Breathitt's Rebellion

A Commercial Reporter Visits The Battle Ground And Gets A True History Of the Strife.

Louisville Commercial, December 8, 1878

A reporter of The Commercial took the train last Monday afternoon at the Shortline depot, en route for the seat of war in Breathitt County. Arriving at Mt. Sterling at eight o'clock that evening, he spent the night there, and on Tuesday morning, mounted a horse and started on his journey over the mountains. Those who have never made the trip from Mt. Sterling to Jackson, the county seat of Breathitt County, can form but little idea of the difficulties that are to be encountered on the terrible roads, and no man will certainly ever desire to make the trip a second time without he has some very pressing business urging him on.

The road seven miles out of Mt. Sterling is a very good one, but after going that far the traveler begins to get an idea of what is before him, and the longer he rides the more disagreeable does the road become.

From Mt. Sterling to Hazel Green, in Wolfe County, the distance is 45 miles, and about six o'clock on Tuesday evening The Commercial reporter rode up to the Day House, in that little village, and put up for the night. It had been pouring down rain since 11 o'clock in the morning, and the glowing fire in the old-fashioned fireplace was indeed a cheerful sight to the chilled reporter.

The next morning it commenced snowing hard, but as the prospect was that it would continue throughout the day, the reporter continued his journey, and at five p. m. found himself in Jackson. On the road the people informed him that it was as much as a man's life was worth to attempt to enter the streets of Jackson, but feeling that they estimated the danger as being greater than it really was, The Commercial representative pushed on and found his judgement had not deceived him.

Jackson is a little town of about 250 or 300 inhabitants. It is situated at the narrow point of the great loop in the North Fork of the Kentucky River. The stream makes a great bend known as the Pan-Bowl Bend, seven miles around, and out 70 or 80 feet through the narrowest part of the neck. Here, a tunnel has been out and a mill erected. There are three or four stores, four or five houses where travelers are entertained, a post office, log jail, small courthouse, a blacksmith shop, and a score or more of dwelling houses. There are no barrooms in town, for local option was voted in the county some time since, and those who desire whiskey have to get it at the drug store on the sly, or procure it from some of the moonshiners.

When The Commercial reporter rode into town not a sign of life was to be noted anywhere except in three or four houses, where smoke was issuing from the chimneys; not a man, woman, or child was on the street, and no lights were seen in the windows, although it was getting quite dark. Riding up to a two-story frame house, which had the appearance of being a tavern, the reporter got off his horse and knocked at the door. A cheerful voice said, "Come in;" and when the door was opened a lady, surrounded by three or four children, was sitting by the fire.

"Can I procure shelter for myself and my horse tonight?" said the reporter.

The lady hesitated before she replied, but finally said she presumed he could. Just then an old gentleman stepped on the porch behind the reporter, and informed him that he could stay all night. After putting up the horse and partaking of a warm supper, we gathered around the fireplace, and the subject of conversation was the "war in Breathitt."

The reporter soon ascertained that his host's name was Wm. Combs, and that he was the jailer of the county, and one of the prominent of citizens. Mr. Combs was present at the time the fight occurred in Jackson, and witnessed all of the bloody scenes of those memorable days. The reporter interviewed him thoroughly; also a lawyer named Howard, and ascertained the following facts regarding the Breathitt County feuds:

The Beginning of the Strife

Ever since the close of the war Breathitt County has been cursed by a bitter and relentless strife between a number of men who regard the civil law almost in the light of a joke. They are the kind of men who think they have a right to settle all disputes with the bowie knife, the revolver, or the rifle, and they have a great contempt for the officers of the law. During the rebellion they were permitted to do pretty much as they pleased, and no doubt got so used to killing their enemies on the slightest pretext that they could not or would not leave off the habit when they were called upon to do so. While it is more than probable that politics had something to do with the matter, the facts do not prove that this was alone the cease of the breach between the parties. In fact, it is hard to tell what originated the feud, for the reporter talked to several parties about it, and each one told a different story about it.

The Different Stories

For instance, one said the whole thing began by the stealing of a watermelon by a little boy, who was chastised for it by the owner of the melon. This raised the ire of the boy's father, and the result was a pitched battle between him and the owner of the melon, and the subsequent killing of a great many men.

Another version of the affair is that at the close of the war a number of men got together and resolved upon going over the country and seizing upon any animal, gun, pistol, saddle, and other things that had a U. S. brand upon it, representing themselves as United States officers; that they collected together a large amount of plunder in this way, and fell out over a division of the spoils.

Another account is that one of the little boys set afloat a slanderous story about a Miss Cockrill, and that her friends took the matter in hand, and resolved to punish her traducers. Whether the stories are true or not, no one but those directly interested will, perhaps, ever know. It may be that one of the reports is true, and that the others are false, or it is probable that all of them are true, and that each circumstance had something to do with raising the bad blood between the parties.

The First Feud

The difficulty first broke out between Captain Bill Strong's party and some men by the name of Amy. They fought each other until Strong triumphed over his enemies and exterminated them. Then the Jetts and Cockerills took it up, and the war raged between them with more fury than ever. Jerry Little shot and killed Curtis Jett, and was in turn shot by Jett's brother. This was in 1874, and they carried things to such a high pass, the governor had to send a company of militia to quell the mob. Five companies were sent there in September and remained until December. As soon as the soldiers appeared upon the scene the violators of the law took to their homes in the mountains, and remained there until the troops departed. None of them were ever punished for their lawlessness.

After the Troops Left

After the troops left hostilities were resumed, and fights occurred at not very long intervals, and several men were made to bite the dust, while many were wounded.

The Present Difficulty

Last summer there was a hotly contested race for county judge. Ex-Judge Ned Strong, ex-Judge D. K. Butler, and J. W. Burnett, an attorney-at-law in Jackson, were the contesting parties.

The Race For Judge

The race was a memorable one in the history of Breathitt County politics, and was contested to the bitter end. The Littles, Aickmans, Gambrels, and Allens favored Ned Strong, while Bill Strong, the two Freemans, and some other parties were favorable to Burnett. All of the candidates were Democrats but Burnett, who was supported by the Republican vote. The election resulted in the triumph of Burnett by a majority of eight votes. The Little party claim that at one of the election polls voting was kept up until 9 o'clock p. m., and that many Burnett votes were polled at that point after the regular hour for closing the polls; and that Burnett was not, therefore, legally elected. They swore that Burnett should never take his seat, or hold a court in the county, and sent him word that they intended to kill him. Burnett was a fearless man, and sent them word that he intended to hold his court at the regular time in spite of their threats. When the day for holding court came around Burnett summoned a number of resolute men and proceeded to open his court.

The bold stand he took seemed to overawe his enemies and he was not disturbed. Time grew on apace, and the people began to think and have hopes that the matter was settled when the flames of passion and prejudices were fanned into a bright blaze again by a bitter contest between two men for common school commissioner. On account of some technicality in the election each party claimed that he was elected, and there the matter rested until the day for the opening of the Breathitt Circuit Court.

A Wife Murder

A few months since Jason Little, one of the famous Little brothers, was arrested for the murder of his wife. He went home drunk one day, and teh evidence is strong that he shot his wife in cold blood, in order that he might marry some other woman. He was taken to the Richmond jail for safekeeping, and was to have been tried at the full term of court. The Littles, Aickmans, Allens, and Gambrels threatened to release Jason Little when he was brought back, and this threat caused Judge Randall to issue an order that a sufficient guard be sent to bring Little to Jackson for trial. Charles Little, a cousin of the Little brothers, is a deputy sheriff of Breathitt County, and he started to bring Jason Little from Richmond. Hagins, the sheriff of the county, no sooner heard that his deputy had started for Richmond than he gathered a posse of men and started for Richmond himself. The two parties met, and another difficulty arose. There was no one hurt, but a great deal of bad blood was stirred up, and it all helped to bring about the final tragedy.

The Fight

Last Monday week, Judge Randall appeared at Jackson, and opened court at the usual hour. It seems that the belligerents had been prevailed upon to enter into an agreement to stack their arms when they came to town to attend court.

About ten o'clock in the morning, Captain Bill Strong, accompanied by the Freemans and 12 or 15 other persons, dashed into town, armed to the teeth, and most of them under the influence of whiskey. Instead of attacking their arms as they had agreed to do, they went about the streets, some with two or three revolvers strapped over them and some with Sharp and Ballard rifles.

Towards noon the Little party came in; many of them under the influence of liquor and armed heavily. They saw Strong's party armed, and, regarding them in an unfriendly attitude, opened fire at once, killing one of the Freemans and wounding the other. The fight ended without further bloodshed that day.

On Tuesday Jason Little and his guard were to arrive in town.

Open threats were made by the Little party that they intended to rescue Jason, and Judge Burnett agreed to head a party of 15 men who had been detailed to reinforce the sheriff's guard. Here was where Burnett acted with great imprudence. From what had passed he should have known that his heading the guard was but adding to flames that were already flaring up. His friends tried to persuade him to give up his intention, but could not do so, and as soon as he placed himself at the head of the posse it was evident to all spectators that a fight between the contending factions was inevitable. Burnett marched his guard out and stood in front of them. Gambrel, of the Little party, standing off about 40 yards, remarked, "There's that g_d d___d Burnett again." Burnett lowered his carbine a little and Gambrel did likewise. All at once someone cried out, "Look out, they are going to shoot."

Burnett turned around to see what the trouble was and received a carbine ball in his side.

He walked a few paces, fell, and soon expired. Jerry Little and a member of others then started to the jail as if intending to release Jason Little. Tom Little, a cousin of the prisoner, from Wolfe County, joined them, and tried to persuade them to let the prisoner alone, when a volley was fired by the guard, resulting in the death of Tom Little. The prisoner told them from the windows that they need not try to release him, for if they did he would give himself up to the jailer.

A regular battle began at this time, and bullets fairly hailed in the vicinity of teh courthouse. Bill Strong took position in an old log house, the Littles in the courthouse, and the sheriff's guard in a house in front of the jail.

When night came the parties left their barracks, and to some extent dispersed. Wednesday morning Judge Randall, without waiting to adjourn court, jumped upon his horse and took an unceremonious departure. There were many claims to be audited, and the sudden adjournment of court will cause much suffering, as the people needed their money.

A Bloody Scene

The scene Tuesday in Jackson, says an eyewitness, was awful to look upon. Men crazed with whiskey charged through the streets, afoot and on horseback, brandishing their revolvers and carbines, and threatening to kill every person who came in their path. Women and children ran through the yards and gardens, screaming with fear, and some of them fainted. Blood flowed freely, and was sprinkled all around and in the courthouse. It is not known how many were wounded, but it is thought there were a great many.

Swearing Vengeance

Bill Strong's party swear they will be revenged for the death of Burnett and the Freemans, while the Littles say they will kill Strong and his whole posse if they can.

Strong notified ex-Judge Ned Strong, old man John Hargis, and Wm. Combs, the jailer, that he intended to kill them all three to avenge the death of Burnett. Mr. Wm. Day, a prominent citizen living seven miles from Jackson, has also been threatened, and is now at his brothers, at Hazel Green.

Ned Strong has gathered about 25 men together, and is watching Bill Strong. Some of his men are getting out logs; others play cards and while the time off in various ways. The Littles are together in force, and there is no telling how soon a collision will occur again.

The Governor's Report Denied

The governor's claim that all is quiet in Breathitt, and that the troops are not needed there, is denied by the best citizens of the county.

The jailer, Mr. Wm. Combs, said, "We can never hold another court here without troops; nothing but the presence of troops will settle the fuss. I would not be surprised any moment to hear of a dozen men being killed. It is not safe for a man to travel through the county, and all who can get away are leaving."

Mr. William T. Day said: "I look for more trouble very soon, and I would not be surprised if a great many more people became engaged in the fight. They are ordering people to leave, and the county is in a terrible condition. I am looking every day to hear of more men being killed."

Mr. Howard, a lawyer of Jackson, said: "The story of the fight has never been half told. It was much worse than Captain Cheves, of the Mt. Sterling Democrat, reported it. The county is being ruined, and the people are leaving. Why don't the governor send troops?"

The sheriff said: "I will not attempt to arrest these men without a large force of men, for I could not do it. The laws are a dead letter, and human life is hourly in danger."

The governor certainly does not understand the situation as the people of Breathitt do.