. J. Cleek, James Hashaw, John Hyde, H. J. Johnson, George Boss and W. J. Shaw of Company A, were killed at Wells Hill Sept. 28, 1864; and then I ask if these were the men captured by R. B. Blackwell`s guerrillas.
Blackwell carried his captives to Fayetteville, as the following letter shows, and then marched them out to "a high hill" where they were executed. Was this Well's Hill? Some residents of Lincoln County may be able to answer."
My Alabama correspondent writes under date of October 3, 1915:
"Josh Kelley and his cousin Tom B. Kelley were soldering in the fourth Alabama Confederate Cavalry under General Joe Wheeler, and served four years each. They were in Forrest`s Cavalry, and were with the wizard of the saddle in nearly every battle, in which he often said they were excellent soldiers in every respect, and devoted to the Southern cause, Josh Kelley also had two brothers in the army and about a dozen cousins from fourteen years up in addition.
Before the Blackwell raid on Shelbyville, Josh Kelley secured a furlough and came to his Alabama home to spend a month, his command, I think, being somewhere near Nashville. It was near the close of the war and our country was filled with Yankees; so it was dangerous for Confederates to be away from their command. They had to slip in and out and keep hid while at home. Near our home there was, and still is, a large swamp known as Banyan Swamp. It served as a hiding place for the Confederates. Near the swamp lived an old lady named Sullivan who took great interest in helping to secrete Southern men. Father had been at home about as long as his furlough lasted, and was ready to go to his command. He and his cousin were then at Mrs. Sullivan`s home. On one morning Josh and Tom espied two men, dressed in blue, crossing it. Knowing the winding of the road with the intention of capturing or killing the supposed Yankees. When the latter came close they were seen to!
The Shelbyville Gazette, October 21, 1915:
"Robert Blackwell and Joe Kelley.
The swamp, to be specific, lies three miles east of Toney, Ala., and fifteen miles northwest of Huntsville. On recognizing Blackwell, the Kelleys made themselves known, explaining that they were trying to get back to their command. Blackwell and Joe Kelley knew all the secret paths from Alabama to Nashville. Josh and Tom persuaded the two men to go with them a part of the trip back to Nashville. Mrs. Sullivan gave them a good meal, after which they took out in the rain. They finally reached Lincoln County, then made their way to Shelbyville. However, on the route they had fallen in with seven other bushwhackers, making a squad of eleven.
Reaching Shelbyville at night, they went to the homes of good Confederates, hid their horses and decided to take a rest. They learned that there were twenty-two Yankees in the town, regular soldiers, well armed. The knowledge of the Federals being so near created a desire to capture them. So the newcomers all kept themselves hid, while a spy was sent out to locate the enemy. who learned they were in the depot. Josh Kelley and one or two others were opposed to making the attack, saying it was too great a risk; but Blackwell, Tom and Joe Kelley insisted that all to do was to 'catch the bluecoats, and had their way.
At a certain signal the eleven charged the depot. Blackwell and Tom Kelley dismounted, entered the building and demanded the surrender of the Yankees. Meanwhile the rest of the attacking party galloped around the depot making as much noise as possible to overawe the enemy. Josh Kelley, who had been stationed at one of the windows opposite to where Blackwell and Tom Kelley entered, said those two deliberately walked in on twenty-two armed men saying: "Surrender, **** you, or die!'
The Yankees gave up, and were marched out under cover of guns of the assailants. Of course they were chagrined when they learned the small numbers composing the attacking party. Made to mount their horses, which were nearby, prisoners and victors galloped toward Fayetteville, Blackwell and Josh Kelley being in the rear. Josh, said Blackwell before they had gone far, 'hold my horse. I am going back to finish.' "Returning to the depot he set fire to some baled hay, and going back to Kelley they caught up with the main body after a mile ride. The road southward was followed.
Presently Kelley asked Blackwell what he was going to do with the Federals. Tom Kelley and Blackwell both replied there was only one thing to do - shoot them. For, they said, if the prisoners were released they would return and terrorize the whole country, Josh said they were regular soldiers, and it would be an outrage to kill them; but his plea for the captives was at first of no avail. 'Why, ' said Tom Kelley, 'I'M going to make you shoot one-- it will do you good Josh!
As Josh continued to intercede, Blackwell agreed to parole half of the prisoners. Eleven of the most respectable Yankees were selected and Josh Kelley made out the parole on the horn of his saddle. The eleven were accordingly released. This occurred on the public square in Fayetteville by moonlight.
After this Josh Kelley and a few others went to the homes of Southern sympathizers and were soon asleep. The remaining men took the eleven captives out south of Fayetteville, just on top of the high hill leading to Huntsville, and on the east side of the road, and shot them. On each of the victims was pinned a paper containing the word, 'In memory of Massey,' Massey was a good and aged man had been shot at Fayetteville a short time before because he would not give the Federals some information relative to his sons who were in the Confederate Army supposed to be then in the neighborhood.
My correspondent would like to hear from any of the men paroled that night, if living. He says that the dead men were found next morning by Elijah Phillips, relative to Tom Phillips, present sheriff of Lincoln County. Letters sent to me will be forwarded promptly to the writer of the foregoing sketch."
Just days after this raid in Shelbyville, TN which occurred on 28 Sep 1864, Capt. Robert B. Blackwell and his band of guerillas and outlaws, who came to be known as the "Blackwell Crowd", found middle Tennessee a bit too dangerous and sought safety south of the Tennessee River. As he was slipping out of Tennessee into Alabama it was alleged that while in flight he killed a Confederate recruiting officer from the 17th Tennessee Regiment, who attempted to enlist Blackwell and his gang of guerillas and outlaws, which got General Nathan B. Forrest involved in the chase for him. It was at this time in October 1864 that Blackwell made his way into the hill country of central Alabama and successfully passed himself off as a resigned Confederate "Colonel" to then Capt. John Porter West, joining his Militia and Home Guards at Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama as Capt. West was out gathering up deserters to send back to the front and press them back into Confederate service in the region. "Colonel" Blackwell and his "Blackwell Crowd" offered up their services to Capt. West in assisting his efforts and thus established himself as being legitimate for the time being.
Within a short time as many as twenty civilians in Chilton, Bibb and Shelby Counties, Alabama were murdered or executed, most of them soldiers thought to be AWOL or family members assisting deserters. The killing, robbing and stealing continued to the close of the war, and then quite some time after the war. Eventually Blackwell was named the culprit and he had no choice but to move on, although the residents of Shelby County did catch up to some of his men who had made up the "Blackwell Crowd" and took vengeance on them and any thought to have been in league with Blackwell. No one was ever "officially" charged in connection with any of the killings.
Oddly enough, people in the region never held Capt. John P. West responsible for any of the deaths allegedly attributed to Blackwell. The blame rested solely on the "Blackwell Crowd" who had claimed to have orders to arrest deserters and Union sympathizers, but never returned anyone to the Confederate army. Attacking isolated farms, and in addition to hanging or shooting those who would oppose them they tormented women and children, took what they wanted and reputedly even mutilated some of the bodies of some victims. They were a terror on society and I am sure that the few who the citizens of Shelby County caught up with after the war they exacted revenge on them so heinous as to make up for the ones whom they could not catch or implicate.
What became of Robert B. Blackwell you may ask? He fled to Parker County, Texas and on 28 May 1868 he was assassinated by a fellow citizen. According to his obituary his body was found at Spring Creek along the road from Weatherford to Stockton at 11 am with seven balls in the left side of his body, back and neck. He had been scalped as by Comanches. Blackwell himself was armed with two six-shooters, neither had been drawn or fired, so he was ambushed and killed before he could respond. The suspect was a lone citizen of Parker County with whom there had been a personal difficulty with Blackwell, the suspect had been missing at the time that the Obituary was published in the Dallas Daily Herald on 6 Jun 1868.
My 4th Great Grandparents as well as my 3rd Great Grandfather`s family, to include my Great Great Grandfather (9 years old), would have also been impacted by the "Blackwell Crowd", to some extent, as they were all living in Shelby, Alabama within just a few short miles of where the gang was headquartered and operating out of. My 3rd Great Grandfather was born and raised in Shelby, Alabama and enlisted into Capt. West`s Company of Alabama Cavalry at Montevallo on 16 Mar 1862, which was mustered into Confederate Service 4 days later on 21 Mar 1862 at Montgomery, AL as Company "B", 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry. From October 1864 until the end of the war in May 1865 my family, along with numerous others, would have been threatened by then "Colonel" Robert B. Blackwell and his "Blackwell Crowd", as they were all located well with-in the immediate vicinity of where the alleged crimes were committed against the citizenry there. Then the band of outlaws continued to allegedly murder, steal, rob and thieve for sometime in Shelby, Bibb and Chilton Counties, Alabama, bringing much fear and anxiety to the local population for some time, well after the close of the war.
What we know about this man... Robert B. Blackwell was appointed Sheriff of Bedford County TN during the war. Later during the Civil War he ran a ruthless band of guerillas and outlaws called "The Blackwell Crowd" and he was recognized as their Captain, who was reputedly making raids on both Confederate and Federal forces around Fayetteville and Shelbyville, TN by the summer of 1864. He may have or may have not enlisted on either side but certainly murdered officers and men of both sides. Interestingly enough "Major" Robert B. Blackwell was paroled at the end of the war. Following is what is recorded in his Confederate Service records: Confederate States Army, the rank of Major, surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama on 4 May 1865 (General Richard Taylor`s Surrender), POW Camp at Gainesville, Alabama and paroled from there on 10 May 1865 and sent home to Tennessee from there. Registers of Prisoners Paroled at Gainesville, Alabama. May, 1865. National Archives Microfilm, M598, Roll 73. So obviously at some point and time he did serve in the Confederacy as a Major in Buford's Cavalry Brigade, before going rogue by the summer of 1864.
He received a lot of notoriety during a raid that he and his band of guerillas and outlaws conducted in September 1864 where they captured a number of Col. J. H. Blackburn`s Federal soldiers at the depot at Shelbyville, TN, where all were let go but 10 whom were taken off and shot, 9 died and 1 somehow survived, who informed the Federal army who was responsible for the deaths of his comrades. At which time orders were given to shoot on sight and kill Capt. Blackwell and any of his men responsible for the murders and to burn his wife and children out for retaliation. Below is an account of the incident which was published in the Nashville Daily Press, October 6, 1864.
"Blackwell's Raid into Shelbyville; From Colonel Joseph Ramsey, who arrived here from Shelbyville, we learn some further particulars of the raid into Shelbyville several days ago, by Blackwell. Capt. Blackwell, he says, surprised and captured the Home Guards, thirty-two in number, and afterwards burned the Railroad Depot, containing about one hundred bales of hay, understood to belong to Robert Galbreath and Peter English.
A lot of arms and munitions of war, in the depot, were also destroyed. After this depredation, some of his men shot a negro, and arrested several others, which were carried off with their prisoners above named. Shortly after leaving Shelbyville, and while near Fayetteville, he selected ten out of the thirty-two Home Guards captured, and had them shot, some say in retaliation for the hanging of Jordan C. Moseley at this place on Friday last, while others understood it was in retaliation for a man named Massey, who was shot some time previous by order of General Eleazar A. Paine, then commander of the Post at Tullahoma.
Blackwell thought that he had murdered all his victims, but in this he was mistaken, for one of the number was still alive when the bodies found, and was able to give the particulars of the foul deed. Our informant was not able to learn the survivor's name, but understood that some hopes are entertained of his recovery. The citizens of the neighborhood where the infernal murder was committed, some seven miles south of Fayetteville, Lincoln county, were deterred for a day or two by threats from burying the bodies of the slain, but they finally got together in force, and interred them in the best possible manner. The man left for dead, but only badly wounded, was taken in charge by the citizens and properly taken care of. The twenty-two remaining prisoners were we understand, were afterwards turned over to General N. B. Forrest at Fayetteville, and six of that number had made their escape, and returned to Shelbyville before Col. Ramsey left.
A furloughed Confederate soldier named Bivins, made his appearance in Shelbyville soon after Blackwell left, and learned that there was a straggling Federal soldier in the place. He went to the Federal soldier, and demanded of him a surrender as a prisoner of war, which he did. The people of Shelbyville paid but little attention to the affair, from the fact that they suspected the man claiming to be a Federal soldier, to be in league with Bivins, and acting as a Confederate spy, Bivins then requested the soldier to go home with him to dinner, after which he took him off, and foully murdered him, as he is understood to have said, in retaliation for the murder of his (Bivins') brother. The remains of the soldier were found in the woods so badly disfigured by the hogs at to be scarcely recognized."
Below is another account which was published in the Nashville Banner in September 1915:
Blackwell`s Bushwackers - War Echoes by Will T. Hale, in the Nashville Banner:
"In my recent series in the Banner under the heading of "Crimes and Tragedies of the "Old Days," I noticed the fact that Robert Blackwell`s guerrillas, during the war between the states, attacked the depot at Shelbyville, Tenn., and capturing twelve of Col. J. H. Blackburn`s Federals, marched them out and killed them. I have just received from Alabama a letter written by an acquaintance of a soldier who happened to be with Blackwell in that raid, giving the particulars as they were told to him by that acquaintance.
To make the story better understood, let me say by way of preface that, in giving the names of the men of Col. Blackburn`s companies in my history of DeKalb County, I show that P.M. Melton, Berry Bruton, S. J. Cleek, James Hashaw, John Hyde, H. J. Johnson, George Boss and W. J. Shaw of Company A, were killed at Wells Hill Sept. 28, 1864; and then I ask if these were the men captured by R. B. Blackwell`s guerrillas.
Blackwell carried his captives to Fayetteville, as the following letter shows, and then marched them out to "a high hill" where they were executed. Was this Well's Hill? Some residents of Lincoln County may be able to answer."
My Alabama correspondent writes under date of October 3, 1915:
"Josh Kelley and his cousin Tom B. Kelley were soldering in the fourth Alabama Confederate Cavalry under General Joe Wheeler, and served four years each. They were in Forrest`s Cavalry, and were with the wizard of the saddle in nearly every battle, in which he often said they were excellent soldiers in every respect, and devoted to the Southern cause, Josh Kelley also had two brothers in the army and about a dozen cousins from fourteen years up in addition.
Before the Blackwell raid on Shelbyville, Josh Kelley secured a furlough and came to his Alabama home to spend a month, his command, I think, being somewhere near Nashville. It was near the close of the war and our country was filled with Yankees; so it was dangerous for Confederates to be away from their command. They had to slip in and out and keep hid while at home. Near our home there was, and still is, a large swamp known as Banyan Swamp. It served as a hiding place for the Confederates. Near the swamp lived an old lady named Sullivan who took great interest in helping to secrete Southern men. Father had been at home about as long as his furlough lasted, and was ready to go to his command. He and his cousin were then at Mrs. Sullivan`s home. On one morning Josh and Tom espied two men, dressed in blue, crossing it. Knowing the winding of the road with the intention of capturing or killing the supposed Yankees. When the latter came close they were seen to!
The Shelbyville Gazette, October 21, 1915:
"Robert Blackwell and Joe Kelley.
The swamp, to be specific, lies three miles east of Toney, Ala., and fifteen miles northwest of Huntsville. On recognizing Blackwell, the Kelleys made themselves known, explaining that they were trying to get back to their command. Blackwell and Joe Kelley knew all the secret paths from Alabama to Nashville. Josh and Tom persuaded the two men to go with them a part of the trip back to Nashville. Mrs. Sullivan gave them a good meal, after which they took out in the rain. They finally reached Lincoln County, then made their way to Shelbyville. However, on the route they had fallen in with seven other bushwhackers, making a squad of eleven.
Reaching Shelbyville at night, they went to the homes of good Confederates, hid their horses and decided to take a rest. They learned that there were twenty-two Yankees in the town, regular soldiers, well armed. The knowledge of the Federals being so near created a desire to capture them. So the newcomers all kept themselves hid, while a spy was sent out to locate the enemy. who learned they were in the depot. Josh Kelley and one or two others were opposed to making the attack, saying it was too great a risk; but Blackwell, Tom and Joe Kelley insisted that all to do was to 'catch the bluecoats, and had their way.
At a certain signal the eleven charged the depot. Blackwell and Tom Kelley dismounted, entered the building and demanded the surrender of the Yankees. Meanwhile the rest of the attacking party galloped around the depot making as much noise as possible to overawe the enemy. Josh Kelley, who had been stationed at one of the windows opposite to where Blackwell and Tom Kelley entered, said those two deliberately walked in on twenty-two armed men saying: "Surrender, **** you, or die!'
The Yankees gave up, and were marched out under cover of guns of the assailants. Of course they were chagrined when they learned the small numbers composing the attacking party. Made to mount their horses, which were nearby, prisoners and victors galloped toward Fayetteville, Blackwell and Josh Kelley being in the rear. Josh, said Blackwell before they had gone far, 'hold my horse. I am going back to finish.' "Returning to the depot he set fire to some baled hay, and going back to Kelley they caught up with the main body after a mile ride. The road southward was followed.
Presently Kelley asked Blackwell what he was going to do with the Federals. Tom Kelley and Blackwell both replied there was only one thing to do - shoot them. For, they said, if the prisoners were released they would return and terrorize the whole country, Josh said they were regular soldiers, and it would be an outrage to kill them; but his plea for the captives was at first of no avail. 'Why, ' said Tom Kelley, 'I'M going to make you shoot one-- it will do you good Josh!
As Josh continued to intercede, Blackwell agreed to parole half of the prisoners. Eleven of the most respectable Yankees were selected and Josh Kelley made out the parole on the horn of his saddle. The eleven were accordingly released. This occurred on the public square in Fayetteville by moonlight.
After this Josh Kelley and a few others went to the homes of Southern sympathizers and were soon asleep. The remaining men took the eleven captives out south of Fayetteville, just on top of the high hill leading to Huntsville, and on the east side of the road, and shot them. On each of the victims was pinned a paper containing the word, 'In memory of Massey,' Massey was a good and aged man had been shot at Fayetteville a short time before because he would not give the Federals some information relative to his sons who were in the Confederate Army supposed to be then in the neighborhood.
My correspondent would like to hear from any of the men paroled that night, if living. He says that the dead men were found next morning by Elijah Phillips, relative to Tom Phillips, present sheriff of Lincoln County. Letters sent to me will be forwarded promptly to the writer of the foregoing sketch."
Just days after this raid in Shelbyville, TN which occurred on 28 Sep 1864, Capt. Robert B. Blackwell and his band of guerillas and outlaws, who came to be known as the "Blackwell Crowd", found middle Tennessee a bit too dangerous and sought safety south of the Tennessee River. As he was slipping out of Tennessee into Alabama it was alleged that while in flight he killed a Confederate recruiting officer from the 17th Tennessee Regiment, who attempted to enlist Blackwell and his gang of guerillas and outlaws, which got General Nathan B. Forrest involved in the chase for him. It was at this time in October 1864 that Blackwell made his way into the hill country of central Alabama and successfully passed himself off as a resigned Confederate "Colonel" to then Capt. John Porter West, joining his Militia and Home Guards at Montevallo, Shelby, Alabama as Capt. West was out gathering up deserters to send back to the front and press them back into Confederate service in the region. "Colonel" Blackwell and his "Blackwell Crowd" offered up their services to Capt. West in assisting his efforts and thus established himself as being legitimate for the time being.
Within a short time as many as twenty civilians in Chilton, Bibb and Shelby Counties, Alabama were murdered or executed, most of them soldiers thought to be AWOL or family members assisting deserters. The killing, robbing and stealing continued to the close of the war, and then quite some time after the war. Eventually Blackwell was named the culprit and he had no choice but to move on, although the residents of Shelby County did catch up to some of his men who had made up the "Blackwell Crowd" and took vengeance on them and any thought to have been in league with Blackwell. No one was ever "officially" charged in connection with any of the killings.
Oddly enough, people in the region never held Capt. John P. West responsible for any of the deaths allegedly attributed to Blackwell. The blame rested solely on the "Blackwell Crowd" who had claimed to have orders to arrest deserters and Union sympathizers, but never returned anyone to the Confederate army. Attacking isolated farms, and in addition to hanging or shooting those who would oppose them they tormented women and children, took what they wanted and reputedly even mutilated some of the bodies of some victims. They were a terror on society and I am sure that the few who the citizens of Shelby County caught up with after the war they exacted revenge on them so heinous as to make up for the ones whom they could not catch or implicate.
What became of Robert B. Blackwell you may ask? He fled to Parker County, Texas and on 28 May 1868 he was assassinated by a fellow citizen. According to his obituary his body was found at Spring Creek along the road from Weatherford to Stockton at 11 am with seven balls in the left side of his body, back and neck. He had been scalped as by Comanches. Blackwell himself was armed with two six-shooters, neither had been drawn or fired, so he was ambushed and killed before he could respond. The suspect was a lone citizen of Parker County with whom there had been a personal difficulty with Blackwell, the suspect had been missing at the time that the Obituary was published in the Dallas Daily Herald on 6 Jun 1868.
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