A HISTORY
OJ
THE FEUD
BETWEEN THU
HILL AND EVANS PARTIES
OF GARRARD COUNTY, KY.
THE MOST EXCITING TRAGEDY EVER ENACTED ON THE BLOODY
GROUNDS OE' KENTUCKY.
BY LIEUT. J. J. T-IOMPSON.
CINCINNATI:
PUBLISIIED BY U. P. -JAMES.




TO THE
GOOD, GREAT, AND CHIVALRIC PEOPLE
OF
KENTUCKY,
THIS LITTLE VOLU IJME
IS RISPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY
THE AUTHOR.




PREF AC E.
WESTERN TMILITARY INSTITUTE, 1
Tyree Springs, Tenn., June, 1854.
THE public may perhaps think that I am imprudent in
having so much to do with a difficulty which has caused
so much bloodshed.  But the fact that I record the events
of the Fued, need not necessarily involve me in its
intricate meshes.
It must be considered that I do not hold myself
accountable for the facts herein contained, since I received
them personally from Dr. Evans.  My getting the facts
of the history is purely accidental. Our Institute having
been disbanded at Drennon Springs, Ky., on- account of
sickness, I went down to Garrard county to spend a short
time with my'relatives.  I had learned much of this Fued
from  the gossip of the county, and naturally became
curious to know more. I had the fortune to become
acquainted with one of Dr. Evans's sons, who recounted
to me some of the thrilling events.  I-Ie likewise informed
me that Dr. Evans had most of the facts reduced to
writing; whereupon I wrote a note to him, requesting an
account of the entire Fued, (should it meet his approbation,)
and stating that I desired to build from it a romance in
the Spanish language.  IIe came up to see me in a few
days, and said he would give the narrative only on one
condition-that I should write it in the English language.
With the advice of my friends, I consented to do so.




iY                   PREFACE.
I am aware that this history is imperfect, inasmuch as
it is taken from only one of the parties; to render it
complete, we should have to obtain a knowledge of the
secret plans and designs of the other party, which was
impracticable; for Dr. Hill's whereabouts is not known.
But the facts of which we are in possession are true.
The reception of facts upon the evidence of testimony is
referable chiefly to three heads: that the individual has
had sufficient opportunity of ascertaining the facts; that
we have confidence in his power of, judging of their
accuracy; and that we believe him to be an honest witness.:With respect to the first two elements there can be no
doubt, and to substantiate the third, a number of certificates will be found in the Appendix from some of the most
reliable men in the country. And it is scarcely probable
that Dr. Evans would tell that which his neighbors would
rise up and contradict.  There remains one other source
of error-that I may have misunderstood Dr. Evans, or
received ideas from his words which he did not intend to
convey. But this is a mere probability; and should it
prove a reality, the people have a sufficient sense of honor
and justice to pass it by. Let it be understood, however,
that I have not exclusively used Dr. Evans's words in
many instances, but have clothed his ideas in my own
words.
From the fact that the Hills appear to great disadvantage, some persons may, perhaps, accuse me of being
partial to Dr. Evans. But they cannot make this accusation, if they pay attention to the facts — facts speak
louder than words.  Should I be partial to either, nature
would favor the Hills, for I am distantly related to them
through the Pollard line. I have much favored the Hills
by assuming in many places a calm and argumentative
style. What I have said about either party would have
been said about any other under similar circumstances.




PREFACE.                    V
I am much indebted to my esteemed friend, Major T.
C. Downie, of this Institute, for his kind advice and aid
in compiling this little work.
Should the public demand a second edition, and the
Hill party produce facts to place them more favorably
before the world, I shall be happy to do them justice,
and receive the requisite information at my residence in
Brooksville, Noxubee county, Mississippi.
J. J. TIHOMPSON.








CERTIFICATES.
I Do not know that it is essentially necessary to produce certificates of Dr.
Evans's character, but should any one doubt his veracity, and thus doubt the
truth of this narrative, he can find sufficient proof in the following. I have,many others, but these few will suffice. They are given by some' of the first
citizens of the county, in whom unlimited confidence may be placed. I am
personally acquainted with nearly all these gentlemen, and can vouch for them
STATE OF KENTUCKY, Garrard County, (To wit,)
I, James H. Letcher, of the county and State aforesaid, do state that I have
been acquainted with Dr. Hezekiah Evans since the year 1816- he and I have
resided in this county ever since. From my long acquaintance with said Evans,
and having frequent business transactions with him, I can say with confidence
that he is very prompt and punctual in all his dealings, and a man of integrity
and veracity, and I believe this to be his character with all his acquaintances,
except his personal enemies. I should readily believe any statement he would
make on oath or otherwise.
I was for a number of years clerk of the Garrard county court, for several
years a justice of the peace, and for three years past, judge of the county court
May 4th, 1854.                                  JAMES H. LETCHIER.
Lancaster, Ky, May 4th, 1854.
I certify that I have known Dr. Hezekiah Evans for the last fourteen years,
two years of which time I was deputy sheriff of Garrard county, and nine years
of the time I have been and am still a practising lawyer in said county. Dr.
Evans' during my acquaintance with him, has borne the character of a man of
honesty and integrity equal to that of any man in the county, and I believe his
statements are entitled to as much credit as any other man's. In this county
he has borne the character of an honest, moral, upright man.
J. BUTRDETT.
Lancaster, Garrard County, Ky., May 4th, 1854.
I hereby certify that I have known Dr. Ilezekiah Evans of this county for
about twenty-five years. He is a gentlemen of undoubted veracity, and a man
whose statement I would believe, either upon oath or in conversation, as soon
as that of any other gentlemen of my acquaintance.  My opportunities have




CERTIFICATES.
been very good to gain a knowledge of his character and standing, for I lived
in his immediate neighborhood several years. I have been sheriff of this
county for the last three years, and am still acting in that capacity.
J. A. BEASLY.
I, Paris Teeter, state that I am a minister of the gospel, and have been
acquainted with Dr. H. Evans since his birth, and fully concur in the
statements made by James A. Beasly given above.             P. TEETER.
I hereby state that I am a practising lawyer and have known Dr. I-. Evans
for ten or fifteen years, and concur in the statements made by James A.
Beasly in regard to his character.                      G. W. DUNLAP.
May 4th, 1854.
Lancaster, Garrard County, 1Ky., May 4th, 1854.
I, Edward Cooke, of the town of Lancaster and county of Garrard in the
State of Kentucky, a native born citizen of said place, aged twenty-four years,
and never resident elsewhere, do certify that so long as I have been acquainted
with Dr. Hezekiah Evans, personally for many years and by reputation as long
as my memory extends into the past, I have never heard aught said by friend
or foe that would in the least tend to the disparagement of his character.
Just and upright in all his dealings with man, kind and generous, an
unexceptionable companion in the family circle, he has made many friends
who will cease to be so only in death.
As a physician I testify to the manliness and independence of his conduct.
lie would scorn to take advantage of any physician, how great soever his
ignorance. I have been thrown into intimate relations with him as a physician,
and have ever had pleasure in contemplating his truly gentlemanly deportment.
EDWARD CooxE, M. D.
Lancaster, May, 4th, 1854.
I do hereby certify that I have known Dr. Hezekiah Evans for the last thirtyvfive or forty years. He is a man of a resolute and determined character, and
when he forms an opinion of men or things he is not easily changed therefrom.
But I have always believed him to be honest and truthful, and believe that to
be the opinion of those who are best acquainted with him. If I have heard his
veracity or integrity questioned by any one, save by an enemy, it has escaped
my recolIection.                                         SAMUEL LUSK.! am well acquainted with Samuel Lusk, and know that he was judge of the
circuit court in this judicial district for several years. I have known Dr
fiezekikn Evans for several years and fully concur in the opinion expressed of
him in the above.                                     J  W  DLsMUKE:s.




INTRODUCTORY SKETCHES;
THE COUNTRY.
The country occupied by the two parties is, geologically considered, of the transition formation, in which abounds the blue
limestone of the Silurian system, of which Cincinnati is supposed
to be the axis of upheaval. A little south of Lancaster may be
found fragments of the old red sandstone, and perhaps of the
sub-carboniferous rocks; but toward the river, the limestone appears
in its full wealth. The scenery on Sugar creek is in many places
truly beautiful and grand; and on the Kentucky river, the high
perpendicular cliffs much resemble the sublime heights and palisades
of the romantic Hudson. The soil is very fertile, as is its general
character throughout Kentucky. The roads usually follow the
meanderings of the creeks, to secure levelness.
Dr. Evans's residence is situated on a high hill, or rather, table
land, while the houses of the Hills sit humbly in the valley.  The
accompanying map is not drawn with mathematical correctness, for
i; is designed to show merely the relative positions of the parties.
The people generally are moral, and well educated, and compose
one of the best societies in the world. Their valor is world renowned, and one has only to visit them to have a heart throb with
gratitude for unparalleled hospitality and kindness.
THE EVANS PARTY.
Gentle reader, permit me to give you a short sketch of the two
belligerent parties.
The father of Dr. Evans was a native of Virginia. He moved
to North Carolina while a young man, and married in 1788. IIe
resided there about five years, then removed to Garrard county,
Kentucky, and settled on Sugar creek, the theater of bloody tragedies, where he lived till his death, twenty-three years. He was
blessed with twelvec hildren, ten of whom he left living. He was




X                THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
truly a pious man, and a class leader in the Methodist church. The
country being a comparative wilderness, and the people too few and
scattered to build and support churches, his house was ever open
to the worship of God, for he strictly taught his children the principles of the Bible, and there congregated his neighbors at the
stated circuit preachings. These meetings often lasted several
days, and to support them so frequently, kept him a poor man. He
had plenty to be sure, but his surplus was thus devoted to religion.
Dr. Hezekiah Evans, the general of the Evans party, was born in
1801. At the age.of fifteen, when his father died, lie was left
without a guardian, and little to be guardian for, save to support a
widowed mother, and rear and educate four small children. These
duties he faithfully performed, for they were the dying charges of
his father. The old homestead of one hundred acres was left to his
mother, which, at her death, was to be divided between the five
younger sons. On this, his native place, the doctor worked very
hard and supported himself and dependents in a laudable manner.
VHe had no opportunity of educating himself, except the few minutes
he employed in reading by hickory-bark fires before day light. In
1824 he married Miss Nancy Cole, of Indiana. He labored very
hard on the little farm till 1829, when he was thrown from his horse
and so badly crippled that he was unable to work for five years.
During this confinement he studied medicine under a younger
brother, and commenced the practice in his own neighborhood —
without, however, charging fees for several years.  Finally, for the
support of his family, he was compelled to make charges for medical
attendance; but sooni becoming dissatisfied with the profession, he
discontinued it. But his neighbors, being so well pleased with him
as a physician, entreated him to continue, which he did, and has
since that time enjoyed a liberal practice.
The Evans party was composed of the Doctor, his five sons, and
eight or ten other men. The majority of his sons were quite young,
and could not well manage fire arms. The assistance received from
abroad, was not particularly friendly to Dr. Evans, but at enmity
with the opposite party.  Four or five of the men, before the war,
had been his bitter enemies, but their hatred for the Hills was still
stronger; and as the war assumed a general aspect, they united with
the Doctor against the common enemy. Thus the Doctor did not
know when to confide even in those fighting under his own standard.
Had it been his desire, he could have secured the aid of his numerous relations, but he would not have them entangled in his
reticulated contention - his motto being, " A few valiant hearts can




THE HILL PARTY.                     X1
withstand a host of the irresolute enemy; and if we have to die,
the fewer the better."  Though they did not bear arms, we have
reason to believe that they kept his treasury pretty well supplied.
The Doctor is a low, heavy set man, having all the characteristics
of a genuine son of Erin. He: is: a fair specimen of durability, and
looks as if he might have crossed the snowy, Alps in one of Bonaparte's campaigns. From long and habitual watchfulness, his eyes
wear a sleep-proof appearance, and his whole face looks defiance
and presumptive brass. Phrenologically, combativeness is doubtless
his most prominent trait, which, combined with a considerable
quantity of genius, has given him his success in life. I spent
nearly a week in his society, but, I must confess, I could not form
much attachment for one so.blunt and stern. I liked the boys very
well, for they are agreeable and intelligent young fellows. And as
for Mrs. Evans, there cannot be' a finer and more clever lady.
The Evans party were vastly superior to their foes in point of
intelligence, for the boys-were pretty well educated, an'd the Doctor,
besides his general information, seemed to understand the arts of
war as taught in Scott's Tactics. Their arms consisted of about
one hundred and twenty-five barrels of long and short arms (among
which was numbered one of the famous Mississippi rifles), with
bowie-knives in proportion. The rifle once belonged to the Hill
party, but the Doctor knew it was too dangerous a weapon to stand
before, and by using some of his cunning, obtained possession of
it to do execution in his own cause.
THE HILL PARTY.
I am sorry that I cannot give so favorable a description of the
Hill party as I did their foes -the one is to the other as day is to
night.
Old John Hill, the progenitor of all the Hills, was a grand old
knave. and a Tory..Jesse Hill, the father of Isaiah, Frederick, Russel, Jesse, Jr., and
John, was an illiterate and dissipated man. He was drowned in
Sugar creek while on a drunken spree. The whole band were
mere tools used by certain politicians in elections to do their fighting
and low dirty jobs. When they wanted a man "knocked down
and dragged out," a point of the finger was all that was necessary,




Xil              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
In this manner they had whipped and driven off some fifteen good
citizens before they got hold of Dr. Evans. They could whip a
man, then "law" him for it and prove any thing they desired, so
expert were they in the art of lying: and their relatives and friends
were so numerous that they could not fail to have a superfluity of
witnesses.  Crowds of them would often go to elections and keep
decent people away from the polls; if they could not do it by other
means, an abundance of rocks would do the work. Any land is
truly unfortunate to be cursed with such a low, rowdyish clan.
I will here introduce another line of the Hill party. They, through
pride, do not claim relationship with those above spoken of, but in
reality some of them are as near as second or third cousins.
William Hill, the grandfather of Dr. Hill, was a drunken, dissipated old man.
John Hill, the Doctor's father, during the first part of his life,
was as destitute of good character as any man could. be. He married
old Capt. Pollard's daughter - as fine a girl and as clever a woman
as ever lived. She gave him all the enviable reputation he ever
had, and a considerable amount of property. By these means he
got to be constable awhile, and by management, intrigue, gambling,
etc., he accumulated a little more property.
Dr. O. P. Hill's character was as bad as it could be till he married
into the Salter family. He enjoyed a liberal education, but this
was the more to the disadvantage of his neighbors, for his knowledge
was employed to deceive them and breed discontent. After his
marriage he got an extensive practice among his newly m:Ide
relatives, and seemed to do well for a few years. But he was constitutionally so mean that he could not help falling back into his old
dirty tricks, notwithstanding, on his mother's side, he had a numerous
irain of respectable connexions. All the respectable portion of his
relatives were friendly to the Evans party, but all the ignorant,
trifling and vagabond rabble were invariably their enemies.  Dr.
Hill was an extremely handsome man - tall, well proportioned, and
very athletic.
The Hill party was comprised of near fifty men, supplied with
as many arms as they could carry.  They had force enough to
demolish their enemies in a movement, but they were cowardly,
and their leaders were as timid as school-girls.  But nothing better
could be expected of a people so ignorant and tutored in such dissolute habits. The majority of them spent their time in idleness,
fishing, drinking, and gambling.  They would idle away the week,
or lie drunk in the most comfortable places, and when Sunday




THE HILL PARTY.                   Xlii
came, they would shoulder their fishing-poles, jugs of whisky, and
decks of cards, and drive down to the creek to have a gambling
and drinking frolic with the neighbors' negroes. They would first
get them drunk and then cheat them out of their money, or steal it
from them.
I will give you a specimen of their ignorance. Before the court,
upon trial, one of the young stock, a lad of eighteen years, was
asked, in substance, as follows:"Will you ever be punished if you swear a lie?"
" Not as I knows on! "
" Do you know how many months there are in a year?"
"' Don't know, sir;'bout fifteen, I spose."
" How many days are there in a week?"
" Don't know, sir."
"What month do you plant corn in?"
"Don't know, sir; reckon may be in January."








THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
THE ORIGIN OF. THE FEUD.
CHAPTER I.
Dr. Evans hires a negro woman from John Hill — Hill induces her to run
away - Hill attacks the Doctor - The Law Suit - The Interview -
The Agreement.
OUR story, reader, like the monarch oak of the forest, that.
disdains to bow -to the tempest's wrath -like the mighty river
that pours its wealth of waters into the deep, has a small beginning; and, like them, may not fill you with admiration at first,
but will elicit your attention as it grows in magnitude.
On the Christmas before Dr. Evans was crippled, in 1829,
he hired a negro woman from John Hill, the Doctor's father,
who was then acting as guardian for some orphan children.
During the following spring, John Hill concluded that he wanted
the necgro's services himself, and thought of no better way of
securing them than by inducing her to run away from Dr. Evans.
Accordingly, he sent his niece, Hamilton Pollard's wife, on that
mission.  The next morning the negro ran away and went to
Hamilton Pollard's house -  Pollard went with her to Captain
John Hill's.  The timid light of the new morn had scarcely
chased away the gloom of the night, when Mrs. Pollard went
to Swapshire's and told Mrs. Swapshire that the negro had run
away, and that Mr. Pollard had taken her to John lill's. Mrs.
Evans, the old lady, happened to be at Swapshire's and heard
what was said, and told the Doctor, when she went home, which
was the first intimation he had of the negro's leaving. Dr.
Evans mounted his horse, with his crutches, being scarcely able
to ride, and went to see John Hill, and inquired if he had seen
the negro?  Hill answered -
"' I have not; nor- do -I know anything about her.'




16             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
"Did not Hamilton Pollard come here with her this morning? My mother told me he did."
"Yes -" replied Hill, hesitatingly, and feeling a little uncomfortable with a falsehood resting upon his tongue, 1" they
came to my residence before I arose from the bed, and told me
that she had run away. I told her to clear herself off, that I
did n't want her about me."
"4 You have not treated me as a neighbor," replied the Doctor;
"had a negro of yours run away and come to me, I would have
secured and delivered her to you.  But you did not choose to
do so much for me. I will immediately prosecute Pollard for
this clever trick."
Dr. Evans then turned and rode off about one hundred
yards; - Hill called to him to stop.
" What evidence have you for the prosecution?"
6" I have the evidence of my mother, - and if Mrs. Swapshire is a truthful woman, I will have the testimony to what
your niece said."
" I would like to have the negro for the balance of the year,'t
responded Hill.  " I will charge you only for the time you have
had her.  If you keep the right of her services, she may put
you to a great deal of trouble and expense."
4" I hired her for the use of my family during the year, and
intend to keep her; — and I will make those suffer who took
her away."
The Doctor then rode off, and went to Swapshire's, not far
distant.  Mr. Swapshire told him all the particulars of the case.
He then started to town to get out a warrant against Pollard.
The road to town led directly by John Hill's blacksmith shop.
As he approached the shop, he saw Hill and the negro standing
in the yard.
4 "Where did you find her? " inquired the Doctor.
"After you left, I went out and called her  she came in
and I brought her down here."
"What cause had she to run away?"
"' She said she heard that you intended to whip her, and was
afraid to stav on that account."
Dr. Evans told the negro to go home —at the same time
giving her a tap on the head with his crutch.  She started to




THE ORIGIN OF THE FEUD.               17
ward home in a run, he following her. He had not gone more
than ten or fifteen steps, when Hill ran up and struck him on
the back of the head with a large hickory stick.  He fell forward on the horse's neck senseless for a few moments, but
remained in the saddle.  When he recovered from the shock,
he found that his horse had not moved, and saw Hill raising a
heavy piece of iron to throw at him. He then observed:
"John, you have done more than I ever expected you to do;
you have sneaked up behind a crippled man and hit him. But
you are too d - d a coward to look him in the face and strike! "
Hill raised the iron to throw. The Doctor slid down to the
ground behind his horse. He was so weak that he had to-lean
on his horse's neck to support himself. Hill dropped the iron
and ran to the house, it is presumed, to get his gun. The Doctor managed to mount again and went home.  He had the wound
on his head dressed, armed himself, and went back to the shop
to cancel his account. Hill's partner was in the shop -he
called for the account and paid it; then inquired where Hill
had gone. He was informed that he had gone down to the
mouth of Sugar-creek.  As he rode back toward home, he saw
Hill and Swapshire sitting near the road beside a tree. He
exchanged salutations with Swapshire- then Hill spoke"How do you do?"
"None the better by you, you d - d old rascal!" was the
surly reply.
Swapshire kept between them, and made apologies for what
he had done. They both made apologies more than any honest
men would -in the meantime slandering Mrs. Pollard, laying all.
the blame of the affair upon her.  The Doctor, being very
feeble, said but little, and passed on home. In a few days he
brought a suit against Hill for damages, or, rather, for assault
and battery. Of course Hill could have as many witnesses as
he wished to call - those who would prove anything —hence,
the Doctor only recovered one cent for a damaged head. Several months then passed away without any words between them..
But during this time, Hill carried a heavy hickory stick; rumor
said he intended to pay another cent for another damaged head.
One day as he was going to Lancaster, Hill overtook and rode
along behind him some distance. The Doctor drew his horse2




18             TAETr BlLL AND EVANS FEUD.
to the side of the road to let him pass, and as he did so rode up
beside him and said:"Report says you are carrying that stick for me - that you
intend again to sneak up behind me. Now, take a little advice,
and let me persuade you not to do so mean and dogged a trick.
If you want to strike me, come up boldly like a man to my
face and do it!"
"Sir, I have not carried this stick for you, nor have I intended to strike you again."
" If you should ever feel like it, it would do your soul good
to try that stick upon me. Take my advice and do it speedily,
for it will cost you nothing more than the trouble you will have
in doing it."
" Then, sir, I extend to you the same liberty.  If you should
ever want anything out of me, it shall cost you nothing more
than your trouble in getting it."
" Do you say that, sir!  I could have it in my heart to give
you a sound thrashing now, if I could do it in any way without
putting my hands on your dirty, filthy person!"
"Well, you need not do it just now," replied Hill.
John Hill, I want to make an agreement with you.  Have
you enough native honesty about you to keep sacred your word
of honor?"
"Make your proposition.  Future deeds shall show  my
honesty."
" I want you to agree to let my business alone, if I,,11' let
yours alone."
" Let that, then, be agreed upon our honors."
In this manner they rode side by side some distance, wAd
separated without blows or very aggravated words.
Thus, reader, you have the origin of a difficulty that has
caused much blood to flow; which has thrown crowds (-f o:?rhan
children helpless upon the world; and filled the ) nd wvith
]-reathless anxiety.  You have the first actions of thf twe, parties.  I leave it with you to decide who was the more to ~Yame.




DR. HILL AND THE LAW SUIT.
CHAPTER II.
Dr. Hill's Debut - Slander - The Law Suit - Dr. Hill as WitnessPeljured - Hills hired to whip Dr. Evans.
TrME rolled round several peaceful cycles, without any words
between the two parties, till Dr. Hill began to practice medicine. Dr. Hill, notwithstanding the difficulty with his father,
had hitherto professed perfect friendship for Dr. Evans.  But
this shallow and pretended friendship was doomed soon to have
an end. Dr. Ilill was attending on a sick lady by the name of
Ellen Whicker. He had lost all hopes of her recovery, given
her up to die, and told her friends that he could do nothing more
for her. Dr. Evans was then called in to see the patient. The
Doctor knew it was a delicate point to touch upon, and refused
to go at first; but when he was sent for the fourth time, he
went, not expecting to do any good more than the gratifying of
her relatives.  He examined the lady and found that she was
curable. Under his prescription she soon got up and was able
to go about. From that time forth, only enmity existed between
the two Doctors. In a few days they met in the road — Dr.
Evans gave the salute, but Dr. Hill refused to return it. This
*circumstance happened a second time, which was the first intimation that Dr. Evans had of the hostile state of feelings, without knowing the cause.  Dr. Hill made it convenient to slander
Dr. Evans on all occasions, calling him a d —d quack, and all
other ugly names, and saying that he would kill every fever
case that he chanced to be called to see. But actions always
speak louder than words, and Dr. Hill, seeing his good success,
could not refrain from saying, " He is a d — d lucky fellow!"
"What luck he has!"  "He never gets hold of any bad fever
cases!"  These slanders became so multiplied and common
that several of the neighbors informed Dr. Evans of them, and
advised him to put a stop to them, even if he had to kill the
perpetrator.  The reply was, " Let him alone, he will soon kill




20              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
himself.  I care nothing about him, and will say nothing about
him.  He may yelp around as much as he pleases, so he keeps
it out of my face."
Affairs continued thus some time, till one day when Dr. Evans
went to Lancaster.  He met there several of his professional
brethren, but none of them deigned to speak to him. This was
a mystery he could not solve. He was in town shortly after
that, on one court day, when Mr. Quin, a man living in town,
called him to see his sick children. He told Mr. Quin that he
could not dare do such a thing in the midst of so many professional enemies —that they would whip him before he could
leave town. But, finally, upon further entreaty, he went and
saw tie children. Dr. IIill saw this, which so infuriated him
that he resolved to attack the bold foe who would thus dare to
take a bone out of his lair.  Dr. Evans returned to the courtyard, and was conversing with Col. Ray, when he heard some
one behind him say —
"' Sir, you have got to quit talking about me! I say, sir, a
second time, you have got to quit.talking about me!"  (Dr.
Evans turned round and saw Dr. Hill shaking a stick at him.)
": You, sir, you —I say, sir, you have got to quit talking about
me!" shouted Dr. Hill at the top of his voice.
" Me, sir? " replied Dr. Evans in a steady tone.
"' Yes, you, sir!"'I have not been talking about you; I never thought you
worth talking about, nor no such a d- d puppy as you are.  I
have never said anything good, bad or indifferent about you -
you are below the notice of any honorable man! "
" You have been talking about me and every physician in this
town! " at;the same time flourishing the large hickory stick over
his head.
"' You lie, sir; I have never talked about you or any other
physician in this town! It does no good to be disputing in this
manner; bring up your witnesses and prove what you say. It
is a d- d lie, and you can't prove it, save by a low dog like
yourself!"
Old man Baily stepped up to Dr. Evans and told him to go
away - that he had said enough to satisfy every body about
the slander.




DR. HILL AND THE LAW  SUIT.             2i
"I'11 cut your throat, sir! " shouted Dr. Hill, running his
hand into his bosom.
This last tragi-comic display produced quite a sensation in the
crowd, and an opening was made through which Dr. Evans
slipped into the court-house. When he got to the door he observed, "You d - d scoundrel, you can't say that when you
have not a gang of your puppies around to catch my arm! "
HIere the quarrel ceased.  The reader will perceive that the
Hills were well trained to this kind of work; — there were eight
or ten of the young stock standing around, ready to seize Dr.
Evans by the arms and disarm him if he had any weapons, then
leave him to the merciless foe. Dr. Evans knew their plans of
attack, and as he had no weapons, thought it best to make a
safe retreat. Thus, it appears that Dr. Hill had been slandering Dr. Evans to the physicians of Lancaster, which explains
their refusal to salute him. After this circumstance they treated
him perfectly like a gentleman and friend.
The two Doctors had their next rencounter in 1840, when Dr.
Hill appeared at court as a witness. Dr. Evans had brought a
suit against the heirs of Major Burnsides for medical attendance. Through the instrumentality of the Hill and Salter
families, the idea of a steam-doctor bringing a suit of indebi.
tatus assumpsit on a medical account, produced quite a little
excitement in the famous town of Lancaster.  It made all the
old revolutionary doctors wink and blink and shrug up their
shoulders, while the young diploma-pill-bags ogled wisely and
pulled down the corners of their mouths, as if to say, "you ca~n't
come it, old fogy." The two learned lawyers employed on the
opposite side, tried to laugh the case out of court - thus endeavoring to non-suit the Doctor. They are excusable for this; for,
when these precocious giants of the green bag get hold of a
quick-sand case, upon which they can build no argument, they
generally support their side by " laugh-and-grow-fat " ridicule.
They tried another trick - argued that Dr. Evans was not a
doctor because he had not a regular diploma, for which reason
they argued also that his charges were illegal.  But the court
ruled out these schemes and proceeded to try the case according to its merits. The opposition then demanded a review of




22              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
the Doctor's public and private life.  His lawyers at first
objected, saying -
" Who under heaven ever heard of a person's private character being brought into court for suing on an open account?"
But the Doctor told them to,go ahead — that it was not
money but character that he was contending for - that he would
have cared little for the money, had they let his reputation
alone.  They then went into trial with the liberty of investigating his character to the utmost extent.  The trial lasted two
or three days.  On the account the Doctor recovered $175,
and a character worth more than gold- worth more than a
whole El Dorado. Not a single black spot was proven in either
his public or private life.
Dr. Hill stated to the court, in giving his evidence, that Dr.
Evans had been attending a certain Mrs. Sherley, a sister of
Dr. Dickerson, of Nicholasville -  that she had gone deranged
under his treatment, and that she had been taken to Mr.
Welch's and cured by Dr. Dickerson. He was asked -
" Are you not mistaken? Did not Dr. Dickerson wait on
her and pronounce her incurable?  Was she not then carried
to Mr. Swapshire's and cured by Dr. Evans?"
" I am not mistaken -  there can be no mistake about it! "
replied Dr. Hill.
"Did you not wait on a Miss Whicker and pronounce her
incurable?"
" I did, and she died soon afterward."
" Did not Dr. Evans wait on her, and did she not recover
under his treatment?"
"L Positively not! "
"  Did she not recover and bear two children?"
" She did not."
*' Is it not possible that you are mistaken about this case? 
" I am positive -  there is no mistake  "
Capt. James Murphy was then called to the bar and sworn.
He stated that the lady did recover - that she lived some time
after that and bore two children.  Thus you see how nicely Dr.
Hill was caught in a falsehood - and that, too, when he desired
to blacken the character of another.  Seeing himself thus




DR. HILL AND THE LAW SUIT.               2 3
caught in the intricate meshes of a lie, he went back to the
court to explain, stating that Dr. Evans might have waited on
her twice, or at another time. But Dr. Evans procured
certificates from the lady's family and friends that he had
attended on her only once, and that at the particular time
mentioned.
To further stigmatize Dr. Hill, Dr. Evans intended to publish
the evidence and facts of the case, but his friends persuaded
him not to do so, that it would look more humane to show an
enemy mercy. For the boldness of procuring these certificates,
Dr. Hill sent him word that he intended to give him a certificate
to h —11. To which Dr. Evans replied, that he could not do
it, for he was.too base a coward.- that he might get some of
his loafers to do it- that if he had been aggrieved, he could
get personal satisfaction any time. Thence forward Dr. Evans
experienced a series of abuses from the lower class of the Hill
party. It was soon known that Dr. Hill had hired a number
of them at twelve and a half cents per day to whip Dr. Evans.
They would often go up to him, curse and threaten him, in
hopes of getting a fight. But Dr. Evans knew they were hired
tools, and told them they had better work for their money in
some other way; that they could make more any other way
than by whipping him. If I mistake not, one of the Hills upon
his death-bed, told Dr. Evans that John Hill had offered ten
dollars to any one who would whip him, and that he had
attempted to get the prize money several times himself, but
failed. And in his expiring breath begged pardon for throwing
rocks at him on the public square in Lancaster.  The Hills had
a notorious fame for throwing rocks. Armed with these natural
projectiles, they could do far more execution than with firearms — so truly and powerful where they hurled. A couple
of them to go out on the hills squirrel hunting, would be more
successful than as many good riflemen. They were extrdmely
afraid o' Dr. Evans, for which reason their efforts at him were
not so fortunate - but they had bravery enough to cast vagrant
stones at his back.
While these troubles were in full blast, Dr. Evans chanced to
meet John Hill on the creek one day; and said:"Do you remember the agreement we made - that you




24              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
would let my business alone if I would do the same toward
you? I believe you are setting this gang of loafers on me. I
believe it, and if I was certain of it, I would whip you right here
like a dog?  But I do know one thing - they are your toolsyou have perfect control over them, and if they trouble me any
more I will hold you accountable for it. I will not act sneakingly about it as you do, but I will catch you in the court-yard,
and give you as much of my stick as you are able topack home.
You can stop them and I know it - so look out for the future!"
For some time after this incident, Dr. Evans had no more
trouble - the Hills all seemed to be perfectly friendly with him.




THE BARBECUE FIGHT.
CHAPTER III.
The Election-Barbecue at Fred. Hill's-Dr. Evans drinks and treats —
Stays till after da;k — Hills get drunk-Dr. Evans informed of the
plotted mob — He mounts his horse-Hills surround him —Jesse Hill
strikes him-His horse knocked down-Confined in a corner-They
shoot at the Doctor - The horse dashes out of their reach - They pursueDr. Evans escapes to Turner's - He arrives at home nearly dead - Random thoughts.
EVERY thing went on smoothly and peaceably between the
two parties until the fall of 1849, at a barbecue given at Fred.
Hill's.  Here the war begins with more energy and one larger
scale.  An election was soon to come off, if I am not mistaken,
for delegates to the convention to revise the constitution of the
State. There was considerable excitement — the emancipation
question being warmly agitated.
Dr. Evans did not at first purpose to attend the barbecue,
but after dinner having business in that direction, he concluded
to stop a few minutes to see what was going on. He met Capt.
Price, one of the candidates for the convention, who requested
him to go to the barbecue and fill his place.  The Doctor at
first refused, but upon further entreaty told him he could not
fill his place, but would do the best he could.  He went,
mingled with the heterogeneous crowd, and spent his money
fieely in treats.  As the Doctor had not supped, the Hills'
professing great friendship for him, urged him to stay and take
supper with them. He stayed till after supper, and every thing
went off so amicably that he did not even suspect an enemy on
the ground. After supper he invited Richard Robinson to go
home with him.  A man by the name of Warren was standing
near by and observed that he would like to go too, if they would
wait for him awhile -  that the cream of the barbecue had not
come off yet.  In a short time the Hill clan seemed to be
getting a little too drunk, waving their hats and quarreling
among themselves.  These signs began to make the Doctor




26              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
feel that all was not right.  He observed to Robinson that
nothing more could be effected for their party that night, and
that it was time to be off. They started to get their horses
at which time the drunken, quarreling squad drew nearer and
proposed to leave the decision of their dispute with Dr. Evans.
He told them that he knew nothing about their contention, but
that he would decide it in this manner-for them to say nothing
more about it, and he would treat the crowd to a bowl of mint
sling. He then walked to the bar (a low rail pen enclosing a
barrel of whisky and the vender), and ordered it.  While he
was going up, one of the Hills patted him on the shoulder and
said: —" Doctor, by G-d, you ought to treat! "  The Doctor
immediately handed the bowl to him, but he turned and said," G —d d —m you, I would not drink to save your life!"  He
then handed it to John Arnold, one of the candidates, and asked
him to d4nk. Arnold took the bowl, immediately handed it to
some one else, and asked him if he had a certain kind of
medicine in his pill-bags. The Doctor said he had, and they
started out to get it. They had gone only a few steps when
John Murphy caught the Doctor by the arm, and said he wanted
a word with him.
" You are out of the crowd now," said Murphy, "and don't
go back into it again, for they are going to knock you in the
head with rocks to-night!"
"Who are? "
"The Hills! They have been following you around some
time with their hands full of rocks! "
" I reckon not! "
" It is certainly true - don't you go back into the crowd any
more. Have you any weapons to defend yourself with?"
"I have none. Have you any to lend me? "
"I have not," responded Murphy.
When the Doctor was called away, Jesse Hill took his place
and walked off with Arnold to a large tree near by. The
Doctor got the medicine and was returning to Arnold when he
heard Jesse Hill remark -
I'll be d-d if I don't do it!"
"I'd rather you would not," replied Arnold.
"I'll be G- d d-d if I don't!" exclaimed Hill.




THE BARBECUE FIGHT.                27
The Doctor then approached and said:- "Are you talking
secrets, gentlemen?"
"No, no!" both replied, and Hill walked off to a group
of his fellows, a few steps distant.  "Here is the medicine,
Mr. Arnold," observed the Doctor.
"I did not need the medicine - I-merely wanted to get you
out of the crowd, and tell you to get on your horse and leave
immediately, for the Hills are going to mob you, and I don't
want to see it."
The Doctor started to get his horse, which was hitched to the
limb of a tree not far distant. As he pulled down the swinging
limb to loose the bridle, he saw two men, supposed to be Bill
Ware and Jesse Hill, follow him in a brisk gait and dart behind
the tree.  He thought they were trying to shoot and got
behind his horse. They then turned and walked off rapidly
toward the house. The Doctor mounted, rode out a few steps
into open ground, found Warren there, and asked,'Are you
ready to go?"
" No! " replied Warren.  "Where is Robinson?   " Gone
to get his horse, I suppose; get yours, and let us go - but
stop, stay with me till he comes; I am afraid to stay alone. I
have learned that the Hills are going to mob me, and I don't
want you to leave till Robinson comes! "
Warren walked immediately off without saying a word, and
was seen no more that night. Bill Ware who was a perfect
stranger to the Doctor, then went up and spoke:' Are you goinghome to-night?"
" Yes, sir, I am," replied the Doctor.
" Hold down your head," said Ware, taking hold of his
hand, "I want a word with you. I understand that you intend
to knock me in the head with rocks to-night."
" Good Lord! " exclaimed the Doctor,' who could have told
that lie!
As these last words were falling from the Doctor's lips, Jesse
Hill struck him on the side of the head with a square bar of
iron. He snatched his hand away from Ware, and asked -
" Who is that throwing rocks at me?'
"No body," replied Ware.
" Some one hit me, and there's the man! " - pointing to




28              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
Jesse Hill, who was standing in a throwing position not far
distant, in the direction the blow came from.
"I did'nt do it, sir," responded Hill.
"I think you did Jesse, and I would like to know what you
did it for I "
"Upon my honor I did not throw.  I have nothing against
you, and I did not throw; but I can do it if you want me to!"
"I don't want you to do it, Jesse! "'"By G-d, we'll give you afew any how! " exclaimed Hill.
During this conversation, the Doctor cast his eyes around to
see who was near, and the best way to get out. He saw not
less than twenty-five of the party surrounding him, and
advancing in platoon order, so as to form  a hollow-square.
When Hill said " we'll give you a few any how," the Doctor
wheeled his horse and sprang him toward a gap in the fence.
As he did this, the rocks began to fly. His horse ran about
ten steps and was knocked down. About the time the horse
fell, the stones knocked the Doctor perfectly blind; though he
retained his seat-and indeed it was impossible for him to fall,
for the rocks came as thick and fast as hailstones. When one
would knock him in one direction, another would knock him as
far the other way, in such a manner as to keep him vibrating
like a pendulum. They ran the horse up between the tobaccohouse and fence, and having them thus confined, beat both horse
and rider nearly to death with rocks, rails, boards, and poles.
The Doctor, though yet blind, besought them to have mercy on
him —but the more he begged, the harder and faster the
pelting missiles flew.  The horse finally got out; but how he
did it, is a mystery, for the fence was close to the house and
very high, and strongly staked and ridered, while behind, the
enraged mob stood as thick as forest trees.  When the horse
got out and had gone about half round the house, the Doctor's
eyesigcht returned.  He still clung to his saddle, though the
shower of pelting stones did not abate its fury.  When the
horse got back to the place from which he started, the Hills
shot at the Doctor twice, with a small and a large pistol. The
horse being easily frightened, scared at the report and dashed
away beyvond the reach of the stones. As the pistols were fired,
one of the formest of the pursuing party fell over a stump, and




THE BARBECUE FIGHT.                  29
nearly all the rest stopped to seize their supposed victim, while
the Doctor made good his retreat under the cover of night.
Those who continued the pursuit turned to the left to intercept him in the road which led to his house; but instead of
taking the road, he turned to the right through the woods.
TIe had not gone more than fifty yards before he fell from his
horse: but this did not stop him, for he ran on his hands and
feet, alternately rising and falling, till one of his sons found
him, and aided him to mount. The Doctor was nearly senseless,
and called loudly for water. But the son knew it would not
be expedient to delay a moment, and ordered his father to
follow him.
" Ride faster father, they might overtake us!" said the son,
as he heard the drunken rabble in their noisy pursuit.
"Oh son! I can't do it-I am almost dead!"
"Good Lord!" exclaimed the son, "what shall we do;
yonder they are ahead of us again in the main road!  We must
take the other end of the road and out-run them, for we can't
out-fight them!"
"Let us gallop on son; throw down the fence and go the
nearest way to Bill Turner's house, for if I don't get some water
soon, I can't live."
They went on about half a mile to Turner's, and called for
water. The Doctor asked Turner:' Have you a gun?"
" I have a rifle 1" replied Turner.
"Is it a sure fire?"
"Not very."
"I want it anyhow, if it will shoot at all; will you load it for me?"
"Yes; but won't you get down and stay awhile?"
"I believe I will, for I would like to wash my wounds in
whisky, if you have any. Then I must go back after my hat
and saddlebags. I find my wounds to be so bad that if I
remain long they will get sore, and I will not be able to get
away."
" You are unable now to get home; you had better stay
here," replied Turner.
"I will try it anyhow, if you will go with us and lend my son
your gun."




30              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
" I will give Vou all the assistance in my power."
After the Doctor washed his wounds in whisky, they set out
and arrived at home without further disturbance. The Doctor
was bruised perfectly black nearly all over, and his chest was
very much swollen. His jaw-bone was broken in two places,
and his head had not a few gashes. These wounds and bruises
kept him in bed nearly two months, and so severe were they,
that the neighbors dispaired of his recovery.
I have no feelings of enmity for the Doctor, but I could have
it in my heart to rejoice that this misfortune befell him, for he
certainly deserved a sound thrashing for being caught at such a
place at so late an hour.  The Doctor claims to be a respectable man, which claim I do not in the least doubt, but this would
seem to indicate that his code of morals, or standard of respectability was not very elevated, and may perhaps make some
people skeptical as to the justness of his pretensions.  It is true
that honorable men do sometimes visit such gatherings, but a
man of high-toned refinement would not be seen there, unless
he chanced to be a candidate. But how can we justify a man,
pretending to any respectability in society, in mingling and
drinking with such a motley, ruffian crowd, at so late an hour?
I am persuaded that the Doctor had imbibed too freely of the
ardent, for if his soul was not drunk, it was certainly devoid
of' sensibility. Every departure from nature's laws brings its
penalty, and severe the penalty proved in this case to him.  Of
all the despicable evils, that of being thrown into a ruffian crowd,
stirs up the most bitter disgust and horror in my soul. And
had the Doctor any moral sensibility, or any feelings of native
pride, he would have felt this same detestation and bitterness of
heart for those with whom he mingled.
I am utterly opposed to those debasing assemblages on elec
tion occasions; they do no good, but inestimable evil. They
are given by the parties —not so much to hear political discussions as to gain friends and secure votes by the magnificence
and magnanimity of their TREATS.  This custom has grown upon
the people to such an extent that the man who can treat the
most, drink the most " LIKER" and make himself the bigest fool
while drunk, is almost certain to be elected.  This is a lamentable fact.  In many instances have worthless topers been pre.




THE BARBECUE FIGHT.                 31
ferred to men of talent and morality. Now, if I could not be
elected but by these drunken beasts, I would disdain the honor,
stamp it under foot as I would the necks of the senseless vaga,
bonds that gave it.  Such drunken honors I would cast to the
swine, as unworthy a man possessed of a soul.
This liquor-bribery custom not only debauches men, but leads
directly to another evil even more lamentable to an Americanthat of SELLING VOTES. It cannot be denied that some of the
chivalric sons of old Kentucky are becoming so debased as to
sell their votes with impunity. Had I an ocean of tears to weep
for their depravity! I never even thought of such a thing as
selling votes; selling the liberties of freemen, the franchise of
the ballot-box, till I visited the hills of my childhood, in Garrard
county. What superlative disgust stirred the inmost cells of my
heart on learning that some of my native county-men were thus
dead to the noble and elevated principles of our glorious liberty!
These are hard words for the county of my nativity, but mild
in comparison to the indignation aroused by such heathen degeneracy. This cannot apply to the people generally, for Garrard
county boasts of some of the most noble and patriotic men that
breathe American air, and I love her for her greatness; but
every flock has its black sheep.
I am no temperance advocate myself, nor particularly in
favor of Maine-liquor-law-like statutes, but it does seem that it
would be a blessing to the State, and to the whole Union, for
the legislature to enact measures to prevent this corruption in
elections. No penalty could be too severe for the low miscreant who would sell his vote, or the vile-hearted wretch who
would buy it. For, let the evil go unchecked, and what would
be the result? The base scoundrel who had the most money
would be sure of election.  Then see what a condition our
country would be in. The men of intelligence and moral worth
would disdain to contend for such degraded honors, and our
legislative halls would be filled with all the vice and depravity
of the land.  Such guardian angels of our liberties would soon
demolish the towering temple of freedom, humble her proud
columns to the dust, and shut the world in darkness.  We could
but weep over her beautiful and classic ruins.
We see Dr. Evans countenancing and participating in a vice




32             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
that leads directly to this dire fate.  One vice leads to another.
But he has dearly paid for his erring ways, and can repent at
leisure, and I am confident that he will not be guilty of the like
again. I could wish that the same punishment were visited
upon every perverse Kentuckian who has strayed into these
dismal paths of corruption. This is hard reproof for my countrymen, but they must pardon me for daring to speak so boldly the
sentiments of a heart that received its first impulses in the generous and patriotic community of their glorious State.




HILLS LURK AROUND DR. EVANS'S HOUSE.
CHAPTER IV.
False rumors —Mrs. Rus Hill's debut —Woman's depravity —Jesse Hill's
chase — Bravery of the little boys -Hill's horses found in the Doctor's
orchard - Two of the boys retreat before a party of the. Hills - Neighbors
help the Doctor to defend his house - Squire Level and Ben Dunn take
the horses.
TijE barbecue fight happened on Saturday evening, and on the
Monday following, it was rumored by the Hill party that the
Doctor had been seen lurking near one of their houses.  This
was entirely false, for he was scarcely able to move a limb, from
the soreness of his wounds.
Time, pregnant with dire events and livid crimes, soon raised
the curtain and exposed Mrs. Rus Hill to the scorn of the expectant multitude.  The sinking  sun shone forth in all the
resplendency of his evening glory, but mantled in a mournful
blush of crimson, that youthful innocence had thus grown to aged
depravity.  She took her child into her arms, and with the sincere
affectation of an expert actress. set out from her lone cabin of
rudeness, and made the welkin ring with lamentations for her
miserable fate.  The proud hills, disdaining to listen to such airy
wailings, repulsed the empty sounds and with reproof echoed
them from their rock-ribbed sides to the ear of their degenerate
mistress;- while the crystal waters murmured along their
innocent way, leaping with joy and child-like gambol, apparently
unconscious that one so repulsively black with crime was mirrored
on their bright surface. But she bellowed most lustily and made
the big tears stream like liquid diamonds down the furrows of
her woe-begone countenance, to attract the attention and commiseration of the passer-by; and well did she succeed, for Mr.
Gardner, James Hutson, and William Walls, ever tender to the
woes of others, inquired into the cause' of her overflowing grief.
"I'm'fraid to stay at home," bellowed  she; —' Dr. Evans
has been shooting at me all day.  He stands behind the big




34.             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
beech tree and shoots into the door.  Two of the balls struck
the cradle in which my child was sleeping. I picked up the balls
as they rolled across the floor, for here they are now."  (She
held out to exhibition two balls that had never been in a gun.)' Being very much alarmed for the safety of my child, I took it
up in my arms and walked to the door; he shot at me again and
struck the door-facing.  I then started to run through the corn,
the negro woman bringing the other children, and he shot at me
twice again, cutting the corn blades near me."
Reader, this incident will give you an inkling of the depth in
degradation to which some women are capable of descending.
Were this the extent of her depravity, I could rejoice; but it is
an episode to the gloomy scenes yet to be revealed by our history.  It does seem  that woman is susceptible of an infinite
degree of either virtue or vice.  A maiden, just blooming into
maturity, may possess a purity of heart and holiness of mind that
elevates her to a comparative level with the chanting seraphs of
angelic glory - then again, her heart may be full of the blackest
vice, and her mind such a demoniac work-shop as to merit the
lowest pit in the infernal regions.  The one, we can but admire
and love, the other, despise and abhor.  See this woman as she
walks down the creek, bawling deception, with her little innocent
in her arms.  What a contrast! Her bosom is stained iwith all
the vice to which human beings are heir, while the cheerful babe,
innocence and purity personified, peeps forth with its bright
little eyes upon the beauties of nature, a stranger to guile, and
unconscious of the boisterous passions and rankling depravity of
the one in whose arms it rests.
After she had gone, Walls told his comrades that her tale
was all a lie, for he had been to Dr. Evans's during the day,
and he was unable to get out of the house.  Further down the
creek, she met David Gordon, and told him the same yarn.
He invited her to go home with him, but she refused, and went
on down the creek, making the woodland slopes reverberate
with her lamentations.  The next morning, Gordon went down
to Rus Hills's, and saw where some one had actually shot the
door-facings.  But we have reason to believe that the Hills did
the shooting themselves, in order to raise the report,' and have
the signs for evidence.  After widely circulating this report,




HILLS LURK AROUND DR. EVANS S HOUSE.          35
and exulting in their success, they determined to swear out a
warrant against the Doctor.  But Jamnes Naler, John IIill's
nephew, told them they could not prove anything against him,
for his uncle, and aunt, and Mrs. Hutson, had been staying at
Dr. Evans's house all day, expecting him to die of his wounds.
With this counter evidence, they said nothing more about it till
the sitting of the grand jury, when they attempted to bring it
up; but the jury would pay no attention to them. Thus ends
a tale of female baseness, a baseness too enormous, I hope, to
find room in any other woman's heart.
The object of the Hills in spreading these reports was to get
public sentiment in their favor, and make it appear justifiable
in the eyes of the world for them to beset Dr. Evans's house.
Circumstances soon proved that they had succeeded in their
design.  One morning the Doctor sent out one of his little
sons to the pasture to get a horse to go to mill. He came runnin g back, very much alarmed, without the horses, and said
Jesse Hill was out there.  The Doctor, though scarcely able to
walk, took up an old rifle and a small pistol and started to rout
him.  He told some of the little boys to bring the ammunition,
and tried to make the others stay; but they would not-one of
them, Sam, led the way.  They went to the place where Hill
had been seen; but ihe was then invisible.  They believed him
to be hid somewhere near, and began to search.  Soon, the
little fellow who had the pistol, jumped him up behind a bank
of earth, and ran after him with all his might, without ever
thinking of his pistol, and hallooing:' "Yonder he is-yonder
he is! shoot him, Pap - shoot him, Pap!"  As Hill ran off
about one hundred and twenty yards distant the Doctor fired,
but missed hitn.  The little boys ran on in pursuit, presenting
a miniature buck chase.  The Doctor found a horse belonging
to one of the Hills hitched in his pasture. He turned it into
Hill's field, and called to the boys to know where they were.
To this call, two of the Hills, lower down in the thicket, near
their own house, answered:
" IIere we are, G - d d —n you!  Go and get those other
horses and turn them through also, you d - d old rascal! "
"Are they your horses, Rus?" replied the Doctor.  " If
they are, you had better come and get them."




36               rTHE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.'" Turn them through, you grand old scamp, or you'11 be responsible for them.  If you don't, we'11 get you."
" You had me once, but did n't kill me; —but I don't thank
you for not doing it! If you want me, here I am - come and
get me -  I am at the service of even such poor, pitiful scoundrels as you are!"
On his return home, the Doctor found three other horses
hitched in the orchard, but did not know to whom they belonged.  He started two of his sons to mill, the remainder to
school.  The two going to mill had gone about half a mile to the
creek,, when a party of the Hills gave chase and-ran them back
home.  In the meantime the Doctor sent a negro boy to one of
their houses to inform them that they could get their horses.
On receiving intelligence of this fact, they replied that they
were d   d sorry that they were absent, for they would have
taken out the black scoundrel's heart.  The Doctor then sent
the boys around to several respectable' neighbors to. invite them
to come with their guns and help defend the house, or give
counsel for future actions.  Thev came and saw where eight or
ten horses had been hitched around the fence, beside those in
the orchard, with signs indicating that they had been standing
there all night.  They knew not what advice to give, but two
or three of them, whom the Hills had mutilated almost as badly
as they had the Doctor, remained with their rifles.  Before
night, about twenty of the Hill party collected on the creek,
and swore they would have their horses that night or die, and
if the old coon did not keep a sharp look out, they would take
the white house.  Late in the evening Col. Hall Anderson saw
the party and advised the Doctor of the danger, and also informed him that one of the horses belonged to the wife of old
Henry Ware, and the others to John lull, jr., who had nothing
to do with the difficulty. John Hill, jr., had sent them down
to old John Hill's in a wagon loaded with lumber, and through
Mr. Anderson asked if he could get them. The Doctor replied -
"He can come unarmed; I have no objection to his coming
in davlight, but as it will be dark before he can get here, I
rather he would wait till morning.  I will have his horses stabled
and well attended to."
The Doctor then posted six sentinels around the house, with




EILLS LURK AROUND DR. EVANS S BtOUSE.        37
orders to shoot everything that came near enough.  Four guns
were heard during the night, but no one was found hurt in the
morning.  He sent a note to John Hill, informing him that he
could get his horses in perfect safety - that no one would be
allowed to hurt him. Hill replied that he knew the Doctor
would not molest him, or permit it to be done if he could help
it; but, as Sellars was there, he feared to go.'Squire Level,
seeing so much preparation on the previous evening, supposed
they had an action, and came up to learn who had fallen on the
battle field.  The Hills had previously sent for Ben. Dunn.
As these gentlemen were particular friends of the Doctor, the
Hills requested them to go and bring the horses.  When they
went up to the Doctor's house, they informed him that there was
no crowd of Hills collected below - the only persons having
been seen were; old John Hill, little John Hill, and Col. Hall
Anderson.  But the Doctor knew better the tricks of the party,
and told them if they wanted to see a crowd lying in ambush,
all they had to do was to look into the bushes as they returned.
And, sure enough, they did see some fifteen or twenty, with
their rifles, lying in the shade. They delivered the horses and
left as quickly as possible. From that time forth the Hills contitrlally lurked around the house and shot at any of the family
who chanced to be seen.
I do not know that I ever heard of the stern and rigid laws of
our enlightened State being violated with such impunity.  They
roved, a bandit clan, insulting and stamping bleeding justice to
the earth.  The whole country should have arisen in arms and
humbled in the dust the necks of the miscreants who would
thus dare to violate the laws.




SUNDRY INCIDENTS.
CHAPTER V.
The Doctor meets Rus Hill on the creek-Attempts to shoot, but gun snaps —
The Doctor's sons come to help him - Ie makes them go back to work —
Nancy Baker's interposition- Hill sheltered by the wagon while Naler
drives it past -The Doctor's superstition -The peace warrant - Could not
get it served - Inefficiency of officers - Hills besiege the house - Narrow
escape - Cowardice of the Hills —The hat stratagem-The Hills incrsase
their- forces.
THE next incident happened on the creek. The Doctor's
negroes and sons were pulling fodder in a little field near the
creek, and to see how they were progressing, the Doctor
shouldered his rifle and went down there.  He soon heard a
wagon coming up the road,- and saw that Rus Hill was driving
it. As soon as Hill saw him, he began to rip out some of the
blackest blasphemies, and stopped his wagon about thirty paces
distant.
"You d-d old rascal, what are you doing?  You had better go away from there!" said Hill.
The Doctor said not a word, but very leisurely laid his gun
on the fence, as if to shoot.
" Oh, don't shoot —don't shoot — you are mistaken, it was
not me, it was not me-I had no hand in it!" imploringly
cried Hill.
" You are a liar, Sir! I am  not mistaken; defend yourself
or die! " replied the Doctor.
The Doctor leveled his gun and took deliberate aim at Hill's
breast, but the cap snapped.  He put on a second and a third
cap, but all missed fire. During this time, Hill was standing
before the oxen, fair to view; but when the fourth cap went
on, he ran behind the wagon, drew a large pistol, and presented
it as if he intended to shoot.
" Shoot, you cowardly puppy! " said the Doctor.
Hill raved and cursed desperately, making so much noise
that the boys came from the corn-field to assist their father.




SUNDRY INCIDENTS.                  39
"Shoot the dirty scoundrel, and don't let him curse you that
wayv" exclaimed the boys.
"Go back to the pulling of your fodder; his words are
nothing, I can manage him! "replied the Doctor, calmly.
"Fetch them all out, —sons, negroes, women, children and
all —I can whip the whole camp-meeting of you! " shouted
Hill, flourishing his pistol over his head, to indicate his boisterous bravery.
Nancy Baker, one of his particular friends, went to him.
They talked awhile in a low voice; then she went to the
Doctor.
" Get over the fence and fight him a fair fight! " said she.
"4 Madam, I am not able to fight any one; and as you are
one of his good friends, you had better stay with him."
" Go away then, and let him pass."
"I have a right to my own fence, and I will stay here, at
least, till I get rested."
Mr. Naler then came along, and said he was afraid to pass
while two such belligerent fellows were near; and that he
might pass safely, asked the Doctor to go away. The Doctor
did as requested.  Naler drove the wagon past; while Hill
walked beside it, to shelter himself, even after the Doctor had
gone away two or three hundred yards distant.
These snappings made the Doctor believe that he should not
take revenge for past injuries; and from that time forth he only
acted on the defensive, up to a certain period.  This opinion
betrays a good deal of superstition.  It reminds me of old lady
who would not flog her son because the first lick broke the
switch, believing it to be the decree of heaven thus manifested,
that she should not whip him. This was a dangerous policy for
him; he would not take the proffered advantage of the law,
which rendered his arras inoffensive. Had he shouldered his
rifle, searched the country, and shot down every Hill that he
chanced to meet, the law could not have hurt him, since they
had threatened and already attempted his life; and this, too,
would have brought the war to a speedy close.
The Doctor soon got out a peace warrant against the Hills.
But the constable could not, or would not, serve it on more than
two or three of them. This was a desperate state of affairs; —




40              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
the law had no power, and the Hills bidl audacious defiance to all
opposition.
ln the mean time, the Hills. with shouldered rifles, scoured the
countrv, sVwearing they would serve a peace warrant on the old
white headed coon at the first opportunity.  They continually
laid around the house and shot at every one seen, either black
or white.  One evening when the front door was half open, one
of the boys passed by it, goin!g up stairs; at that instant an ounce
ball was fired at him.  It passed through the side light of the
door. and had it not been for the half of the door which swung
open, it would have killed him.  The ball glanced from  the
swinging door and fell at, his feet on the stair-way.  Matny such
ir;cidents might be pointed out, but this one is stfficient to show
the eminent danger to which Dr. Evans and his familv were continnally exposed. The reports and long echoes of guns were so a:iny
familiar tunes, and the rattling balls on the house top lively
accompaniments to the music.  They had the -house perfectly
besieged -every road and outlet had its blockade of veteran
troops.  Of course the Doctor and his family had to keep pretty
close and quiet, through motives of personal safety.  Jesse and
William Hill had command of the forces employed in this siege,
which lasted more than two months.
About the Arst of March, the Doctor was called to see a
patient in the family of Ben. Dunn, who resided just across the
crleek.  On the way thither, he had to pass the house of old John
Hill', who professed to have nothing to do with the difficultyv  Ite
knew the Doctor's destination, and immediately sent a negro
messenger with the news to Rus Hill.  Rus came, and as the
Doctor returned, werlt to the door and tried to shoot, but his,gun would not fire.  The Doctor jerked a pistol from his holster,
Hill jumped back, and he rode on unhurt.  From this you mlay
see their mode of operation.  Old John Hill professed perfect
fiiendship for the Doctor, but in reality was the general of the
Hillpartv.  He would not come out boldly before the enemy,
but staid in the back ground and boldly gave orders for others to
boldly fight by.  After this incident, he went another way to
Mr. Dunn's, but they soon discovered that trail and waylaid
him, though it was through open ground and they could not lie
in ambush.  On one occasion they besieged the Doctor at Mir.




SUNDERY INCIDENTS.                 41
Dunn's house, and kept him there nearly a week, and that too,
within a short mile of home.  Finally, during a very dark night,
he succeeded in making a safe retreat.  A man could scarcely
be hurlted more perseveringly, or watched more closely than the
Doctor was.  Of course he had to u'se considerable cunning and
dexterity to keep out of their clutches.  But if he saw a party
in open ground, and started toward them, they would turn upon
their heels and make tracks in double quick time.
The Doctor wished to sow a piece of oats, but feared to let the
boys do it, for the field was surrounded on three sides by a continuous thicket.  But they told him that there was no danger
of the Hills molesting them if he would give them his old hat.
The Doctor thought this rather a strange idea, but obeyed their
request.  The field was in sight of Rus and Bill Hill's houses.
The boys took the old hat and placed it nearly behind a tree, so
that it looked like the Doctor standing guard, and peeping
round the tree to watch the Hills.  Every night they changed
the position of the hat, as if the wearer had changed to a more
comfortable posture. The Hills thought it was the veritable
Doctor himself standing guard. They continually shot at it with
their ounce balls, and cursed it with the most bitter oaths, telling
it to "' come down here, you old bald headed coon, and get something to drink, I know you are dry - there's nothing like having
plenty of " liker" to drink and a good horse to shoot from! "
After these eloquent harangues, they would mount their horses,
gallop around a tree and shoot at it, to show the Doctor's old
hat what good marksmen they were, and how well their horses
were trained.  Thus, even an old hat was as much guard as
needed, until the boys finished sowing their oats.  The Doctor's
hat must have imbibed some of the military from his warlike
head; at any rate, it knew how to stand guard pretty well.
The Hills drew many other people, and even strangers, into
their difficulty.  They gave little dancing parties, wood-cuttings,
log-rollings, honse-raisings, etc., to collect crowds of the floating
loafers of the country. When thus collected, they pleasantly detained them with the fiddle's charom, and the bold spirit of Bacchus,
and with the embraces of women of no enviable reputation. What
could better please a rabble crowd - frolic, whisky and women!
These were the tools needed to help prosecute the war, for no




42              TIlE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
respectable person could be caught in such society, or voluntarily engage in such a disastrous strife. You may know that even
the females of the Hill party had no exalted opinion of virtue,
when such names as Sall Hfill's Bill, etc., are familiar to the
citizens of Garrard; no better name having been found for a
numerous class of progeny whose paternal origin is debateable




THE COURT-HOUSE TRAGEDY.
CHAPTER Vi.
The Doctor and two of his sons go to Lancaster- Judge Robinson delivers
a political speech — Hills appear and attempt to shoot - Jesse Hill swears
to kill the Doctor - The crowd rushes into the Court-house - Jesse Hill
attempts to shoot the boys, but Ward holds him - The Doctor goes to the
door — Hill gets loose from Ward - The Doctor requests Hill to go awayHill throws up his pistol; the Doctor shoots him through the heart — The
Doctor fires again — Hill leaps and falls on his head - The Doctor gets his
horse to leave - The sheriff cries out'. " catch him "- The Doctor challenges
the whole crowd - None accept - I-He mounts and gallops off- The multitude give chase, arid throw rocks — A boy repulses the pursuing host -
The sheriff and party pursue, and attempt to take the Doctor at his house
- He refuses to surrender  The sheriff's threats - The Doctor flees the
country.
IN March, 1850, the Doctor went to Lancaster to attend
court. Two of his sons accompanied him, one about eighteen,
and the other about fourteen years of age.  As none of the
Hill party made their appearance, and as Judge Robinson was
expected to deliver a political speech in the evening, they
concluded to remain till that time.  During  the speech, the
Doctor, however, took the precaution of posting his sons on
guard in the rear, so that none of the party could creep up
unperceived. The Judge had not spoken many minutes, when
half a dozen Hills were seen in the aisle, holding a council of
war. The Doctor watched them narrowly, and soon saw that
he would have to fight his way out, if he got out at all; for
they had formed nearly an entire circle around him. It was
very evident from their moves, that Bill Ware had been chosen
to do the shooting.  He attempted to shoot several times, but
as soon as the Doctor threw his piercing glance at him, he
would turn and walk out of the door.  At the opposite door
there was another party, with Jesse Hill at their head -but
they were closely watched by the boys.  Jesse attempted to
shoot, and even presented  his pistol once, but at the same




44             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
instant seeing the boys with their dreaded pieces coming down
on him, dropped it and walked out of the house.  He then
went over to the tavern, took a glass of brandy, flourished his
pistol in the air, and swore he would never take another drink
of liquor till he had killed the Doctor or one of his sons.  He
returned to the court-yard, dashed around in a wild frenzy, and
insulted several people; and even hawked and spat in the face
of one Mr. Dollings, cursed him, and told him to take THAT, if
he did not he could get THIS, at the same time shaking the
pistol over his head.  Dollings- walked immediately away.
Alexander Arnold then went into the house and said to Dr.
Evans: —"Jesse Hill is out there ranting around; your little son is
out there also. You had better go out and take care of him,
he might get killed."
The Doctor not being very well acquainted with Arnold,
thought it might be a trick of the party to get him out, and
replied: -
"' He is smart enough to take care of himself in any crowd,
how small soever he may be."' I thought it my duty to inform you of the fact; his danger
certainly demands attention," replied Arnold.
"' I am much obliged to you, sir, for the information-accept
my thanks."
At this moment, a crowd with great excitement, came rushing
in at the door, some crying "let me get away, for God's sake
let me get away."  The Doctor pushed his way through the
crowd to the door, and saw one of his sons standing near the
door, the other on the steps of the court-yard enclosure, both
with their hands in their pockets on their pistols, while their
pale countenances trembled with excitement.  Their anxious
eyes directed him to the danger. He saw James Ward in the
corner of the yard trying to pull Jesse Hill away — Jesse
struggling violently to free himself.  As soon as Hill saw the
Doctor, he cursed Ward, and gave him to understand that more
persuasive means would be used, if words could not obtain his
freedom.  ile struggled desperately, and shook off his best
friend.  Ward walked away behind the corner of the court
house. The Doctor stepped back against the door-facing, ready




COURT-HOUSE TRAGEDY.                   45
to draw his cocked pistols.  Hill walked directly toehrd him,
and drew his revolver.  The Doctor making a gesture, said:"Jesse, you had better go away."
" G-d' d-n you," said Hill, making vague gestures, "come
on, I am not afraid of all HELL."
"You had better go away," said the Doctor with more
emphasis.
Hill advanced to within ten or fifteen feet, turned his right
side to the Doctor, threw up his pistol and exclaimed -:' G —d d —n you, now crack your dasher."
As he uttered these words, and was bringing down his pistol,
the Doctor drew his instantly and shot him  under the arm.
When the smoke of his pistol blew away, the Doctor saw him
aiming and pulling at the trigger of his pistol.  He stepped two
steps forward, which threw him behind the other facing of the
door.  A voice was heard from the crowd, " Doctor, you hav'nt
touched him! "  lie stepped back to his former position, saw
Hill leaning against the court-house with his revolver in both
hands trying to shoot the boy on the enclosure steps.  The
Doctor again raised and fired, and shot him through the heart.
When the ball struck him, he sprang half bent and fell about
five feet from the court-house.  Thence he sprang twelve or
fifteen feet and fell on the right side of his head.  As he was
thus turning a summerset in the air, the Doctor fired again, but
missed.  The same unknown voice from the crowd exclaimed
"Don't, shoot any more, Doctor, you have killed him."  He
retained his position some time, expecting every moment that
Ware and a half dozen more would be shooting at him.  When
the curious crowd formed a circle around Hill, the Doctor
stepped up a few benches and watched their movements through
the window.  That was the safest place to be found, for no one
could sneak up behind him, and he had full view of both doors.
When the fight began, the house was perfectly crowded; but
when it ended, the Doctor was the lone occupant.  The people
disliked to see these actions between the two parties, for they
feared to be brought into court as witnesses, for they might
thereby render themselves liable to incur the displeasure and
malice of one of the parties, and peradventure by this means




46             TIlE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
be thrown into the maelstrom of the war.  It is not certain that
Hill fired at all, but Madame Rumor say he did. The boys
soon went in.
" Father, we had better leave here and' go home!"
"I will not go -I've done nothing to go for, and do not
intend to go," replied the Doctor, in a petulant tone.
"Oh, father, please come on; we will all be killed in here
if we stay - this is no place for us now, and we had better get
away!"
The Doctor then went out at the door, where he expected to
find Ware with his hostile clan, and walked across the square,
with pistol in hand, to where his horse was hitched. A friend
ran up to unhitch his horse for him, but the Doctor pushed him
away and said: -
cc I want neither friend nor foe to lay hands on me!" 
About that time some one, supposed to be the sheriff, jumped
upon the ceurt-yard steps, and hallooed -
" Catch him, catch him - don't allow a man to shoot another
down in the court-yard and then get away! I command the
mule-ishe (militia) to take him!"
This was evidently a fellow of corpulent words and lean
actions, a specimen of the genus homo that the Young America
spirit of the age calls "gas."  When the Doctor heard this
pompous harangue, he left his horse, advanced to within fifteen
steps of the orator and the crowd, and said:"Gentlemen, if any of you feel like it, come out and try
your hand, try the virtues of lead!  Choose your champions, or
all come together - I am  ready for any emergency, life or
death "
A friend brought his horse and urged him to go; the boys,
likewise, still entreating him to leave. He then told the younger
son to get his horse and saddle bags in order to leave.  The boy
did as directed, and they galloped across the square past the
crowd.  The other son had not vet mounted.  As they were
passing tlhey encountered a shower of rocks from men not, till
then, supposed to have tany interest in the affair. -The whole
crowd ran in pursuit, yelling like Indians; sorne mounted horses
and with pistols in hand, set out in full speed.  The older boy,
Sam, I believe, soon mounted, and with a fleet horse got before




COURT-HOUSE TRAGEDY.                47
the pursuers.  When he passed the foremost one, who was
Elijaih Duggins, he wheeled his horse and observed -
"You dirty puppy, this shows where you stand.; -come
another step and I will shoot you down! "
Sam stood there with his pistol presented; the crowd wheeled
and ran back about as fast as they came.  These were the
brave mnule-ishe so bravely commanded and so heroically repulsed by a beardless youth.  Kentucky is renowned for her
Spartan bravery, but little valor could be anticipated in such a
rabble crowd as this. The flying party then rode on without
further molestation.,
When he reached home, the Doctor appeared a little excited,
and his wife asked
" What is the matter, dear?"
" Oh, nothing, only I have killed Jesse Hill! "'" How do you know you have killed him?"
"1 I know it, because I saw him die."
" Where did you hit him? " inquired she, seeming considerably excited.
"I did not miss his right nipple more than half an inch.
But pray, tell me, are you going to give me anything to eat?"
"' Good Lord! you don't want to eat!"
"Yes I do; I'm very hungry.  Make haste; the whole party
will be here on me in less than halt an hour.  I want to eat to
be strong enough to whip the whole crowd, and I fear I shall
not have time to do it."
HIe immediately dispatched a negro to the fields to tell the
other boys and William Chrismon to come in with their guns
and prepare for a general battle.  Just as the Doctor finished
his dinner, he saw the sheriff, his deputy, and four other men
approaching.  Some of these were his friends.  It was reported
that a mob, about fifty strong, had stopped a few hundred yards
distant, between the house and the creek.  When the sheriff
and party rode up, the Doctor, through his sons, told them -
"Gentlemen, you must not come in here."
"Ask your father how many times he shot," replied the sheriff.
" He shot three times."
"If he did, tell him to not let it be known; for it is rumored
in town that there were only two qhots, anid they were so close




( 8       ~     THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
together that one man could not have shot them both. The people generally believe that he and Jesse Hill shot about the
lame time.  Tell him to let the report go that way, for it would
be more favorable for him.";
"He does not desire any such report, for it is untrue, and
he wishes only the truth to go to the world. He did actually
shoot three times, for it took that many loads to fill up."'
"Tell your father he had better surrender himself to me; it
will be better for him upon trial."
"' He says that he does; not intend to surrender, that he is
not afraid of the law, nor will he evade it, but he is unwilling
to be taken out, stripped of his weapons and be shot down by
an enraged mob."
" I will not let that be done - it shall not be done!"
" You could not prevent it, and even if you could, he has no
surety that you would.  He gives his word and honor that he
will not evade the law, and that he will appear at court when
the trial comes up."' Mv oath binds me to take him, and I intend do it, even if
I have to fire the house, or go to Danville, get a cannon and
knock it down  "
"If you get him, you will have to pay- dearly for him, and
when you do get him, he will not be worth much.  If you are
his friends, he wants you to go away, and if his enemies, you
had better do it!
" Whenever a man tells me to leave his place, I feel it my
duty to do so," said William Conn.
They all followed his example, and immediately put his theory
into practice.  As the Doctor-had determined not to be taken,
he held a council with his sons and fiiends, to know what he
had best do.  As they believed their enemies had the favorable
side of the law, they advised him to leave the country, for they
might force him to do things which the law would not justify.
His primary motive for leaving was to give the mob time to
thin/k, for he remembered the old adage - "A mob has many
heads but no brains."  He made arrangements with his sons for
the preparation of his trial, and for them to send him word when
it would come off, so that he might return in time.  According
to the advice given after deliberation, he left immediately.




THE DOCTOR'S ABSENCE.
CHAPTER VII.'lie D)octor's flight - He goes to Indiana - Does not receive intelligence of
his familv- Sets out for home- Meets his son - The son's narrative -
Hills besie.ge thehouse - Officers search for tile Doctor - Gen. Dodd and the
Militia —The Hills attack the boys and negroes - They shoot Thomas
Evans - The Hills and sheriff's guards repulsed by the boys - Hills swear
out a peace warrant against the boys, and a writ for one of the negroes -
Hills attempt to set the D:octor's; house on fire-News of the Lancaster
fight — The L)octor returns and demands a trial —Citizens attempt to
restore peace.
GENTLE READER, do not get uneasy for the Dootor's fate, for
I do not intend to make a second Ulysses of him, nor a Penelope
of his fair dame, although she did suffer in a different way as
much persecution as the royal web-raveler.
According to the well digested advice, the Doctor crossed
the Kentucky river at the mouth of Sugar creek, that night,
passed through Lexington, and took breakfast beyond Georgetown
the next morning,.  As he had many relatives in Indiana, lie
resolved to go there and spend the time of his exile.  He visited
among his friends till the first of May, arnd had not during all
that time, received any intelligence of his family, although he
had written five or six letters, and they as many more - none
had been received on either side.' Thiss made him  uneasy, for
he knew niot but what the Hills had burned his house and
massacred his helpless family - hence, he determined to return
and learn the state of affairs.  He was within about eighteen
miles of the Ohio river, on his way home, when he met his son
in the road.'i Halio son! how does it happen that I meet you here?"
i" We all became so uneasy that I was sent off in post haste
to see what had become of you."
" Is the family well? "' "We have all had excellent health."
" Well, tell me what has been going on since I left."
" We have had a pretty bitter time.  The Hills have beea
4




i5) 0           THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
around the house all the time, and the officers have been there
two or three times searching for you.  The day after you left,
the sheriff came down with General Dodd and a company  of
militia to take you. When they got to the foot of the hill, the
General told the sheriff and militia to stay there, that he and
William Turner would go' up and get you,' if they could not, no
power on earth could.  The General and Turner came up and
asked us where you were.  We told them  that we did not
know, that you had left for parts unknown, the night before.
"As dinner was about ready, we invited them to dine with us;
they did so. Before they finished dinner, the sheriff and whole
company came in, thus violating the positive orders of the General.  We treated them kindly, and proposed to prepare dinner
for them all, but they refused to wait. saying that their number
was too great. Not long after that, one morning before daylight, the sheriff, his deputy, and some fifty men of the same
malicious company, came back. We asked them what they
wanted? They replied that they wanted to search for you, -
that they had learned that you were at home. We told them
that you were not there, but that they might search if they felt
so disposed, and gave them a candle.  They searched every
room with their guns cocked, poking them about under the beds
-as they looked.  They even looked in the hen house and smoke
house, and went into the barn with lighted cigars in their mouths,
as if they would slily set it on fire. Some of them went back
to the house, cocked their guns at the children, and, with many
wicked oaths, threatened to shoot them.  The sheriff and deputy
then divided the company equally among themselves.  The
deputy, with about thirty men, went down to Rus Hill's and
took breakfast.
"After this crowd had left, and everything was quiet, Tom
took the negroes and little Doc out to repair a piece of fence
in the direction of Rus Hill's.  The remainder of us went to
-work at the barn.  Before they began to work, Tom went to
the brow of the hill to see if they could work in safety, and to
see whether the crowd were yet at Hill's.  They were, and as
soon as they saw him, began a brisk fire, at the distance of
about three hundred yards.  He told the negroes to go back
home, and walked leisurely that way himself, not expecting to




THE DOCTOR S ABSENCE.                51
b& followed. Blut the Hills and a portion of the deputy's guard
came on in hot pursuit.  He heard a noise and turned to see
what caused it.  As he turned around, they fired on him at tbh
distance of about one hundred and five steps.  An ounce ball
struck him i in the breast, penetrating about half an inch into
the flesh, and knocked him down. He arose,: picked up his guin
and fired back on them, then ran toward the house.  Little
Doc thought there would be more safety at a little distance
from Tom, hbut that made no difference, for the balls whistled
by his ears as briskly as ever.  When we, at the barn, heard
the shooting, and saw Tom fall, we ran instantly to the house
to get our rifles, for we thought he was killed.  When we got
into the house, mother fastened the door and would not let us
out. Just at that time Mr. Collier and his wife rode up to the
gate.  We told mother to go and let them in.  While she was
going out we got out also, and ran to meet the advancing foe.
Mrs. Collier would not come in, but ran back with feminine
timiditv.  Mr. Collier, seeing that we were about to meet the
Hills, and hearing the balls whiz by and rattle on the house top,
staid to witness the battle.  The Hills came very near to the
house and got behind a large haystack, and sent their shower
of balls with renewed vigor.  Sam took one of the large guns
and kn'ocked offthe capping of the stack.'This so much frightened them that they ran out from behind it, and as they ran,
he snatched, a rifle from me and fired at them, which so much
augmented their terror that they did not lessen the rapidity of
their flight till they got back to Hill's.  For a day or two the
sheriff and his valorous guard laid around in the neghborhoodthe majority of them were beastly drunk nearly all the time.
The sheriff then left them, which gave them a little more licentious liberty. They laid around the house, shot into the windows, and at any of the family whenever seen, till an angry
storm drove them away.  We could scarcely do any work out
of doors, for they would attack and drive us from the fields
whenever we attempted it.  They would neither work themselves nor let'us-work.  One day we were cutting corn stalks
off the young wheat, they discovered us, and Rus Hill sent a
detachment to make an attack, while he went to town and swore
out a peace warrant against us, and a writ for one of the negro
M                                  L




52             TH E LL AND EVANS FEUD.
boys. The officer came that night after us, and advised us to
take the negro off and sell him, for, if we: did not, the Hills
would swear enough to hang him, no matter how innocent he
might be.  He then proposed to serve the warrant on us, but
we refused to surrender ourselves without he would furnish us
with a guard to accompany us to town. He agreed to do this,
and came with a guard on the next Monday, - But we were informed that five of the Hill party had concealed themselves in
an old house on the road, to shoot at us as we passed.  When
this information was received, the neighbors, who were summoned as our guard, consulted among themselves what had best
be, done, and concluded to lret the officers come to us and. receive the bonds and security, for they knew if we went some
person would be killed. Accordingly, the officers came and
we: were placed under a heavy penalty, with good- security, to
keep the peace with all mankind, and more especially with the
Hill party.  Every person then believed that- the difficulty was
at an end, for the Htills were honor-bound to keep the peace in
virtue of our bonds. And the Hills themselves expressed as
much."
"But pray, son, tell me how things are now going on at
home," earnestly inquired the Doctor.
" We get along very well, now; everything is: quiet."
"' Ah, I fear there is some trick in this," observed the Doctor.  "Storms are usually the burden of calms.  I very much
feared that they had burned the house down before this time.
I am sorry that you left.  We will stop at your grand-pap's
to-night; then go on in the morning."'They did try to burn the house several times.  On one
occasions a; very dark night, I well remember, Sam to.ok several
guns and went up into the garret to watch.  He was laying
down, watching through the little window, when he saw a coal
of fire shine in the distance.  It would disappear, as if concealed
in a vessel,; or beneath the clothes of the bearer, and ever and
anon it would shine forth, to: show: that it had not become
extinct.,  Sam  understood the movements and  watched it
narrowl'y. The bearer of the dark design came along slowly
and cautiously till he mounted the stile to cross the fence.
Iere he opened the prison-gate of his fire to be sure of its




THE DOCTOR'S ABSENCE.                53
vitality.  As he did this, Sam fired upon him with the large
shot gun.  The wretch let the fire fall, and fell himself headlong
to the ground.  Sam thought he was dead, and did not fire
again: but after a:time he crawled off like a four legged beast,
doubtless not well pleased with the result of his crusade."
The Doctor and his son traveled together to Shelby county,
within seventy miles of home, where one of their relatives
resided.  The Doctor told his son to hasten on home and
prepare for his trial, while he remained for further information.
The son traveled briskly, and got to Harrodsburg about dark,
and there heard of the LANCASTER  FIGHT. He went on:
immediately that night and found his brother Thomas dreadfully
mutilated and not expected to live.  He sent a runner to his
father with the awful tidings.   The Doctor received the
intelligence during the following night, and set out without
delay.  According to an agreement of his friends, he arrived at
the house of George Hackley, the constable, about ten o'clock
the next night, placed himself under his care, as guard, went
to Lancaster and demanded' a trial.  A  strong guard was
placed over the Doctor. not to prevent him from running away,
but to afford protection against the Hills.  His lawyers asked:' Who will vou be tried before?"
" Before the two smartest jLudges that. can be found in the
county - two who know most about the law."
"- Letcher and Campbell are the best judges, but we fear that
Letcher is prejudiced against you."'He has no cause for prejudice, and if he has any, I want
to know it.  I want to know who will act upon the principles
of justice.  I will take him at any rate, for this may not be the
final trial."
"He went into a thorough trial before the above named
judges, which lasted two or three days, and resulted in his
acquittal.
The Doctor displayed considerable judgment in these maneuvers.  Had he stood a trial immediately after killing Hill, he
certainly would have been hanged, for the whole country was
enraged against him, and the people would have had little
repugnance in sacrificing him to restore peace.  Peace, or war,
depended upon his life. Had he been killed, his sons would




54              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
scarcely have carried on the war, and the number of friends
permitted to enlist in the cause'was too small to prosecute it
without the granite energy of their old general to stimulate
them to action.  But now the scales of fate turned in his favor.
Every one cried' out bitter anathemas against the Hills, and
bade the Doctor, God speed in a cause, which excited such
sympathy and intense interest in their bosoms, on account of the
atrocious Lancaster fight- which will be treated of in the next
chapter.  Now, he could go with perfect safety into a trial,
which would have formerly proven his death. This fluctuation
in public sentiment affords a profound study of human nature,
a study by which we may all profit.  By contemplating what
has past, and the causes that produced the events, we have a
standard or guide by which we may act to create certain
desirable effects, and avoid others that would be deleterious.
The mind that can trace out its course in the dim  future by
these beacon lights, displays the true genius.
After this trial, the Hills attempted at every court to get the
grand jury to indict Dr. Evans; but they passed it over in
silence.  The citizens then tried to restore peace, and made a
proposition for the two parties:to go into negotiation.  The!Hills pledged their word and honor that they would quit fighting
if the opposite party would.  The Doctor told them  all they
had to do was to quit -if they would let himn alone he would
extend the same favor to them- but that he could have faith
in neither their word nor their honor, since they had so
unscrupulously violated every principle of honor and veracity.
But for the sake of restoring peace, he agreed to visit only
one half' of Lancaster if they would confine themselves to the
other side of town - to give half the road when they chanced
to meet, and to use every means to prevent a collision between
the two parties.  These stipulations were equally'bininding upon
both parties, and strictly adhered to by Dr. Evans.  The
future will tell how faithfully the Hills observed them.




THE LANCASTER FIGHT.
CHAPTER VIII.
Samuel and Thomas Evans go to Lancaster - Hills attack Tom, and knock
him senseless - Sam runs to his succor- IIills cut Tom to pieces with bowicknives, and one of them places a pistol against his head - Sam fires upon them
and tumbles one into the cellar- Fred Hill runs up with a bowie-knife, and
Sam shoots him down - Hills rush at Sam and compel him to retreatSam shoots Rus Hill and makes the party retreat- Sam shoots Henry
Sagracy, and defeats the whole crowd - Sam gets into a sick man s room,
and sends him on an errand to his lawyer- Old John Hill's monkey pranks -
Sam's trial and acquittal - Grand Jury indict the Hills - Tom's woundsPublic sentiment changed - Sam greeted with applause.
HAD it been expedient to record events as they transpired,
with respect to time, this scene would have come in during the
Doctor's absence. But for the sake of unity, I thought it
better to serve the Doctor first.  The kind reader will, therefore, permit me to retrace a short period of time.
This tragical scene was acted during the Doctor's absence, in
May, 1850.  Sam  and Tom  Evans, who were respectively 18
and 16 years of age, went to town to procure some necessaries
for the family, and among other things, a saddle for themselves.
As they were bound under such heavy pecuniary penalties to
keep the peace, they believed that the Hills were honor bound
not to molest them.  But notwithstanding this, they carried
some of their small arms.  Several of the Hill party were in
the shop when the boys bargained for the saddle.  In the
evening, when they were ready to return home, Sam told Tom
to lead the horsesacross the square, to the shop, while he went
up stairs to get the saddle. As he approached the shop he saw
a crowd of Hills standing on either side of the door, but went
up without saying a word to them. Tom, leading the horses,
soon followed.  When he arrived at the door and saw that Sanm
had not come down, he thought he would hitch the horses and
go up into the shop too.  As he was in the act of throwing the
bridles around the tree, which stood on the edge of the sidewalk, the Hills rushed at him.  lHe instantly snatched his pistol




56              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
to shoot, but at that moment two or three of them fired at him,
and one struck him in the forehead with a rock, which knocked
him  senseless.  As he fell, he hollooed-" Oh Sam! Oh
Sam!!" When Sam heard this and the report of the pistols,
he was a few feet from the head of the stairs with the saddle on
his arm - he dropped the saddle, drew a small revolver and
ran down to the foot of the stairs.  He saw Tom, about six feet
distant to the right, with a crowd of Hills around, cutting him
to pieces - some would hold while the others cut.  Another
group was standing on the pavement in front of the stair-way
-door.  Just as Sam arrived at the bottom of the stairs, he saw
one of the party run up to Tom and put a pistol against his
head.  At that instant Sam fired, struck the fellow in the right
shoulder, and tumbled him, together with his pistol, into a
cellar.  The next moment Fred Hill run up with a bowie-knife,
and was about to plunge it into Tom's breast, when Sam drove
a ball into his back, and stretched him on the ground.  Isaiah
Hill attempted to pull Tom a little from the wall that he might
have fairer hacking.  Sam fired at his breast and struck the
handle of a pistol in the right side of his coat, which so
friightened him that he ran away.
The crowd before the door was placed there to shoot Sam as
he came down, while the others were to do the work for Tem.
At the last shot, Sam's pistol ceased to revolve, being impeded
by the fragment of an exploded cap.  As soon as those before
the door saw this, they rushed at him, and ran up the stairs
with up-raised bowie-knives, ready for a butchery. He retr eated
up the stairs, and by this time succeeded in getting his pistol to
revolve. Rus Hill was in front, and when Sam pointed the pistol
at him, he turned, tucked down his head and ran back, receiving
the ball in his right shoulder. That made them scamper and clear
the stair-way in double-quick time. Sam dropped the revolver
on the floor, drew two single barrels, and with one in each hand,
ran down to his former stand.  When he got down, he saw
Henry Sagracy leveling a pistol at him.  At that instant Sam
threw up his - Sagracy wheeled and received the ball in his
right shoulder.  The pistol which he held in the other hand
went off and lodged its ball in the door steps. HIe kept
pointing the empty pistol at Elijah DugTgins, but found it




TIE LANCASTER FIGHT.                 57
would not fire - Duggins wheeled and ran off.  He kept
pointing the empty pistol at them till they all ran away.  It is
an extraordinary fact that they were all shot in the right
shoulder.  It can be accounted for only by accident, for Sam
certainly did not have so much consideration and mercy as to
shoot them in the right shoulder when a ball in the left side
would have proven fatal. He might have aimed at the heart,
but perhaps the pistol was defective, and did not throw the ball
where he intended.
Sam shot. two balls which he cannot account for, but John
-Till confessed that one grazed his face and the other cut -his
hand.  There were several men in the shop when the fight
began, but the fear of finding a bloody grave there, forced them
out of a back window and made them jump to the ground from
the roof of a lofty shed-room, which seriously injured some of
them.  When Sam had scared all of the Hill party away, he
got out at the same window, walked on the shed a little distance,
raised another window and went into a room.  He found there
a sick young man who appeared to be very much frightened, and
started to run down.
"Stop sir!" said Sam, "you must not go down yet -  help
me to load my pistols. Then you must go down and tell Joshua
Burdett, my lawyer, to come here; but you must not let any
one else know where I am."
The young man helped to load the pistols, and being very
much agitated filled the barrels about half full of powder; then
went down through the little trap-door and did as directed.
Sam had never been in the room before, nor did he know where
he was; but it happened to be a very safe place.  Rus Hill
was carried into the room beneath him.  Sam looked at'him
through the cracks of the floor and could have shot him, but
the groans and wailings of the wounded man touched his heart
with pity.  Tom was yet lying on the pavement, welteling in
his inspissated gore.  The Hills, after they ran away from S.;m's
empty pistol, went over to Yantis's drug store and got their
rifles, where they had previously deposited them.  They then
returned and searched for Sam, and would have put an end to
Torn's suffering had they not been prevented.  The citizens then
interposed and carried away the wounded to the different taveIrns.




5 8             THIE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
While they were making such sad havoc with Tom, old John
Hill stood near by and looked on; but as soon as he saw Sam
begin to shoot them down, he cried out:
"Lord amessy, aint there no body to stop it! "
"Johnny, you had better go and stop it," observed Mr. Miller.' Lord, I can't do nothing — I can't do nothing," replied
Johnny.
And when his men began to flee before an empty pistol, he
cried out:
" Lord Jesus, don't let him get away like his father did "
The squad placed in front of the door to shoot Sam, fired
about thirty balls at him, but not a single one touched even his
clothes - they lodged in the door facings, and in the ceiling of
the shop.  This is an extraordinary fact, for it can scarcely be
conceived how every one of such a shower of balls could miss
him.  Some people believe that the balls did hit him, but that
he had on a shield or breast-plate, which  preserved him
unwounded. To this I cannot answer; but the fact of his
clothes not being touched, is evidence enough that the balls
would not have harmed him notwithstanding the shield.  Sam
thought, and said, that they were only snapping at him; but
one of the party replied to this report, " Whoever said that,
told a d-n lie, for I shot at him six times myself."
Burdett soon went up to where Sam was, and asked what he
wanted.  Sam replied:
I want something to eat. Bring me something to eat, then
prepare for my trial."
Burdett brought him some victuals - he eat composedly, then
went down, delivered himself to the sheriff, and had his trial that
same evening.
When the citizens interfered, the Hills swore out a writ
against Sam and Robert Collier - swearing that they did the
shooting.  But when they found that Collier could prove that he
was in a store on the opposite side of the square during the
fight, they dismissed him and prosecuted Sam's trial. The two
justices of the peace before whom he was tried, found no fault
with his conduct, only that he did not do quite enough shooting,
but, considering that he was a mere boy, thought it would do
pretty well.




THE LANCASTER -FIGHT.,               59
Nothing was done with the Hills; they roamed about the
country unmolested, till the next court.  The grand jury then
indicted eleven of the party for malicious shooting and intent to
kill.  A  portion of them came up and gave bail for their appearance at court, and were afterward tried and acquitted. The
others were at perfect liberty, and cared nothing for either indictment or trial.  One of the party could not give bail, but
the officers did not trouble themselves about taking him. If he
was thus freed from punishment by the delinquent officers of
the just laws of his country, Providence had prepared a punishment for him. Soon after the fight, he was blowing rock out
of a well: a blast caught before he was ready and blew him
high into the air; put out his eyes, and blew his hands nearly
all to pieces, rendering him perfectly helpless.
The first physician called to see Tom, said there no use in
dressing his wounds, for he would be a corpse in a few minutes,
and went about dressing the wounds of the more hopeful cases.
Tom was most shockingly mutilated. He had four heavy cuts on
the top of his head that cut through the covering of the brain,
and several lighter ones on his forehead.  He had received a
very severe cut on the side of the head, cutting through his ear
and taking off a piece of his cheek bone.  One cut'made a
gash, immediately beneath his nose, larger than the aperture of
his mouth; another severed the bone of his lower jaw. Besides several lighter cuts, he received one on his neck, which
came near entirely severing the windpipe.  He was indeed in a
critical situation. Death seemed eager to wrap him in his cold
shroud.  Fate struggled against fate.  The balance of human
life rose and fell as if unable to decide between the weight of life
and death.  He was perfectly paralyzed and speechless for ten
days. His spirit lingeringly hung around him, as if debating
whether still to dwell in the mutilated body, or to seek an abode
in brighter realms above.  Four long weeks counted their weary
minutes before he could be conveyed to his home.  The Hlills,
who fell on the battle field, were confined only three or four
weeks. Tom is the only one of the Evans family who received
a wound during the whole war. He alone seemed to be destined to atone for all their sins.  This is extraordinary, and not
to be accounted for by reason; for others of the Evanls family




60                THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
were  placed in as critical circumstances, yet came forth
untouched.
This battle completely changed public sentiment with respect
to the two parties.  Before it was in favor of the Hills, on account.of Jesse Hill's death; but now, as the boys were attacked
while under bail to keep the peace, the tide of public feeling
reversed its course.  And then the attack was so ably and
bravely resisted by Sam, that he could not fail to receive the
applause of a people so chivalrous as Kentuckians.  He was
greeted with acclamation and praise wherever met; and as testimony of the high appreciation of such rare valor, public dinners
were given to him in different parts of the State.  The admiration of the fair daughters of old Ga:rr.ard was told in more silent
but expressive strains.  Every one was in a fervor of.excitement to see the youthful hero -he weho had vanquished a tenfold foe, and gained the field Nwith unparalleled triumph.  This
battle and his valorous actions were the sweetest theme of their
conversation; and to enjoy his presence was a pleasure the
richest and most highly prized.
Reader,- you may well imagine the feelings of a bashful and
retiring boy, while these praises and commendations were float.
ing on every breeze.  It doubtless afforded him a heart-felt pleasure to see his Ideeds thus meet the approbation of his fcllowmen; but he shrank with the timidity of a guileless maiden -from
such enthusiastic applause.




THE ARMISTICE.
CHAPTER IX.
The short Armistice and policy of the Hills - Hills violate, the treaty -
Sam's parley with two of the Hills - Hills attempt to shoot the Doctor -
Old John Hill's death - Dr. Iill assumes command of the Hill party -
Dr. Evans accidentally shoots his owen hand - Rus Hill attacks the Doctor
and Sam - The Doctor's challenge refused by Dr. Hill - Sellars and the
Hills - Dr. Evans crosses the river to see a patient - Hills waylay the
ferry - The ferryman runs away — The Doctor could not recross the
river E- squire Bruner; sends a guard with the Doctor.
THE scenes of this chapter transpired while the people believed. the two parties to be under a truce, according to the
stipulations, agreed upon soon after the Doctor's return and
trial.
After the treaty, everything seemed to be quiet for a considerable length of time.  The Hills had many good reasons for
desiring this armistice.  As public sentiment was now so much
against them, they sought every means to regain the lost good
will, and for this reason made pretense that they wished to put
an end to hostilities entirely and  forever.  But the Doctor
could  better fathom  the depths of their dark designs.  He
knew that their object was to gain public favor and get a better
chance to accomplish their darling wish -  to take his life.  They
made loud promises to the public, yet violated the stipulations
without remorse of conscience upon every occasion.  Of these
agreements and  the small public  favor gained  by  readily
entering into them, they made an ample curtain behind which
to begin again their sly and underhand  work.  They even
frequently went in gangs, with loaded rifles as in former days,
and when any of the opposite party were seen,, made unmistakable show of hostilities.  They caught the Doctor in town
several times, and started toward him  with their pistols half
drawn, but when he threw  his piercing eye upon them, their
weak courage failed, they turned and walked off in some. other
direction.




62             TIIM  IILL AND EVANS FEUD.
The Doctor chanced to be in town one day, and Jesse
Baker called on him to go a short distance into the country to
see his sick wife. Several of the Hills were in town also. and
had mounted their horses to return home, but they saw Baker
on the corner waiting for the Doctor, and asked:
"What are you waiting for?"
"For Dr. Evans  he is going home with me.
" Well then, we shall not go yet!" at the same time dismoufiting and taking a stand on the corner where they knew
the Doctor would have to pass.
Baker knew their design, arnd ran up the street to meet the
Doctor.
" You must not go this way, Doctor, for if you do the Hills
will kill you. There is a crowd of them on the next corner,
and they will shoot at you as you pass.  Please don't go that
way-go around the square and avoid' them."
"Well, I am not afraid of them; if they shoot, I can return
a more destructive fire; but they will not shoot so long as I
have an eye on them."'
Thus saying, he put his horse into a brisk trot, and passed
them without a fire.  They made several belligerent signs, and
had their pistols more than half drawn; but they could not
withstand the Doctor's glance.  It is a curious fact that none
of the Hills could shoot at the Doctor while they could see his
eye.  Conscience is a powerful element in human nature-it
stays in public the hand that would strike in secret.
A few days after this incident, Sam was on the creek alone,
driving a herd of cattle.  He saw two men not far distant
down the road, apparently adjusting their pistols for a shooting
exploit.  As he drew nearer, he found one of them to be Rus
Hill. When he came within pistol shot, they made signs of
shooting, but he instantly dismounted, stood behind' his horse
and spoke to them:
"Take your hands out of your pockets, or go to shooting!"
(They took their hands out of their pockets.)   " Rus, who is
that you have with you -I see he is to do all the shooting? "
" It is Wleslev Beaumont," replied Hill.  But Sam soon saw
his face, which proved him to be Isaiah Hill.
"' WhV don't you go along?" asked Sam.
V Wh   or     0 yu




THE ARMISTICE.                     63
"G —d d-n you, why don't you go along?"
"I am afraid to pass, without you get out of the road."
" D —n you, did'nt you shoot me in the Lancaster fight?"
observed Rus.
"'If I did, you know it, and I can do it again.  I can kill
you both, but I do not wish to do so."
" Well, G  d d —n you, get out of the road yourself, then."' I will, if you will keep your hands out of your pockets till
I get to that log;" pointing to a loo about thirty yards from the
road side.
They kept their hands out of their pockets till Sam got to
the log.  When they moved on and arrived opposite to Sam,
Rus said:
" You are going to shoot!"
" You know that is a lie - I promised you I would not, and
you know I will not break my word."' Why don't Vyou take your hands out of your pockets, then?"
" Because I did not promise you to do it."
They passed on without shooting, and Sam  resumed the
driving of his cattle.  Thus it may be seen the Hills did not
observe the treaty - according to which, they would have
given half the road, and avoided any show of hostilities.
Subsequent to the above adventure, the Doctor met four of
the party in a road.  Night was just spreading her dusky
mantle over the earth, as if to conceal the dark deeds of
pending perfidy from mortal eye.  The first whom he discovered
was Henry Sagracy, on his horse a few feet from! the road,
raising his rifle to shoot.  The Doctor knowing it to be too far
to shoot with a pistol, and too close to run from a rifle, jerked
his pistol from the holster, and rushed his horse directly toward
him.  When Sagracy saw that the Doctor could shoot first, he
dropped his rifle and concealed his head and shoulders behind
the horse's neck.  Knowing that Hill would not shoot, the
Doctor saved his load, thinking he might need it to pepper some
of the others.  He dashed on by them  with his pistol halt
pulled off- they tucked their heads and turned their backs to
the Doctor.  The road was so narrow that his knee grazed them
as he passed.  Perhaps the reader has not discovered the
ingenious reason of the Hills for turning their backs.  When




64             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
there was any prospect of being shot, they would invariably
turn their backs toward the danger; for hlad they been shot in
that relative position, they could have had a pretext to swear
before a court that they were retreating and had no. hostile
design against the opposite party - thus securing the favor of
the law. And this would have given them  an apparently
plausible pretext to spread reports that the Evans party had
broken the treaty instead of themselves, and thus secure more
of public favor.  But the Doctor had sagacity enough to
interpret their untold motives.  He did not desire to kill them
anyhow, for he knew that, the majority of them  were poor,
ignorant hirelings - hired by men who apparently had little to
do with the feud.  These incidents serve to show the character
of the many similar occurrences that frequently happened till
the Doctor accidently got his hand shot.  But notwithstanding
their bold threats and cowardly attempts, the Doctor gave his
sons, orders strictly to observe the treaty and their bonds to
keep the peace, and not to shoot if there was any possible way
of avoiding it.  These: orders were implicitly obeyed during the
seeming armistice. To make amends for past losses, the
Doctor continued the practice of his profession, and kept the
boys busy on the farm.
In the fall of 1851, old John Hill, the general of the Hill
party, died.  Rmrnor says that the old man charged his son,
Dr. Hill, with the crime of poisoning him, or, of giving him
medicine to hasten his death, in order to come into the
inheritance of his property sooner. On this account he was
dismissed from: the practice in his father's family, and sent honme
with his wife, late one night.  When Dr. Hill went home, to
Lancaster, he told Judge Letcher what had happened, and
that he was accused of poisoning his father.  The Judge tried
to console him by telling him that the old man was certainly
deranged, or he could have no such opinion.  1Iill -replied that
he was not deranged, nor was that the only time he had been
accused of the crime. Drs. Pierce and Hutson were then called
to treat old John's case.  Under their treatment he decidedly
improved.  But Dr. Hill returned soon and told the two doctors that he thought he ought to have the right of attending to
his own father.  Though Dr. Pierce was by no means friendly




TIE ARMISTICE.                    65
to Dr. Hill, they relinquished the case to him willingly.  After
this change of physicians, old John's lamp soon ceased to burn.
After the death of John Hill, Dr. Hill assumed the command
of the forces; though he kept himself in the background and
Denied having any participation in the feud.  But actions speak
louder than words  He spenlt nearly the whole of his time
with the party and in the immediate neighborhood of Di.
Evans's residence.,
About this time, January 1852, Dr. Evans:had the misfortune to shoot his hand.  Having returned from a visit, to a.patient, when he:dismounted, he:attempted:to take'his pistol
from the holster, but it was  frozen to the leather, and when he
broke. the icy cement the noise'frightened the horse, and- made
him jump: and strike: the hammer; of the pistoliagainst the horn
of the saddle, causing the cap to ignite: and explode the powder.
He happened to seize the muzzle of the pistol in his hand;: thb
ball entered the palm and coursed down the?arm, between the
two bones, about seven inches.  Since the bali was very large,
it shockingly mutilated his hand, so much so that the attending
physician said it would have to be amputated.  Though it was
perfectly dead, he said it should not be taken off-that hb
would not take the whole of Garrard -county for it. -It gave
him intense pain, and confined' hin a considerable length of
time. -'
As soon as his hand got well enough he went to see a patient,
having to pass by Isaiah Hill's house. He saw a squad of Hills
watching him very closely, and anticipated a difficulty on his
return.  He had taken Sam along with him, to open the gates,
and, if needs be, to do the:shooting.  As they were: passing
through a gate, about twilight,! on their way homeward, the
Doctor, having gon'e through, heard a pistol fire, but thought
that Sam  had by accident fired- one while shutting the gate.
He soon heard another, and. saw Sam's horse dash up the road.
He then looked back: and found Rus Hill immediately behind
him.  He threw the glove off his, well hand, snatched his pistol
from the holster, threw the bridle over the horse's head, and
sprang to the ground, behind his horse.  As soon as-the Doctor
touched the ground, Hill leveled his pistol and fired, but missed.
During this time he was-:swearing at a  wicked rate.
5




66             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
"I can whip a hundred and ninety-nine Evanses — I am
beeswax and rawsum (rosin); by G-d-I can whip all h —11!"
And when Sam's horse ran away with him he cried -" Come
back! Come back! G-d d —n it, come back! - I didn't think
you were so easily scared off! "
As soon as Samn could cheek his horse, he came back and
asked his father:
"Are you hurt -how came you on the ground?"
"I:am -not hurt. Shoot that scoundrel, don't you see how he
-keeps on shootirng at us?" replied the Doctor, composedly.,Sam dashed up to Hill and fired -H;ill returned the fire.
-Sam's horse then reared up, wheeled and ran off again.  While
Sam was gone, the Doctor leveled his large pistol at Hill.  Hill
tumbled off his horse and got behind a log, about fifty feet distant, and kept upthe fire:.'When Sam returned, the Doctor
said to him:
" Get off that horse, for you cannot manage- him. Quit
shooting that little: revolver, take my large pistols and kill the
dog!" 
Sam handed his father the bridle, took the pistols and started
toward Hill.  But the Doctor, seeing to what danger Sam was
exposed, told him to -
"Shoot the horse down!  Don't give him that advantage of
you — behind a horse and log too! Shoot the horse down out
of your way!"'
Sam would not shoot the horse, but marched directly toward
H1ill, under a heavy and steady fire.  When he got about half
way, Sam pulled trigger, but snapped - he pulled away again
and took a clump of hair and skin from the top of Ilill's head.
The Doctor then told:Sam to return and get another pistol.
As they were exchanging empty for loaded pistols, Hill fired at
them, then wheeled and ran off leading his'horse. Sam gave
chase, but Hill -soon sprang upon his horse and galloped off.
There was no damage done on either side, save the minus portion of Hill':s head; though Sam was in imminent danger when
he walked out unprotected before Hill.
A'few days after this, incident, Dr. Evans went to Lancaster
and told the Hill party, or rather, their friends, that he wanted
to settle,the difficulty; that he was willing to meet their best




THE ARMISTICE.                    67
marksman anywhere and let the events of the battle-field decide the controversy; that if he came off victorious the Hill
party would leave the country, if his antagonist, he and party
would leave.  He also left word with them that he thought Dr.
Hill was the proper person to take up the challenge, since they
were considered the generals of the two parties, and that he
certainly would not be such a poor, pitiful coward as to be afraid
to meet a one-handed man. But the wished-for combat did
not transpire, for Dr. Hill was notoriously afraid to stand before
suchl a deadly fire as came from any of the Evans family.  Had
this challenge been accepted and Dr. Hill killed,, it would not
have terminated the tragedy, for the Hill party would not have
observed the agreement; but the passion of revenge would have
stirred their hearts to darker deeds.
The next occurrence happened between the Hills and Sellars.:Sellars had been unfriendly with the Hills some ten or fifteen
years, during which time thev had many skirmishes and fights..Sellars was also an enemy to Dr. Evans, but as the war had
assumed a general form, it was dangerous for him to stay at
home; hence, for his own personal safety, he chose to enlist
under the banner of his mildest and most honorable enemy.,The Doctor was thus placed in an unpleasant position - to have
an enemy in camp, one in whom he knew not how to trust.
During one evening, Sellars saw some eight or ten of the
Hills pass by his house.  After dark, when he supposed they
were all at home, he started down the creek to attend to some
business. He had not gone more than half a mile when several
men, with their hands armed with rocks, stepped out from
behind a large tree, and said:"G —d d-n you, we've got you now!"
Sellars in an instant leaped to the ground, and took shelter
behind his horse.  But he soon gathered up some rocks and got
his horse out of the way. As he did -this, one of the Hidls
struck him a severe blow on the arm with a rock.  Sellars had
the next throw —he knocked Fred Hill down, and, as he was
falling, struck some of the others in the face with rocks. At
that instant he heard the sound of horses' hoofs coming up the
road, and supposed it to be the approach of mare of the Hills.
He was not deceived, for, soon, nearly the whole party arrived.




68              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
He ran to the fence, jumped over, and escaped under the cover
of darkness.  This is Sellars version of the affair.  The Hills
then reported over the country that the Doctor and his sons had
waylayed them and beat up Fred Hill; and talked of instituting
a prosecution upon that ground, but found that the innocence
of the accused could-be proven.  Sellars sent them  word that
he did the work for Fred Hill.  But they accused a man by
the name of Murphy, then Sellars and Chrismon, and swore
eternal vengeance against the latter two. They then scoured
the country to find a victim to at6ne for the lost blood of Fred -
frequently searching the houses of Sellars and Chrismon.
While the Hills were thus prowling about the country'"seeking
whom they might devour," Esquire Bruner, of Jessamine county,
called the Doctor to see a patient.  The Doctor at first refused
to go  making apologies and telling him the state of affairs, and
directing him where to find another physician.  But the'Squire
would not hearken to these excuses, and replied —
"The Hill party do not know my business, and we can get
across the river before they can discover our design."
" Yes, that is all true,   we can cross the river very handily,
but to get back again, that's the rub."
"Never mind that, I can furnish you with a guard of one
hundred men, well armed, whose valor is as unflinching as the
most tried veterans that ever trod the bloody hills of Kentucky.
Your wife need not be alarmed for your safety- I will pledge
myself to her for your sa'fe return."
The Doctor finally went, and took Sam  with him.  They
remained about three davs, anrd set out for home in the eveningthe'Squire accompanyingr thenm. At the Doctor's urgent request
to take the shot-gun along, the'Squire laughed and said there
would be no use for it.  They arrived at the river, but the
ferryman was absent.  The ferryman had seen the Hills
congregating, and knowing the whereabouts of the Doctor,
suspected what was to follow, and ran away to avoid setting
them over.  This was very clever and generous in the ferryman, for if he had set them across, he would have landed them
in a crowd of Hills, for they were lying thick in ambush on the
opposite shore-;' and there would have remained little hope for




THE ARMISTICE.                    69
the Doctor with his short arms in opposition to such an unequal
foe with their long guns.   They stood on the river bank some
time and called the ferrvyman, but to no avail.  Sam went down
to the ferryman's house to see if he could be found there, but,
as was afterward learned, he'had left, through fear of the Hills,
for they had threatened to kill him if he did not set the Doctor
across.
The Doctor laid down on the bank to rest, and soon saw that
it would not be expedient for them to cross.  He saw several
groups lying in concealment, and watched them change their
locality as cautiously as a flock of quails would before a fowler.'Squire Bruner saw another group, but, not suspecting anything,
thought it was some of the ferryman's friends coming to set them
across.  Only a few minutes had elapsed when the Doctor heard
a rifle fire, and a ball whiz by his head. This opened the'Squire's
eyes to the reality of the case, and he wanted to get away
without delay. In order to deceive the Hills, they went down
the river, as if aiming to cross at the lower ferry, till they came
to a secluded path that led back to the'Squire's.  They returned
to Bruner's as quickly as possible, for they feared the Hills
would cross the river and give chase. As the Hills were running
down to the other ferry, several people saw them and asked
where they were going.  They replied: —
"We have started an old buck up the river, and are running
down to head him at the next ferry."
When they got there, they hid themselves in the bushes, and
awaited the expected arrival of the buck.  It is believed that
they stationed half of their forces at one ferry and half at the
other, and remained there the entire time of the Doctor's
absence. Bruner, not being used to the wiles of the Hills, found
himself dreadfully puzzled how to secure the Doctor's return
home.
" I have you here now, and I have pledged myself to your
wife for your safe return.  You know more about the maneuvers
of the Hill party than I do, so choose your way home and I am
at your service. I will furnish you with as many men and
rifles as I promised, and more if needed."
"I know you will do whatever you promise Squire; but




7 0            THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
since you have left it to me, I wish to start in the morning
about two. o'clock.  I want only two men, of the right sort,
with the right sort of rifles. We will go lower down and cross
on the bridge, for they cannot hide there, and if they meet us
on the bridge, we can whip them."
With the guards, the Doctor set out for home, and arrived
without further molestation.




TITE SCOTT'S FORK TRAGEDY.
CHAPTER  X.
Sellars and Chrismon at the Doctor's -The Hills besiege Sellars and Chrismon
in the tobacco house - Hills wound Chrismon in the bowels - Sellars kills
Rus Hill - Hills turn to retreat- Dr. Hill's cowardice - Alverson and
Sam, Sellars wounded; their flight —John Sellars kills Isaiah Hill-John
Brown kills John Sellars - Barbarity of Brown and Bill Hill - Hills kill
Chrismon -- Hills fly' at the approach of the Evanses - Hills inhumanly
neglect the dead bodies of their fallen -Dr. Hill's resolution to drive the
Evanses from the country.
WHEN the Hills heard that the Doctor had succeeded in
getting home, they left the river, and went in search of Sellars
and Chrismon. They went to Sellars's house - but he saw them
coming, and ran away.  Then they proceeded: to Chrismon's
who hid himself in the garret, and thus eluded a battle.  They
kept up this hunt till the battle known as the Scott's Fork
tragedy.
On the evening before this battle, Sellars and Chrismon went
over to the Doctor's and told him --
" We have been running from the Hills so much, that we cannot run any longer -  we are perfectly broken down, and have
determined to run no more."
"' You had better keep out of their way -you had betters
continue yet to run; for if they catch you, there will be little
hope for your escape!" replied the Doctor.
" It makes us feel so mean, cowardly, to be always run and
dogged in this manner.  We would rather die a brave death,
than to be thus chased like infamous cowards — and, in fact,
we are unable to run any longer.  We have only one rifle
apiece; and these, you  know, could make little  resistance
against such a number as a-re thirsting after our blood.  Now,
as you have an abundance of arms-j:ust look around, the
walls are studded with them -  we want to borrow another gun
apiece."




72              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
"I cannot part with any of my guns; I have not enough for
maV own defense."
"; You must lend to us, for you can borrow as many as you
need, and more too; but no one will lend to us, and we have
riot the money tio buy tbem.":
"I will have need for all the guns at my command.  Now,
as you have been running. so much, and as you are too much
worn out to fight, you had better stay here with me.  We will
protect you, for the Hills:will nbt dare come here."
"iBut we must be at home'- We have to prize our tobacco
to-morrow..We have sent word to the Hills, that if they will
let us prize our tobacco and -sell. it, we- will leave the country
immediately - we told them we wanted oniv titne to wind up
our business."
" You had better leave as soon as possible; for I fear they
will not grant you this short respite."
" Then if they attack us, we would have a better chance to
protect our lives with two other guns. They are likely to attack
us in the tobacco house, while we are at work there:; and if we
had more guns we could give them a hotter battle -  we can
whip them  at any rate - intend to try it if they make the
attack."
"You had better not attempt it.  It would be bloody work.
Such a company, even if they were'the basest cowards, can with
ease whip two men so scantily armed.  And there is Chrismon,
he cannot kill a man -he cannot figzht that kind of a fight..
The materials of which he is compdsed are too tender for such
hardihood -his *nerves -~ould not withstand such a contest.
He would rather kill himself —his nature is too good and
benevolent for the iron disposition of the world.  If he had. all.
the Hills tied out there to, an apple tree, he-could not kill one
by shooting all day., But you, Sellars, have the heart of a lion,
and can give the enemy their dues.  But against such odds, I
would advise you to avoid a contest."' You are mistaken:, Doctor, about Chrismon; he has more
nerve than you imagine."'
"That matters not;~ if I err, it is on the safe side. One man
cannot whip such a gang,, but. two can, if they fight right.
Keep on running till my hand gets well, then you (Sellars),




TIE SCOTT S FORK TRAGEDY.               73
and I will meet them anywhere.  But if the fight must come
up, get Sam to help you -you and he. can whip them in any
situation.":."Bat.we must have the guns!" said Sellars, picking up
two, one a very large shot-gun.
", I cannot spare them."
"We can get guns nowhere else -you can borrow fifty, and
by G-d we intend to have these - you had better not offer
resistance.  This is the very big shot-gun that I wanted -  it is
the only gun that can burst that iron shield off of PRus Hill, and
by G-d I intend to have it.  Now let Rus try to run me any
more, if he wants his iron skin pierced!" 
Thus saying, Sellars walked off with the guns. The Doctor
did not want to resist him, for he feared to stir up old animosities.
Late next evening, after the above conversaton, Jack May
rode up to the Doctor's in great haste and excitement, and told
him that Sellars and the Hills were fighting —that the Hills,
about twenty strong, had besieged Sellars and Ckrism'on in the
tobacco house, and were shooting at them as fast as they could
load.
Upon the reception of this intelligence, the Doctor told his
sons to get their rifles and run over to assist Sellars. But when
they arrived, the battle had terminated; the Hills were all gone,
and some of the neighbors were hauling off Sellars and Chrismon
on a slide.  The boys returned home and reported the misfortunes of the day.,
We derive a description of the battle from the testimony of
both parties, as given in court.
On the morning of the 13th of March, 1852, the Hill party
desired to move John Brown down to Isaiah Hill's place.  A
portion of.the party, under the command, of Dr. Hill, armed
themselves well with guns, pistols, bowie-knives, e.tc, and went
along with the wagon.  Their road led by the tobacco house in
which Sellars and Chrismon were prizing tobacco.  In the
morning, when they passed, Sellars and Chrismon ran away and
hid themselves.in John Warren's house, which was near by.
The party went on together to Teetersville, where a portion of
them  remained to indulge in the delights of bacchus, till the
others returned with Brown and his furniture.  Before leaving




74 -            THE HILL AND, EVANS FEUD.
the village, they replenished their copious jugs with the maddeninr fluid, and often, during the journey, held communion
with the spirits. They told Thomias Warren to tell John Warren
not to let Sellars and Chrismon conceal themselves in his house
any more, for on returning they were determined to take them,
even if they had to pull the house down.'James Alverson, Sellar's uncle, and Sam Sellars, his brother,
on hearing that Sellars and Christmon were preparing to stand
their ground, tried to persuade them not to have an engagement
with the Hills, but to run away as they had done previously.
But before their persuasion had the desired effect, a gun was
heard a few hundred yards up the creek, which was known to
be a gun of the approaching party.  They still continued their
entreaties, but in reply were told it was too late then to retreat.
While the Hills were gone, Sellars and Chrismon put the house
in' a more defensible condition, closing the apertures between
the logs with fence-rails, etc., and making port-holes through
which to shoot.  As the party approached, Alverson sat down
in the door, Chrismron on a bulk of tobacco in the back part of
the house, Sam Sellars beside a hogshead of tobacco, and John
Sellars stood, with rifle in hand, watching at one of the portholes.  When the Hills got within shlootinlg  distance of the
house, Henry Sacracy and Rus Hill fired and wounded Chrismon
in the bowels.  John Sellars then fired and killed Rus Hill.
When they saw'that their men could  be thus easily plucked
from  their midst, they became frightened and, turned to flee.
But Dr. Hill ordered them to stormr the house, else' they would
all be killed.  They then ran up to the house.  Dr. 1Hill kept
Browui's wife and the wagon between himself and danger till he
got past the house, then got down and hid behind a log.
When the party  surrounded the house and were shooting
through the cracks, Alverson arose from  the door-siii and
received a ball in his wrist.  This one was enough of' lead pills
for him, and induced his legs to do him good service in carrying
him as fast as possible to Warretn's house.  Sam Soilars imitated
the example of his- uncle, and like himn concealed himself in the
garret; but as he ran, a ball gave him a slight. cut, across tihe
abdomen, which doubtless inreeased his velocity.  The fight
stil raged with fierceness.   When the balls began -to come in




THE SCOTTIS FORK TRAGEDY.               75
too thick and fast to be comfortable, John Sellars jumped out
at the door and killed Jim Hill.  Then Isaiah IIill and Sellars
had a chase around a hogshead of tobacco that was under prize.
While this race was going on, Dr. Hill called Sam Hill to get
his pistols and help Isaiah, his father.  Sam got the Doctor's
pistols, ran up and shot at Sellars, but at that instant Isaiah
Cell before a fatal ball.  Sellars then turned and bursted two
caps at Sam - but while he was doing this, Sam shot him twice.
At -the second fire, Sellars seized his gun. and run. As he
was running off, John Brown shot him in the back, which
caused him to throw his gun into the weeds, stagger back a few
paces, and fell.  When he fell, Bill Hill ran up, put a revolver
against his head and shot six balls through his brain. John
Brown then ran up with a bowie-knife and stabbed him two or
three times in the breast.  He would twist the knife around,
then hold it up to the sun, and was almost frantic with ecstasy
to see the large drops of blood trickle from its point.  Some of
the young stock satiated their vile revenge upon the dead body
by brutally mangling it with knives.  Fred Hill and two or
three others ran into the house to bring Chrismon to a savage
death.  As they came, he shot at Fred and grazed his head,
which knocked him down.  The others fired on him several
times, setting his clothes on fire, and literally cutting him to pieces
with their knives.  He begged for mercy, but they told him to
beg his God - that they had no mercy for him.  After they
had thus dreadfully mutilated him, they took his rifle, pistol and
bowie-knife,  and the large shot-gun which belonged to Dr.
Evans.
After this bloody work was finished,  Dr. Hill, still lying
behind the log, hallooed and told them that the Evanses were
coming, and if they did not get away very quickly they would
all be killed. They were about to fly and leave their dead on
the field, but Jim Hill, a lad, swore that he would not leave the
ground without the body of his father — that he would die
before he would leave it.  They ordered Sam  Preston, a
neighbor, to drag the body to the fence, being afraid to do it
themselves.  He told them that it was extremely wrong for
them to make him do that which they themselves were afraid to
do. But Jim, fearing the speedy arrival of the Evanses, drew




7 6            THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
his pistol and told them if some one did not help to get his
father away, he would fire upon. the crowd.  They then hastily
dragged the bodies to the wagon, threw them in like so many
hogs and made a quick retreat.  When they arrived at their
camp, they threw the bodies down on the entry floor and let
them  remain there all night without any attention.  The
wounded one got well in a few weeks and said that he did not
mind taking leaden pills —:that he could take them with ease,
even without water. i The next day, while yet the dead bodies
were kicked about on -the floor, they swore that they would
kill Jack May for telling the Evanses of the attack, and that they
would also kill Mr.: Hall, John Warren and Henry Brookshire.
They laid around these men's houses, with their rifles.  This so
much frightened them, and pictured such a bloody future, that
nearly, if not quite all of them left the -country immediately.
After this battle, some person asked Dr. Hillif the fighting
would not terminate at this: " No," replied he, " by G-d, it
is just begun.  I intend to survey around these hills and whip
every one of the d-n rascals or drive them from the country."
The Evans party then went about the country two or three
days, with their rifles, desiring a combat, till Dr. Evans
persuaded them to desist and stay at horme.I  He told them that
court would be holden in May, and then all the Hills would be
indicted for willful murder and sent to jail.  But the boys knew
better about the state of affairs, and the fear that the officers had
for the Hills.  The Hill party made no cessation of hostilities, but
swore that they would storm the house, go in and get the Doctor,
cut out his heart, and sport it in triumph through the country
on a pole.




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER'S DEATIt
CHAPTER  XI.
Hills receive a hired recruit from Washington county   Dr. Hill's pretended
desire to end the Feud - The Grand Jury indicts a number of the Hills -
The Court grants them bail -The Evans boys go out to enlist help -Policy
and conduct of the Evans party changed — The Evans boys go over the
river, and on their return meet Bedster and Jim Hill- They kill Bedster
and wound Hill - Contrast between the Hill and Evans parties - Thelevans
boys tried and acquitted before two justices of the peace - Hills scour the
county —Citizens in danger-Public meeting - Dr. Evans proposes to
stipulate - Arbitrators chosen, but fail to restore peace - Grand Jury indicts
the Evans boys -Joe  Murphy's stratagem -The trial delayed — The
sheriff detains the boys -The stratagem of the Hills to kill the Doctor
fails - tills attack the Evan's party and kill Jesse May - The Court orders
the capture of Dr. Hill and Joe Murphy- The Evans boys put in jail)r.' lill and Murphy's trial delayed till they run away- The Governor
offers $200 reward for them -Dr. Evans's little son shoots a Hill - Mulrphy
captured and lodged in jail - Mrs. Rus Hill appears again - Hills disperse
-The Evans boys have fine sport in jail — The Governor places a strong
guard around the jail —The Evans boys'tried and acquitted for the murder
of Bedster.
NOT long after the Scott's Fork tragedy, Dr. Hill received
a supply of new troops, from Washington county, known as the
Washington troops, or Washington recruits.  They were a set
of low-bred fellows, loafers, and rioters' by profession at home,
and hired to fight at fifteen dollars per month, with a standing
reward of five dollars extra for a scalp of the Evans party.
One evening Dr. Hill mustered his forces, and sent Dr. Evans
word that he wanted to quit fighting-  that he had never had
any hand in the fight, and that he did not wish to have any
thing whatever to do with it.  In reply, Dr. Evans sent him
word that he, was a liar -  that he was the leader of the band,
and had pretended for the last three years to have a right to
shoot at him -  that he was now at liberty to use his pretended
right, for there was not room  enough on the top of the ground
for both of them in Garrard county.  They continued their old
practice of waylaying the roads, and laying around Dr. Evans's
house, shooting at any of the family, or party, whenever seen.




78              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
In May, the grand jury indicted a good many of them for
killing Sellars and Chrismon, but the county court granted them
bail. After giving bail, they resumed the war with renewed
vigor. They watched the fields, and when any of the Evans
boys attempted to work, they attacked and drove them home.
On this account, they were compelled to keep out a strong guard
all the time. Thus, so many sentries were required that few of
the party remained to till the crop.  Soon, the HIill party
increased to such a number that none of the Evanses could
work - they could not do more than protect themselves.Hence, they stayed at home, pretty well confined to the house,
and did not venture out in several days.
One afternoon at dinner, during this inactivity, Sam seemed
almost delirious - the augmenting troubles bore so heavily upon
his mind.  He observed to the other boys, as they silently
masticated their cheerless repast:"Boys, let us wipe up our guns and take a squirrel hunt this
evening, for we must drive them devils off somehow! We are
not able to whip the whole party ourselves, at least, so long as
they can hire half of Washington county to help them, so we
must see who will help us:! "
They put their guns in shooting order, and went over to Capt.
M.urphy's.  They stayed there all night, and returned next
morning with three or four other men - Jack May being one
of the number.  On Sunday morning they all left except May,
and he told the Doctor:"I am afraid to stay at home - they have been layin(g around
my house for some time, and shooting at me every chance. You
know I have but an indifferent log cabin - they can go into it
any time, take me out and serve me like they did Sellars and
Chrismon."
"You are welcome to stay here, if you are afraid to stay at
home," replied the Doctor.
Reader, you have, doubtless, watched the conduct of the two
parties, with scrutiny, up to this period.  The Hills, you have
seen, were perfectly abandoned to all the vices to which the
human race is heir — possessed of hearts dead to all the holy
principles of humanity and rectitude, and minds regardless of
the mandates of honor, and uninfluenced by those- higher qualifi



TIlE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATH.            79'oations which are characteristic of a lofty soul.  They took
every advantage, no matter how low and mean, waylaid the
roads, besieged the'house at night, and spread reports that were
as false and base as the hearts that gave them birth.  On the
-other hand, you cannot have failed to admire the straightforward
and honorable course of the Evans party. By this, it is not
intended to be said, that the:Evans party never did anything
wrong during the war; for it is a moral impossibility for any
man, or set of men, to go through such protracted excitement
and danger, without doing that which staid and sober men might;pronounce blameable..  But -so far as my information extends,
they never condescended to practice the low tricks of which the
enemy were so fond. They never laid in anmbush about either
house or road; nor did they begin a fight, or intentionally place
themselves in such a situation as would bring on a rencounter.
Indeed, it was almost impossible for them  to be guilty of such
mean conduct, for their number was so very small that they
were compelled to act entirely on the defensive, and had not the
men to thus vigorously prosecute the war.  So far as waS.practicable and safe, they attended to their different occupations,
and never collected in bands, unless forced to do so by an attack
of the enemy.  But henceforth:, you will perceive them  act in
the offensive as well as the defensive.  This'course of conduct
was necessary for their safety, and the only means of bringing
the feud to a close.  Sam's remark, on an evening previous,
that they would have to run the Hills off, led their minds to
these conclusions, and marks a grand division in the events of
our little history. Hence, from this time forth, they tried to
surprise the enemy and kill them at every opportunity, for they
knew this was the only way to rid the country of the pest.
They did not, however, resort to any contemptible stratagems
to deceive the enemy, but often went in companies to give more
decisive battles.
A few days after the Evanses had resolved upon their future
mode of carrying on the war, the Doctor wanted some of the
necessaries of life for his family, and remarked to the boys, as
they sat gloomily around:"Boys, since the Hills have possession of Lancaster, which




8 0             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
prevents us fromu going there, will you go over to'Squire Bruner's
and get me some little things? "
"Father we    afraid to go.  We have but little ammunition
and cannot begin to resist such a host as will come -upon us."'
"It is true that you have not an abundance of ammunition,
but I will risk the chances of your whipping the whole party
when commanded by such a piece of cowardice as Dr. Hill.
But you can go through the woods to Richardson's ferry aid
cross the river before they can learn that you are out. -You
must- not let them  know that I am here alone, for they might
storm the house and kill me and the little children, and I know
they would not have humanity enough to spare your mother.
"We will go, but dread it.  It is certain if we do not;go
and get something to subsist upon, we will starve.  There are
only two alternatives-we  had better run a'risk in getting
food than meet the: sure fate; of starvation."
"Very well, but if the Hills learn that you lave gone, they
will waylay the road on your return.  For this t'ea-son you had
better rettrn by way' of Teeter's ferry, and tius:avoid them.":'
The boys went and procured the'necessaries as directed by
their father.  On their return, about dusk, they   met two of
the Hill party, Nelson Sutherland, (better known by the illegitimate name of Bedster,) and Jim  Hill, not far from  the
mouth of Sugar creek, at the junction of Scott's Fork; neAr'Squire' Level's house. The boys saw them first, about sixty
yards distant, and as Bedster was a few paces before Hill, they
raised their: guns and fired upon him.  Bedster rais'd his gun
cand was in the act of shooting when the balls' struck him, caus
i-ng him  to wheel, run about a hundred yards and faill.:Jim
l1ill leaped into a deep ravine beside the road'and fired at:'them
with a double-barrel; shot-,un, then wheeled: and ran- back
toward "the creek.  They gave him a hot chase' for ab'out thrde
hundred yards, and shot him in the hip, which-brought him to:the ground.  They shot him again through'the thigh as he fell,
and would have killed him, but his supplications for mercy stayed
the blood-thirsty dagger-  They were more thah anxious to klil
* The Doctor is not responsible for these facts, for they were not proven in
court, but I can assure the reader that the boys did kill B3edster. I gained the
information from a reliable source.




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER'S DEATH.             81
him, but his pravers for mercy touched their hearts with compassion.
Now look at the contrast between the two parties!  When
Chrismon was lying in a helpless condition with a mortal wound
in his bowels, he besought them to have mercy, but they told
him that they had no mercy, that he must pray to his God for
mercy. When the Evanses had one of the enemy in their
power, and could have plunged a knife to his heart, his implorings moved them to pity, even after they had sworn unrelenting
vengeance.
When Bedster fell, he had a rifle, a Colt's large repeater,
two single-barrel pistols, and a very large bowie-knife.  The
pistols and knife wero worn in a belt, in regular land-pirate
fashion.  Upon examination, Dr. Hill said that four rifle balls
passed through his heart, several went into his neck, and others
struck the gun stock.
Several of the Hill party said they were near by and saw
the fight, and recognized every one of the Evans party at the
distance of three or four hundred yards.  Others said they ran
three-quarters of a mile to him, after he fell, and that he was
yet alive and talked to them, telling that the Evans party killed
him, and of whom  the party was composed.  Now  we can
scarcely believe this. To believe that he ran even a hundred
yards after four large rifle balls had mutilated his heart, is as
much as my credulity can support. But it would have been a
miracle had he lived longer than a man could run three-quarters
of a mile. What think you, reader? The Hills immediately
swore out a warrant and had the boys tried before two justices
of the peace, Kurty and Terrel.  The trial resulted in an acquittal, doubtless, for the want of reliable testimony.
The Hills kept pretty closely forted up all summer.  They
staid principally at Dr. Hill's in Lancaster, but made frequent
excursions through the country in search of the enemy.  The
houses of Fred and Bill Hill were also converted into forts,
rendering convenient service as military stations, forts, arsenals,
magazines etc., when they chanced to go out on an expedition.
Since they thus had possession of Lancaster, Dr. Evans could
not go there to prosecute his suits against them, but they could
prosecute him, or party, and not even permit him to be at the trial.
6




82              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
While out on these scouring expeditions they were usually
drunk, at least the majority of them were, and would shoot at
TJeop)le who happened to resemble any of the Evans party.
They shot at a certain doctor several times, supposing him to be
Dr. Evans —and a young man, resembling one of the boys,
was in imminent danger, for pistols were frequently presented
at him, and bowie-knifes often glittered in the light, ready to
make sad havoc with an innocent victim.  In fact, no one was
certain of personal safety in such a condition of affairs.  They
knew not how soon a bail from some drunken marksman, might
sap their heart's blood, nor could their feelings be firee from
fear that a revengeful assassin might spring from his covert and
make a life pay the forfeit of some careless expression, or a
just desire to put an end to the feud by bringing both parties
rigidly to justice.
In view of these facts, the people held a public meeting in
August, at Lancaster, to devise means to put an end to a war
so dangerous to themselves, and so detrimental to the character
and prosperity of their county.  It had such a powerful influence upon the community that several men removed from the
county to get rid of the excitement and danger.  And its influence was equally as powerful abroad, for if a Garrard man
happened to be crowded in a street or any public place, if he
wanted elbow-room, all he had to do was to tell those near him
that he was from  Garrard county. The knowledge of this
simple fact would procure him all the room that he could desire,
for they feared to be near Garrard people, having heard so
much of their wide-spread fame for a warlike and fierce disposition. The meeting passed a resolution that they would henceforth, strictly execute the law on both parties.  There were
several gaseous speeches on the occasion, but their weight if
they had any, was not felt, for buncombe speeches are usually
as light as hydrogen.
Dr. Evans then wrote a letter to Dr. Hill, proposing to settle
the difficulty - stating that if they, the Hills, would give bond
and security to keep the peace, the war should cease.  Dr.
Hill wrote back in reply that he would not leave the settlement
of the feud to Dr. Evans's arbitrary dictation, but that bh
would leave it to some of the good citizens to say what shorld




TIHE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATH.            83
be done.  Accordingly, they respectively chose two men to act
as arbitrators.  This committee wrote several propositions, or
articles of agreement, before they could get one to meet Dr.
Hill's approbation.  They were honest arid honorable men, and
very anxious to settle the difficulty, hence, they kept changing
the propositions till they finally succeeded in getting one that
Dr. Hill would sign.  They then carried the proposition down
to Dr. Evans, to get his signature.  When he read it he remarked:
6 I might as well sign away my life at once.  It only binds
us upon our w(rd and honor.  Now, you know that these Hills
have no veracity, and that they are as devoid of honor as the
devil is of righteousness - and you know, furthermore, that we
will preserve inviolate any stipulation  entered into by me.
Their. pledge is worthless, for they have no honor to pledge;
and if they have, I would not trust them.  I want stronger
bonds than their mere promise.  The article binds us to lay
down all arms, and use none under any pretext whatever.
From this, their design is very evident -it is a scheme to take
my life, while I am totally unarmed.  They would not observe
it, but would shoot me down at first sight.  But if you say I
must sign it, I will do so."
After this exposition of the nature and consequences of such
a stipulation, they did not desire his signature.  Dr. Evans
went to town the next day and tried to get a reconsideration.
The arbitrators chosen by the Hill party at first agreed to a
reconsideration, but afterward refused, being advised by Dr.
Hill.  Dr. Evans then consulted his friends to know whether
he should sign the articles of agreement as they stood.  They
advised him not to do it.  This circumstance gave the Hills a
favorable opportunity of spreading false reports - making loud
pretensions that they were anxious to settle the feud.  These
reports had some weight with the people, and in some degree
turned the tide of public sentiment, for they, apparently, were
supported by facts.
The regular time for court soon came on, and the grand jury
indicted the boys for killing Bedster.
On the same day of the indictment, I presume, the Doctor
and his sons went to a public sale.  They met there Joe




84              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
Murphy, one of the Hill party, who pretended that he wished
to become friendly.  But the Doctor would hold no conference
with him, believing that he wanted only to get a good opportunity to shoot.  He told Murphy's friends if they would go
his security that he had no malicious design in thus trying to
make friends, that he would come to terms of conciliation.  But
his friends would not go this security.  The Doctor then told
them that he did not want Murphy to speak to him, nor come
I,,ar enough to shoot.  Murphy swore to his friends that he
had no weapons of any kind whatever.  But this was soon
proven false, for he was seen behind a tree trying to shoot
one of the Doctor's sons.  His friends told him that he had
better leave the place and g)o home.  He swore by G-d if he
had to run. away fiom a place on account of Dr. Evans, he
would go hnume, arm himself, and kill every one of the Evans
party that he could find.  Accordingly he went home, got his
rifle, and concealed himself in a cornfield near the road, which
it was supposed the Doctor would pass on returning home.  But
fortunately he did not get to his ambush till the Doctor had
passed.
While the Doctor was yet at the sale, the sheriff approached!him, and said:
"I am sorry that your boys have come here to-day, I have
an indictment against them, and it is my duty to take them."
"There they are," replied the Doctor, "you can take them.
We have been dodging from the Hills, but we do not intend to
dodge the law, or its officers."
" It will not make much difference with the boys anyhow,
for your lawyers are making arrangements to have their trial on
next Wednesday."
"They will go with you now, or at any future day you may
propose -  they are not afraid of the law. But you must let
them carry their arms to defend themselves against the Hills."
"I would like to have them on next Wednesday at the trial."
" Very well, we will meet you in Lancaster on that day, if
you will say nothing to the boys about it.  To mention it to
them would do no good, but make them a little uneasy perhaps,
and unruly."
The Doctor went with the boys to Lancaster, according to




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATH.            85
promise, but the Hills put the trial off till Saturday, pretending
not to be prepared to prosecute it.  When he found that the
trial had been deferred till Saturday, the Doctor asked the
sheriff to let the boys go back home with him.  The sheriff
replied:
"I cannot possibly let them  go.  The Hills are already
slandering me for letting them have too much liberty."
" Do you not believe that the boys will return on Saturday?"
" I have not a shadow of a doubt on that point.  But rather
than be slandered, as I know I will be, if I let them go, I would
rather keep them here in the hotel and pay their board myself."
" You can let them go home with a guard - I will board
guard and all for nothing. The Hills know that I will have to
attend the trial on Saturday, and they will attempt to kill me
if I venture to come alone. I am afraid to go home by
myself, for it is impossible for me to get there without being
shot at.  You have no reason for detaining them here, for you
know they will come at the time appointed, as certain as the
decrees of heaven;'"
" You know it is not pleasant for an officer to be slandered
on account of not performing his duty.  They must not go! "
The Hills expected Dr. Evans to return that evening, and
intended to waylay the road, and left Bill Hill, the Doctor's
brother, in town to watch him, and give the signal of his
departure, that they might be ready for his approach. The
Doctor finally set out for home, but rode so briskly that Hill did
not have time to give the warning till he had passed. Thus,
had Bill Hill been a little more expedite, the Hill party would
have been ready, and Dr. Evans death would hlave been almost
inevitable. But Providence disposed otherwise.
I am of opinion that the sheriff had no good reason to support
his conduct toward the boys.  If the boys were subject to his
custody, it seems evident that he should have lodged them in
jail, instead of in a public tavern.  If he had the power to let
them remain at a tavern, he had the power to let them go home
under a guard. But correct actions could scarcely be expected
under such prevailing excitement.
Now, as the Doctor had succeeded in getting home, it was
a matter of much doubt whether he could return to Lancaster




806            THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
on the appointed Saturday, for the Hills had all their plans
mature, and all their men well trained in their respective parts
of the expected tragedy.  But at the appointed time several
neighbors came in to accompany him, and do the office of guard.
His company was also augmented by several witnesses in the
pending suit, and those of his party not in the custody of the
sheriff.  The company was about to set out without their rifles,
but the Doctor begged them not to be guilty of such folly.
" You had better take along your long guns, for we will be
attacked, and some of us killed before we get to Lancaster."
" Oh, it will look too bad for a company of armed men to
ride into town in this manner! It will prejudice the people
against you, and have an unfavorable influence in the boys' trial."
"If you don't take them, I will not go, for we will have
bloody work belfore we get there - some of us will be killed! "
" Why don't you take long arms then?"
" Because I can use short arms better. I cannot yet well
use my wounded hand. If you don't take them, some of us
will be killed as sure as the sun shines.'
" If any body gets killed, it will be you."
" I know they will shoot at me, but you know they are
marksmen not remarkable for precision, and might do a bad
piece of work for some of those near me."
The Doctor could not prevail on them  to carryv any long
guns, and they started off with only small arms.  When they
had gone a few hundred yards, he called them together to hold
a council about the mode of defence, should they be attacked.
As they had ever considered him their general, they left the
matter with him.  He told them —
4' It is far better to fight bravely than to run cowardly.  In
the one case you have a chance to kill an enemy, in the other,
only a chance to get killed yourself.  If they attack us, the
the first one that sees where the shots come from, must fire in
that direction, then the whole party will gallop up near enough
to shoot with our small arms. When we get within pistol shot,
we must jump down behind our horses and fight with the
bravery of the world-renowned Spartans.  If we do this they
will get the worst of the battle."
They rode along without any molestation till they got nearly




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATI.             87
to Lancaster, within sight of Dr. Hill's house.  As they
approached, they noticed a considerable stir and excitement
about the premises.  There were a great many people in the
road, going to hear the trial.'Squire KIurtz, Hackley, and
Dr. Tillett were riding along abreast —Dr. Evans rode up on
the right hand side, (the house being on the left,) and
observed:" Good morning, gentlemen! I believe I will take shelter
behind you till we get past the fort.  They certainly will not
kill three clever men to get one bad one! 
" Oh, I reckon there's no danger! " - replied one of them.
" Yes there is danger, and con.siderable danger too.  If we
give them only half a chance you will hear the battle's roar."
When they had passed the house some distance, far enough
to be out of danger of balls coming from thence, the Doctor
fell back into his own company, with James Brim on his right
side and Jesse May on the left.  As soon as he resumed his
position, he heard a gun fire.  The report was very singular,
apparently deadened by being in a hole in the ground. The
Doctor thought that it could scarcely be shot at them, but
checked his horse and turned to see if he could discover the
locality of the shooter.   At that instant another gun fired,
which convinced the Doctor that they were shooting at him and
his company.  He then commanded his company to charge on
the house — at the same time wheeling his horse in that
direction.  But to his consternation, when he looked to see if
his company obeyed the command, he saw them all running
away, save Bill Murphy, who was looking up into a tree,
believing them to be up there concealed in the leaves.  At that
instant another gun fired, and he observed to Murphy: —
"Let's go away,from here, we can't see where the shots come
from!"
The Doctor wheeled his horse and galloped up the road.  At
that instant two more balls were fired at him. James Brim anld
Jesse May were riding on some distance ahead.. When the
Doctor overtook them, Mlay observed: —
"Doctor, they have hit me -  they have killed me!"'I hope not, Jesse.  Hold on and ride fast ["
"Indeed ] indeed they have, Doctor -  they have killed me!V



88             TITE IRILL AND EVANS FEUD.
They were all in a brisk lope, but May checked his horse
and reined him to one side of the road, and was apparently
falling. The Doctor rode up to his side arid caught him as he
was falling, but at that moment another gun was fired at him.
As HTackerly was near by the Doctor asked him to take care
of' May, if he pleased, - that thev would not shoot himl.  When
Hackerly turned to May another gun fired.
The Doctor's sons at the tavern, heard the shooting and ran
down to meet them. The Doctor told them to go back, that
thev had no arms, but to go back and arm themselves with
rifles, then hunt for the concealed marksmen.  They went back.
Mlay was carried into town, but did not speak another word
after the Doctor left him, and died in half an hour.  James
Brim had a ball pass through the breast of his coat, but it did
not cut his flesh.
There were two of the Hill party, Ples Huffman, and one of
the young Hills, stationed in an old well. near the road, to shoot
at the Doctor as he passed.  This accounts for the dead sound
of the gun's report.  Dr. Hill and Joe Murphy were lying
behind the fence, and covered over with weeds that had been
cut down a day or two before.  Others of the party were
scattered alone the fence towards town.
When the court heard of this affair, it immediately ordered
out a writ for the capture of Dr. Hill and Joe Murphy, or rather,
sent the sheriff to take them.  The sheriff went, but soon
returned and said that they would not surrender, and that their
number was so great he could do nothing with them.  The
Doctor told the sheriff to tell the judge to let his boys loose
and they would soon trot the defaulters up to justice.  The
judge sent word to the Hills, by the sheriff, that if they did
not surrender, he would turn the Evanses loose on them.  This
piece of intelligence breathed a spirit of submission into their
hearts.  This fatal affair caused intense excitement and wild
confusion, so much so that the court adjourned, and had no
trial on that day.  People were running to and fro in breathless
excitement, and scarcely knew what they did, heard, or saw.
The Hills, in this action, shot at May and Gordon in
particular, for they were the principal witnesses in the pending
suit. But they did not succeed in their design upon Gordon.




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATH.              89
After this event the sheriff admitted that the Doctor knew
more about the wiles arid tricks of the Hill party than he did,
and consented to let the boys return home to attend the funeral
of May.  Ile furnished them  with rifles, accompanied them
home, left them there in perfect freedom, and went about his
business.
On the following Monday, the sheriff returned and the whole
party went to town with as many arms as they could carry.
The trial came up on that day. Information was received the
next morning before court convened that the Judge had deter
mined to throw the boys in jail till the next court. When this
was made known, the Doctor asked them  if they would go to
jail.
"IYes," replied they, "if the judge says so."   They were
accordingly put in jail.
The reader cannot fail to notice the injustice practiced here.
In a similar case, when the Hills killed Sellars and Chrismon,
they were allowed bail and permitted to go at large.  But now,
as the Evanses were in custody, there was no law to give them
bail. The assigned reason for this partiality was, that the
officers, prior to that time, had not done their duty, but that
thenceforward they intended to do their duty rigidly.  I am of
opinion that it is a poor set of officers that will swerve from
their duty under any circumstances.  But they were not so
much to blame in this particular case, for the whole country
was in such a fever of excitement that scarcely any one knew
right from wrong.
Thus the Doctor was left alone to carry their horses and arms
back home. He asked some of his neighbors to help him, but
they had justly grounded fears and declined granting such a
dangerous favor. Finallv, he succeeded in getting two, Joe
Ray and Robert Collier, to assist him. His friends tried to
persuade him not to return home that night, for they feared he
would be killed on the road. He replied that he would return
to his family or die in the attempt. When the shades of night
became sufficiently dense to afford the Doctor a protecting obscurity, he mounted his horse, and, with a few scared friends,
went up the Richmond pike a short distance, to deceive the




90              THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
Hills, should they be watching, then turned across the country
and arrived safely at home.
Dr. H-ill and Murphy were now in custody; but, as the sheriff
had allowed the Evans boys so much liberty, they claimed the
same as a right.  Their trial came off the next day befo(re two
justices of the peace, and as they both claimed the honor of
killing May, both were sentenced. to jail. Now, they were about
to get into a terrible condition - about to be put into the same
room with their deadly enemies,, or down into the lightless dungeon.  But they got out a writ of habeas corpus. and, by some
ingenuity, put off their trial from time to time - and, in the
mean while, tried to find some law to put themselves into another jail, but could not succeed. Dr. Hill said he was afraid
to go in with the boys, and would pay any exlense incurred in
putting himself into any other jail.  In virtue of the writ of
habeas corpus, and the former leniency of the sheriff, aided by
the desire of the community not to put the two parties together,
they were still permitted to stay at home with their arms, till one
morning they were numbered among the missing.  As soon as
the Governor was informed of this fact, he offered a reward of
$200 for the apprehension of each of: the runaways.
Though the sheriff knew not their whereabouts, they did not
leave their old range, but laid around Dr. Evans's during the
night, and kept dark at their forts in the day time. Thus
they proved as much annoyance to the Doctor as ever. They
laid around and shot at the house till they became weary of that
sport, then they tried their skill upon the cattle and other stock
in the fields. This state of affairs continued several weeks, and
the Doctor thought they would kill him anyhow, notwithstanding his great precaution.  But all human action is destined to
liave an end.  One morning, after they had made their balls
rattle upon the house with more than usual vigor, one of the
Doctor's little boys, about ten years of age, and the only one
left at home, was out in the yard cutting wood.  He was seen
to become suddenly restless, as if driven almost to desperation,.while from his eyes flashed a reckless passion.  It was known
that the oppressive wrongs endured by his family, had wrought
his soul to the highest degree of intensity, and that ne was




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATiI.           91
determining upon a plan to avenge himself.  His mother was
watching him.  He disdainfully threw down the ax and walked
off around the house, whistling a careless air, as if to conceal
the emotions that agitated his mind.  He was observed to slip
slily into the house and get the large Mississippi rifle, then slip
out again cautiously toward Bill Hill's, as if he wished no one
to see him.  Soon a report of the rifle was heard.  He had
gone down to Bill Hill's and concealed himself in ambush to try
his skill in the arts of war.  He had not been in this covert
long, before a man, supposed to be Bill, came out of the house
and went into a workshop near by.  As he returned to the
house and stepped to the door, Doec, for that was the little boy's
name, let old Mississippi loose on him and tumbled him into the
floor.  When he fell, the women ran out with great alarm, crying "' Lord amessy! Lord anzes.sy!"  Doe went back home,
cautiously put the rifle into its rack, and went to cutting wood
again as calmly as if nothing had happened.  Mrs. Evans told
the Doctor that Doc had been doing something, that she saw
him slip off with the rifle. The Doctor went out to the woodpile and asked
"' What have you been doing, son?"
" Oh, nothing much;- I've just been down to Will Hill's."
"Did you shoot?"'" Yes, sir."
"Did you kill anybody?
"I don't know;- I shot at a man as he went into the
house.  When I shot he fell upon the floor, and the women all
ran out crying."
"Are you not ashamed to do so cowardly a trick as that?"
" No, sir.  They slip up and shoot at us all night, and I
thought I would pay them back a little this morning in their
own coin."
It is not certain that the. wound proved fatal, but not many
days after that one of the Hill party was buried.  This little
incident cured the Hills of the habit of lying around the Doctor's house.  It taught them that they were not safe, even if
they were in a fort.  Joe Murphy thought he would profit by
the lesson and leave the country.  Accordingly, he left his warlike clan and wound his way to some point on the Ohio river.




92             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
Dr. Evans learned this fact and sent William MfIay, William
Hogen. and Barnes Pendegrass, to bring him  back.  They
caught and tied him, and delivered him into the county jail —
thus securing the $200 reward offered by the Governor. There
was only one room in the jail, and that the Evans boys occupied; hence he had to take the dungeon.
About this time, Mrs. Rus Hill came before the public to perform her part of the tragedy.  She went up the creek one
morning, telling every person she met that one of Isaiah and
another of Fred Hill's boys had been shot dead in the yard,
and that several shots came in at the door and wounded two or
three of the little children.  There was not a particle of truth
in this.  But she desired to raise a breeze, and, if possible, excite public feeling against Dr. Evans.  She went to town and
swore out a warrant against Dr. Evans and some thirteen others.
One of the men named in the warrant was in Owen county at
the time and never had any hand in the feud.  They refused
to go to Lancaster to have the trial, for they believed, as the
neighbors affilmed, that it was a stratagem  played to get a
chance to kill the Doctor.  To accommodate them, and to save
the shedding of blood, Justice Ray held their trial in a little
school-house near by, since known, from this fact, as'Squire
Ray's court-house.  The accused were acquitted without any
trouble, for the Hills had no evidence whatever to substantiate
the accusation.  When the sheriff went down to get Mrs. Hill
to appear at the trial, he examined into the facts of the case
and found it utterly false. The two boys were not killed, nor
were the children wounded.  Sam Hill had a small sore on his
arm, which was believed to have been cut by Dr. Hill in order
to give the woman's tale some shadow of truth.
Some thoughtless persons may look upon the conduct of
Mrs. Hill with admiration, and deem  it heroic and chivalric.
Now, I am not prejudiced against Mrs. Htill, for I am acquainted
with her only so far as her deeds have made her known.  I
have ever been an enthusiastic admirer of woman, that is, so
long as she keeps within her proper sphere.  But in the present
case, I must confess, I do not see much to admire. Women
naturally espouse the cause of their husbands, families, and
friends, and often do valuable service, as did-the-women of the




THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER'S DEATH.           93
revolution, when they clothed and fed the naked and starving
army that was fighting, for liberty. In that instance we have
much to admire, and much to tune the poet's lyre.  Had they
taken up arms, entered the field and fought for their country's
rights, not only we would have sung their praise, but history
would have shone with the splendor of the heroism till the end
of all time. But suppose in the stead of thus feeding and
clothino the destitute army, they had busied themselves in
engendering and spreading false reports about the enemy's
cruelty and wanton acts of violating chastity, to urge their
husbands and brothers to atrocious deeds and unmitigated
vengeance, the world would have ever detested them, for such
conduct could leave only a stain upon history's page.  We may
admire Mrs. Hill for espousing the common cause of her party,
but the manner in which she did it can but call down our bitter
detestation.  Had she become a modern Amazon, and defended
herself and party with open arms, or by more equitable means,
the ready pen and willing ink would have been glad to record
her deeds; but since she wielded only the blackest falsehoods
and deception, they delineate with the slow solemnity of pity
and commiseration.  As advocates of morality, and enemies to
vice, we should ever praise the one and denounce the other.
She and her party would have more nearly accomplished their
object by adhering to a straight-forward and honorable course.
But " anything is fair in war," seems to have been their motto.
From  that time, Dr. Evans began to stir *about -before,
he was afraid to leave home, for no one would have been there
to protect his wife, had an attack been made.  But there was
little danger now, for the Hills had nearly all dispersed, and
Dr. Hill was afraid to show himself.  Though Dr. Hill was
missing, he was not many miles distant, for one of his friends
told Dr. Evans that he laid concealed in an old barn near
Lancaster, and was fed by a negro.
The boys had quite a jolly time in jail.  One day, to have
a little sport, they showed the jailor where they could get out.
He, to keep his prisoners safe, got some workmen with their
sledge-hammers and went into repairicng.  While they were
hammering, away creating a very disagreeable dust, one of the
boys asked if they were goinl  to close thle window.  They




94               THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
unthouglteidly replied in the affiimative.  One of the boys then
said, "Well, I'm  going out of here! "-at the same time
taking hold of the door, and pulling it open.  The jailer jerked
the door, and they had a desperate struggle.  He struck at
Jack May with a knife, but Sara Evans drew a pistol and told
him if he dared to cut Jack, that he would shoot him  down.
When they saw the pistol, the boys let loose the door and
seized Sam, and all hallooed, " Don't shoot! don't shoot!"
Quiet was soon restored, and Sam gave the pistol to the jailer.
Before the trial was over, Tom  Evans put the pistol into his
boot-leg, and when he went to jail they did not search him on
that part of his body, and he did not feel accommnodating enough
to inform on himself, so he carried it along.  After they finished
the repairs, the boys went to a log, raised it up, and showed
another place through which they; could escape, but the jailer
thought they were safe enough as long, as they remained thus
honest.  Some people believe they did this for mere sport, but
others are of the more plausible opinion that the boys really
intended to make their escape.  I coincide with the latter, for
about that time the Hills were committing great depredations
on the Doctor's farm.  This attempt to escape gave the Hills a
finee theme for gossip, and aided by the influence of the Saulcer
family, they induced the jailer to send to the Governor forforty or fifty muskets and a strong guard to guard the jail.
The Governor readily sent the guard, for it was represented to
him that a mob was threatening to pull down the jail and take
the boys out.  There was a good deal of truth in this, for the
people, not only in Garrard county, but in adjoining counties,
talked seriously of demolishing the jail, for they believed it
unjust to keep the boys thus imprisoned while Dr. Hill was
roving at large.  Many of the ladies too (God bless them)
began to fire up with indignation at this apparent injustice, and
said if the gentlemen did not pull down the jail that they would
ldo it themselves.  But Dr. Evans persuaded them not to be
guilty of such a raslh deed.  He told them that the trial would
soon come off, and the boys would then be free again; that
since the opposite party had resisted the law in every instance,
he had resolved to pursue a dliiferent course; that he feared
nothing but the law, for it could not protect him, and pre



THE EVENTS OF BEDSTER S DEATIH.               95
vented him from protecting himself.  But the boys had quite a
fine time, even if they were confined by double bolts and grating
hinges.  They employed their time principally over books,
cards, newspapers, etc.  The ladies, ever ready to soothe the
sorrows of man, kept them well supplied with the dainties and
luxuries of life, and not less with presents that fill the heart
with gladness, and stir up the tender emotions of the soul.
The boys had their trial at the sitting of the November court.
Before the trial came up, the Hill party and friends made a
violent effort to adjourn the court, reporting that cholera had
broken out very ma,lignantly in town.  But in spite of this effort
the court continued — the boys were tried and acquitted.
During the trial it was proven that Bedster had been hired to
fight at fifteen dollars per month, with an extra pay of five dollars
for every scalp taken from the Evans party.  Bedster's mother
threatened to sue Dr. Hill for his pay for services in this unholy
war, but he went to see her and COMPROMISED the matter.




VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.
CHSPTER  XII.
Sam goes to town - Rencounter with Dr. Hill - IDr. Hill's flight - Hills
besiege Sam - Dr. Hill and Sam in Lexington - Hill's besiege Jack May's
house - Evans boys help Ma, - Hills retreat and Evanses pursue - Hills
secure theinselves in Fred Hill's house -Evans attack it, and Hills break
through the back side and run away - Hills conceal themselves in driftwood on the river - The river overflows and drives them from the covertMrs. Fred Hill again appears - The Evans boys begin to cut their oatsHills parade and attack the boys - Hills retreat into Bill Hill's house -
Evanses storm the house -One of the Hills shot -The council of war -
Hills evacuate the ho use and retreat - Narrow escape of Hill party - Mrs.
Dr. Hill's night trip.
THE reader will perceive  that Dr. Hill and Joe Murphy
were left in rather an awkward position in the last chapter, one
in the dungeon, and another concealed in an old barn; but from
preceding events it could be well supposed that they were tried
and readily acquitted.
From  the fact that the Hills had been lying pretty close at
Dr. Hill's for some time, Dr. Evans thought they had taken
up  their bivouac  at some  of the lower forts.   Being thus
persuaded, he anticipated little danger in sending Sam to town
to see about some law-suits that were soon to come up.  But
to use a little precaution, Sam went late in the evening, with
the intention of staying  all night with his uncle Jesse,* who
lived a few miles on the other side of town.  From  his uncle's,
he could return to town, see his lawyers, and get away before
the Hills were in the habit of going in. But as he was going
into town that evening, he met Dr. Hill and David Russell
walking on the pike a little distance from HIill's gate.  As soon
as Hill recognized Sam, he drew  his pistol —Sam jerked his
out instantly and fired. Dr. Hill, as if struck by the ball,
jumped straight up, ran through the gate, got behind the gate* This was the only brother that Dr. Evans had in the country. But the
Doctor would not permit ilin to participate in the fight in any manner whatever, his motto being, -   TlT'h fewer tie better."




97                VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.
post, and fired back at Sam.  Sam ran his horse up to the post,
and Hill ran away toward his house, under Sam's fire.  He
ran about sixty yards then turned and fired again.
This is a miniature specimen of Dr. Hill's brave running.
He was certainly practicing for the future, for these pages will
certify that he arrived nearly to perfection in the art.  In his
youthful days he doubtless imbibed and appreciated the sentiment: -
"' Tis better far to run away,
And live to fight another day."
Sam rode on through town, and met Mr. Werret and told
him what had happened.  As Sam wished to return the next
morning, he requested Mr. Werret to keep a look-out and let
him know if the Hills made any preparations.  He returned to
Lancaster soon in the morning and stopped at the tavern, and
there learned'that the Hills were collecting all their forces.
This piece of information was enough for him  to know,that it
would be dangerous to venture homeward alone; hence, he
remained till he could get aid from home.  He wrote a letter to
his father, requesting him not to come to town, for if he did,
he would have to fight his way through.  But notwithstanding
this, the.Doctor, with three of his sons and William Murphy,,set
out with their rifles during the night.  Theyv returned with Sam
and passed Dr. Hill's house about daylight;  The Hills saw
them and.ran to give battle, but from  some unknown cause
paused and went back.
The next rencounter between Sam and Dr. Hill happened in
Lexington.  It was on the memorable day of Henry Clay's
funeral., Sam went over on Friday and stopped at the McGowen
House - the.funeral did not come off till Saturday. On Friday,
Dr.,Hill went down to some of the lower forts and learned that
Sam had gone.  He ordered out his picket-guards to watch the
river at the crossings for Sam's. return, which was expected on
the next evening. After' making these arrangements, he went
back to Lancaster that night and -hired a hack to take him to
Lexington in the shortest possible time.  He arrived there about
the middle of the day on.Saturday, and took lodging also at the
McGowen House. His friends advised him to put up at some other
house, for if he stopped there he might get into a difficulty with~
7




98              TtIE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
Sam.  He replied that he did not care for that.  When he
arrived', Sam had gone out to the cemetery, and not expecting
to see an enlemy, carried only his famous little revolver, leaving
the large pistols in his saddlebags at the tavern.  While at the
cemetery, Sam was informed that Dr. Hill had arrived with
several of his party, and would certainly give him battle.  This
did not at all please Sam's fancy, for he was not more than
anxious to meet two or three well armed men, while he had only
a small revolver.  But, however, between two and three o'clock
he concluded to go back to the tavern, even if it was occupied
by a well armed enemy.  When he arrived within about half a
square of the tavern, he saw Dr. Hill, in company with two or
three others, walking on the side-walk, and at the same time
drawing his pistol.  Sam instantly jerked out the little revolver,
ran up and fired at his breast.  The ball struck him but would
not enter deeper than his clothes, on account, it:is supposed, of
an iron bleast-plate.  When Sam fired, Hill staggered back a
fevw paces, then ran around a carriage which stood near by,
then back on to the pavement.  Sam snapped at him twice as
he ran around.  Hill ran down the pavement a short distance,
but the dense crowd turned him into the more open street.
Sam was in hot pursuit.  When Dr. Hill got into the street, he
fired a large pistol over his shoulder at Sam.  The ball perforated
a carriage and passed between a gentlemen and his lady.  Dr.
Hill made good use of his well trained legs, and according to
the testimony of by-standers, ran faster than everr did the
world-renowned  "Grey Eagle," even in his prime.  After
running a considerable distance, Sam stopped and went back to
the tavern.  Hill got into his hack and started for home
instantly, perhaps through cowardly motives, or to' warn his
stationed guards to be on the watch, but more probably to keep
clear of the police.  Sam got into a carriage' with some of his
friends and set out too, in a short time. Hill stopped on the
road at Brown's to get his supper, but  Brown told him  that
he expected Sam to be there in a few minutes to' take supper.
This was enough information for Hill, so he put off in! post
haste, He had just left, and had scarcely got out of sight when:Sam drove up.  Sam  stopped at Brown's and took: supper;
then drove on. Hill went as far as Miller i's then put up for the




VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.                 99:night.' Though Sam knew he was there, he called at the hou"s
for a drink of water. It is very likely that the guards were
sleeping on their posts, or lying in the ditch drunk, for Sam
passed the river and arrived safely at home that night.
Now, reader, you will, doubtless, acquiesce in my former prediction, that Dr. Hill was training his legs at Lancaster for the
glories of a future race.  He won the race beyond doubt, and
acquitted himself with a fame the least enviable.  But, can
you blame him, reader?  Would you stand before a six shooter,
even if it were in the hands of a strippling, and your breast
plated over with impenetrable steel? I am inclined to think
that some of us would feel a palpitation in the neighborhood of
the left breast, and be strongly tempted to try the virtue of our
legs. Dr. Hill was a very athletic man, and well knew how far
to depend upon his physical powers.  But being so well armed
with large pistols, and protected securely by an impenetrable
breastplate, it could have been hoped that he would have
evinced more bravery and stood his ground before such a mere
boy as Sam Evans was, and more so when he went there de
signedly to make the attack.
Dr. Evans and his wife were very uneasy about Sam, for
they had learned the movements of Dr. Hill.  According to an
agreement with the boys, he was not to return by the way
which he did, but to cross the river at the mouth of Paintlick
creek, and stop at Gun's chapel, where a protracted meeting
was then being held. The boys were also to meet him at this
church, and keep a guard at the river to see if the Hills expected to waylay him there.  This was about the time the people were trying to make a compromise between the two parties,
for which reason the boys did not carry their rifles, as had been
the case for some time. On Sunday morning, Dr. Evans sent a
runner to tell the boys where the Hills were concealed in ambush; but the messenger never found the boys, nor returned,
being afraid of the opposite party.
In the evening of the same day, a man went, in post haste,
to get the boys' rifles at Dr. Evans's, and told the Doctor that
the Hills had attacked Jack May's house, and dared him out to
give them an open field fight. May unfurled a piece of red
flannel to the breeze, and replied that he would give them an




100            THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
open field fight, or any other kind of a fight they desired, as
soon as he could get ready.  The boys, including Sam, were at
May's house. When the guns arrived, Miay mustered his little
company and marched out to where the enemy dared them.
When the Hills saw the advancing foe, they retreated to a
tobacco house at the extremity of the field. As the hindmost
were going into the house, the boys got to the fence, whence
the party had retreated, and fired upon them. In reply to this
fire, some of them ran out and hallooed —
"D-n it, its too far to begin to shoot;  come over and
give us an open field fight!"
The boys jumped over the fence and ran toward the house.
This so frightened the Hills that they broke an opening through
the back side of the house, and ran over to Fred Hill's house,
leaving some of their guns.  The boys gave them a hot chase
and a shower of balls, though the distance was too great to do
much execution.
Fred Hill's house was formed into a kind of fort, nailed up
closely all round, save some little port holes through which to
shoot.  When the Hills got into it, they barred the door firmly,
fearing the enemy would attempt to break in upon them. The
boys approached pretty near the house, but by this time it was
too dark for them to see to shoot. They hallooed to the Hills -
"You have Evans Bedster in there, and we want him — we
intend to have him!  The good citizens of Garrard have a process against him, and we are going to execute it. If you do n't
deliver him up, we will be so polite as to come in after him!"
A noise was then heard in the back part of the house as if
they were breaking open a window and jumping out.  The
boys supposed they would aim to get to Clouse's house, and ran
that way to intercept them.  But unfortunately, or rather fortunately, the Hills happened to run the other way. They ran
down to the river, waded across to an island, and concealed
themselves under some trash or driftwood. The boys went to
Clouse's and inquired for the Hills, but they had not been there.
They then knew that they must be concealed somewhere under
the cliff of the river. Hence, they kept a close watch about
that place until noon on Wednesday, at which time a heavy rain
fell and thoroughly wet them all, and spoiled their ammunition.




VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.                101
But the Hills laid as close as mice, and did not' show themselves during the whole time, nor did they have a -morsel of
food from Sunday night till noon on Wednesday. When the
boys left, the river rose rapidly on account of the heavy rain, and
threatened to overflow the island.  Thus the proud Kentucky
sent her angry tides and disdainfully drove them from her domains. They waded out, went up the river to the mouth of
Paintlick creek, up that creek to the mouth of Back creek, up
that to the mouth of Longbranch, and up that till they came to
the house of one of their relatives, and there stopped late in
the night to get something to eat. You may guess they were
a pretty hungry set of fellows, having fasted three davs and
nights, and endured the severest exposure.  After they had
eaten to their fill and rested, they set out for Lancaster and
arrived there about daybreak.
On Monday morning, while both parties were down on the
river, Mrs. Fred Hill went to Lancaster and swore out a warrant'against the Evanses.  She swore that they had shot her
nose off- shot into the house, into the skillet while she was
parching coffee and broke it, knocked the coffee pot over, and
done divers other misdemeanors.  She went before the judge
with her nose tied up in a bundle of rags, with-her eyes brimful
of tears, and swore that what she said was true.
In virtue of the warrant, the sheriff went down to Dr.
Evans's to get the boys.  The Doctor told him that he had no
idea where the boys were; that they went to church on Sunday and had not been seen since, but that he expected them
home every day; and when they returned they would be at his
disposal, or that they would meet him on any day he might
choose.  On the day appointed, the boys went to town to have
their trial, but not a Hill made his appearance, consequently
nothing was done.  This was a fine joke on the judge; and the
people laughed at him heartily - issuing a warrant for a lost
nose!  To secure future protection, the judge threatened to
prosecute them if they troubled him with any more of their false
swearing.:In fact, her nose had nothing the matter with it,
but she bundled it up to make an imlpression; nor had any one
shot into the house.  Her conscience, if not her nose, was
doubtless a fit subject for a government pension.




102            TIIE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
Now, as Dr. Evans and his party, numbering nine, were at
Lancaster, and as the Hills, more than twenty strong, were
collected at Fred Hill's house, every person thought they would
have a desperate battle before they could get home.  The Hills
did not make use of this fine opportunity of meeting an unequal
foe, but kept pretty close in their barracks.  The Doctor kept
a spy out to watch their moves till Saturday.  The fact that
they kept such close quarters induced the boys to believe that
they were completely whipped-hence, on Sunday they scattered
out to the different churches, thinking there would be no danger
from the cowed enemy.
But the Doctor knew the wiles of the party better than to
receive such an opinion.  HIe believed they were waiting
quietly only till the boys commenced to cut a certain piece of
oats. The oatfield was in the form of a parallelogram, and
bounded on three sides by a dense thicket and land belonging
to Bill Hill. It was also within a few hundred yards of Hill's
house, which rendered it very dangerous for the boys to'work
there. One morning, some of the boys went to cuttinog the
oats, while the others, thinking there would be no danger,
scattered out to different parts of the country.  The Doctor
stationed himself on one corner of the field where he could
plainly see Hill's house and half a mile up and down the creek,
and placed a spy at the other corner.  The Doctor had not
been at his post long before he saw seven or eight men at Hill's.
They were more of the Washington troops, brought up by Bill
Hill and Pat Williamson.  In a short time, about a dozen of
the regiulars were seen marching up with their rifles, with Dr.
IIill at their head.  When they discovered Dr. Evans on guard,
Dr. Hill pulled off his hat and waved it in the air, then leveled
his gun as if in the act of shooting.  They went on to the house
and rested themselves under the shade trees.  About this time
the Doctor heard a loud noise and hallooing on the other side
of his house.  He turned and saw several men runnrino down
the hill from the barn toward the house, and hallooing- run!
run! He did not understand the meaning of this, for they
were strangers to him, but supposed them to be some of the raw
recruits of the opposite party coming down to attack the house.
The Doctor ran toward the house as fast as he could but they




VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.                   103
met him and told him that the Hills were preparing to attack
the boys in the oatfield.  They then ran on to give the boys the
information. And the Doctor returned to his post. These
men ran two or three miles in breathless haste, fearing the Hills
would attack the boys unawares.
After the Hills rested a little time, they marched up the
creek to a cornfield beyond the view of Dr. Evans.  They had
not been out of sight long before the repot t of a gun was heard,
but it was some of the boys shooting as a signal for some of the
others to shoot, so that they might know each other's locality,
and thus get together.  Some of the boys ran down to the
creek and got into the old mill, expecting the Hills would pass
near by it.  But the miller made them go away, for he would
have been in great danger had the two parties met there.
They went back toward the oatfield into the thicket and
discovered the Hills before they got into the cornfield — then
the firing  commenced.   Two  rounds  were fired in quick
succession by each of the parties.  The Hills retreated across
the creek and concealed themselves behind a cluatp of trees and
the fence, still keeping up a brisk fire.  But "the fierce balls
that came thick and fast from  the opposite party made them
retreat from behind their covert and run into Bill Hill's house.
Some of them  ran into the smoke-house, knocked out the
chinking, and fired through'the apertures between the logs.'As soon as the Hills ran into the house the boys ceased firing,
and hallooed to the women and children to come out and go
away, for they intended to take the house by storm. The
women cleared out like a flock of timid sheep, and went over to
Mr. Harding's.  The bovs then went down closer to the creek
and told the Hills to -"  Come out and make one decisive
battle.  If you refuse, we will take the house by storm  and
compel you to fight.  Come out and give us a fair fight, we
will put our twelve men against your whole crew.  If youwont
fight, we'll make you do it anyhow!"  This challenge was
answered only by a hot fire from the house.  Dr. Evans was
still watching at his post, but not hearing the boys fire, became
uneasy with the fear that some, of them were wounded, and
started down to where they were.' HIe met one of his sons
who informed him that no one was hurt; he theiefore returned.




104             THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
One of the Hills went out into the yard to hang up a coat on a
stick to-see if the boys would shoot at it.  About the time he
succeeded in fastening it to the pole, a gun fired fro:n the
enemy's ranks and stretched him  on the ground.  He laid a
moment like a dead man, then crawled slowly into the house.
About twelve o'clock the boys ceased firing entirely, but the
fire from the house continued with unabated fury.
The Doctor then left his post to the care of two little
children, and went to the house to get: his dinner.  He found
about half of his party there - some eating, others moulding
bullets, making cartridges and fixing their cartridge boxes, as
if they intended to have a general campaign.  The Doctor
asked where the other boys were.  In reply, he was told
that they were lying out in the end of the oatfield asleep,
waiting for their dinners to be brought to them.  When the
boys in the field got their basket dinner, they very hospitably
asked the Hills over to dine with them.  But instead of a note
accepting the invitation, they received a shower of harmless
balls.  After dinner the boys and the Doctor held a council of
war.  At the conclusion of the consultation, the Doctor told
them -" You must not shoot, at them  any, more at this
distance, it is only wasting ammunition.  We must keep them in
the house till night, if possible, arid then we'll smoke'em  out.
We must divide our company, and one half get on the brow of
the hill beyond the house  and while the movement is making,
the party on this side must keep a big gun and fire at the
house to make them keep close: that they may not perceive our
design.  Then if they come out either way we will get them,
and give them  a miniature  Waterloo."  According  to the
Doctor's advice, while those that w.ere to station themselves on
the opposite hill were going around the house, the reraining
party fired the Mississippi rifle into the house to mnake tme, Hills
keep dark, so that they would not perceive the move.  The ball
fired into the house had more than the desired effect, for it tore
through th'e wall, went entirely through the house, makinc the
splinters and plaster fly, which dreadfully frightened the  l ills.
They knew the report of the gun, and the desperate strelngth
with which she threw her balis; and,: to use their phraseology,
knew that it would be death to stand before the savage mouth




VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.                  105
of old Mississippi. The second ball did even more execution
than the first, and frightened them so much that they ran from
the house to seek protection in the distance.  Thus, the Doctor's
plans were frustated. He wished to keep them there till night,
but the terrible force with which the ounce balls shattered the
walls, placed them in as much danger from the splinters as they
would have been in an open field before the dreaded fire of the
enemy. They ran out of the house and tried to conceal
themselves in the green corn, but the balls of the foe could too
easily search them under that friagile covering.  They then ran
back behind the house and got over the fence in double-quick
time, each fellow taking care of his own head.  As they were
going up the hill, beyond gunshot, the boys discovered them
and gave a close chase.  The Hills ran over the hill and got
out of sight before the boys could get up there.
The boys then returned toward home and met the Doctor.
He told them that they could yet intercept the Hills, for they
would certainly vo one of two ways- either cross Davis's creek
toward Mrs. Jenkins's, or down the creek to Mavfield's. lHe
advi'sed them to run across the country and secrete themselves
on the way to Mrs. Jenkins's.  Thev did so, and hid behind a
log a few rods from the road.  Before they started, they ordered
two of the little boys to keep up a pretty constant fire to make
the Hills believe they were not in pursuit.  They also sent,
Thomas and James to a convenient point on the other road, with
instructiofns to fire their guns if the Hills passed that way.
They had not been seated in this ambush long before the Hill
party came marching down the road, about two hundred yards
distant.  But, at this instant, the boys heard the reports of two
guns, in quick succession, which they believed to be signals
from Thomas and Jarpes, to indicate that the Hills were passing
that way, hence, they sprang from their seats,,ran in the direction of the reports, thus letting the Hills pass unmolested. This
was a most thrilling incident.  A gentleman on the adjacent
hill side saw the boys concealed and the Hills advancing; he
had pictured in his mind the horrors of the almost inevitable
bloodshed; he heard the reports and saw the bovs run away,
which transported him with joy equal to his intense anxiety.
HIad the boys remained there only a few minutes longer, the




1006            THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.
entire Hill party would have been slain, for the boys were numbered off so that each one would shoot at the man whose number corresponded with his own; and, as the Hills were the more
numerous, the second round would be fired before they could
get ready to shoot, and those that remained then would fall before the small arms.  The guns were not fired as signals by
Thomas and James, but by the little boys in the field for the
deception of the Hills.
While the boys were firingo at the house, a young man was
observed to get on his horse and slip slyly up the hill.  When
he got beyond the reach of the guns, he industriously applied
the whip to his horse and got away as quick as possible. He
proved to be a young man by the name of Comely, who had
been drawn into the party, not by a love of battle, but by the
love of whisky and women. He was pleased to stay with them
as long as he could get plenty to drink, but when the fihting,
came up, he would rather be excused.  He went in post haste
to Lancaster and informed Mrs. Dr. Hill of the progressing
battle.  This news threw her into a wonderful phrensy;- she
snorted around a considerable time trying to get some one to
accompany her to the battle ground.  But, finding none so gallant as to become her escort, she set out alone and unprotected
upon the uncertain mission. All nature was wrapt in the sable
mantle of night.  As she rode along in the invisible gloom, terrible thoughts and hobgoblins of the dreaded enemy preyed
upon her mind and chilled her frame with terror.  The roadside
was studded with hideous fiends, whose hellish eyes glared in
the darkness, and from whose throats issued blue flames and
dense sulphuric fumes, while their bloody teeth were gnashing
with impatience for the human victim.  She shuddered and
shrieked at the boundings and gnashings of these demons, but
the horse did not heed her agonies, and pursued, with steady
pace, the well known road.  The responsive shrieks of the
doleful night hawk she magnified to the war cry of the phantoms. as they engaged, in a hotly contested battle, to decide who
should be proprietor of her body. At first, urged on by a feeling
of humanity, to dress the wounds of the living, and console the
last moments of the dying, she was now at the mercy of her
own imagination and the will of her faithful horse.  She dwelt




VARIOUS SKIRMISHES.                   107
in the hell of her own mind.  When the horse arrived at Hill's,
he stopped at the accustomed block.  She knew not where she
was; she was lost in her own imagination. The reality of her
position gradually displaced the bewilderment and she gained
confidence to dismount.  She slowly and cautiously approached
the wide-spread door, but the cheerful prattle of innocent babes,
as they gamboled before the fire, was hushed - the suppressed
whisper of the more sagacious women was no more to be heard,
and the clash of arms had long since died away - all was dark
and dreary desolation.  She stood a statue in the door; her
heart ceased to beat; the dead silence seemed to tell a direful
tale; the same fiery demons of her imagination clung to the
walls, the ceiling, and stood thick in the impenetrable darkness,
and hissed like serpents to augment her fright.  She fled to her
horse and retraced her ghost-infested journey.  A kind negro
offered a protecting hand and conducted her back home. When
she arrived, she found the heroes of the late defeat standing at
her gate.
THE CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER XIII.
Gabriel J. Saulter and Dr. Evans - Dr. Hill proposes to end the Feud -
Peace declared - Disposal of the arms - Joe Murphy and John Brown
ordered to leave the county - The Hill party leave the county - Murphy
and Brown return and violate the treaty- Murphy goes to Lancaster and
joins Dr. Hill - They arm themselves and search for Dr. Evans - Jack
Mlay kills Murphy - A stain upon the Evans party - Hills settle in Wash.
ington county - Fears that the Feud will be renewed - The moral.
ATIDr. Hill and Joe Murphy's trial for killing May, and
before the acquittal had been pronounced, Gabriel J. Saulter,
who was standing out in the square, sent for Dr. Evans.  The
Doctor went and mounted a block, with a crowd of people
encircling him.
"Is there no way to put an end to this difficulty?" inquired
Saulter.
" Yes," responded the Doctor; "if you would only resolve
yourseli into a committee of ways and means, you would soon




108                  TIlE CONCLUSION.
find abundant ways. Your party can stop it whenever they
wish; all they have to do is to let me and mine alone. They
started it, and must end it. At the time of the Lancaster fight,
did you not say that you wished to see the Hills to make them
quit fighting?"
"I did say as much."
"Have they not always been your tools, your father's tools,,
and old John Hill's tools, with which you accomplished your
dirty jobs?"
"I will not say that they have been - but they all love
Lme!"
" You could have made them quit fighting any time; you
could have prevented the Lancaster fight, but did not want to.
You were not in earnest when you said you wished the fight to
cease."
" I am in earnest, now; I want, really, the fighting to end."
" If that is your desire. then say and do nothing more about
it, and the whole affair is at an end.  You have said everything
you could to injure me and my family; but, henceforth, treat
me as a gentleman, and I will do the same by you and party."
" 3But it is reported about town that you intend to kill Dr.
till and Joe MAurphy, if they are cleared by the court."
"When, in the name of high heaven, will you and your babbling party quit lving?'You know as well as I do that there is
not the shadow of truth in this.  You know I never make an
attack.  But your party will spread any kind of a report that
suits your purpose."
" Well, never mind that — let us come to some conclusion.
To show you that I am in earnest, I will sign that petition to
the Governor to remit Sam's fine, and will take it to Dr. Hill
and get him also to sign it."
Saulter was in earnest this time, and it is believed that he did
eversthing in his power to end the Feud.  The next morning
after the conversation, Hamilton Duoggins, one of Dr. Hill's
particular friiends, went to see Dr. Evans.;
"Dr. Hill sent me over here," said Duggins, "to inform you
that he wants to quit fightinig.' He only wants you to say that
you will quit, for he believes you will do what you say.  IIe
will dispose of his weapons in any way you may desire."
"You may tell Dr. Hill," replied Dr. Evans, "if that is his



THE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.              109
desire, he has nothing more to do than to quit.  If he will now
declare peace, and observe the stipulations, he and party shall
never be disturbed by me and mine.  So far as his arms are
concerned, those that he stole at the Scott's fork tragedy, must
be returned to their owners.  The big shot-gun belongs to me,
the little rifle to James Lane, who has had no hand in the fight,
and the pistol and bowie-knife to the widow Chrismon. Those
that he borrowed from his neighbors must be returned; for, if
he is like me, he has enough of his own to quit fighting with.
Those that he has bought and paid for, he is at liberty to do
-with as he pleases — he can either sell them, wear them, or
break them."
A few days after this, Dr. Hill wrote a longo letter to Dr.
Evans, entrusting the delivery of the same to George Smith and
Gabriel Saulter. These: latter gentlemen were on the way to
execute their mission one morning, but met the Doctor in the
road, not far from Lancaster, and made known their business.
The letter made all the acknowledgments and admissions that
could be desired, save with respect to the disposal of the guns.
But it also contained information that Smith and Saulter were
the authorized agents of the Hill party, and they had power to
modify any of the propositions. They agreed that the guns
should be returned or paid for, and that Joe Murphy and John
Brown should leave the county immediately.  But Murphy was
to have the liberty of returning, in the following spring, to attend
his trial for killing a negro woman.
The majority of the Hill party immediately left the county,
and the others were making preparation to follow the example.
But Murphy and Brown soon came back, settled on Paintlick
creek, and swore they intended to go where they pleased. In
direct violation of the treaty, they drew a boundary line between
themselves and the opposite party, and swore that the penalty'would be death for any of them to cross the line.  They not
only made threats, but put them into execution -for they did
actually waylay the Doctor, as he, went to Teetersville to attend
to some business. It is supposed that they did this not on their
own account or desire, but because ordered to do so by Dr. Hill.
These daring acts emboldened them to rasher deeds, and
induced them  to take ambuscade even in their old battle
ground, on Sugar creek.  These facts will serve to show how




110                 THE CONCLUSION.
faithfully Dr. Hill observed the treaty, though ne was all the
time pretending to be preparing to move to California.
On one bright morning, when the sun shone gladly forth, and
the azure tints of the sky seemed to grow deeper with joy at
the happy peace that had been concluded, Joe Murphy sauntered about his log cabin, with an air that bespoke the contemplation of some dire event.  He was the personification of
discontent.  The sublimity of the high limestone hills, that
embowered his little hut, aided by the unparalleled serenity of
the weather, seemed not to have a cheering influence upon his
heart. He was feverishly gloomy and morose, and devoured
his rude breakfast with an absence of mind and heavv drawn
sighs.  After hastily swallowing the morning repast, he told his
wife that he intended to go away and never return.  His wife
entreated and implored him not to be guilty of so rash and
woful a deed.  But his reckless heart was dead to all the influences of love and the tender endearments of home; her wailings were answered only by the echo of the surrounding hills and
extended forest; he tore himself away, never again to see her
whom he had loved.
He went immediately to Lancaster in this frenzied mood and
joined Dr. Hill. They wildly indulged the maddening fires of
intoxicating liquors.  Being frantic with the fire that stimulated
their giddy brains, they: buckled on their oft-worn armor, and
sallied forth into the town to seek whom they could devour. As
chance would have it, Dr. Evans and some of his friends happened to be in town that day, but were soon informed of the
approach of the enemy. The Doctor believed the entire Hill
party to be concealed in town, from the actions of Joe Murphy,
who attempted, several times, to get a shot at the prime object
of the war.  This frightened the Doctor, and to prevent any
more bloodshed, he thought it advisable to leave for home.
After the Doctor left, Joe Murphy laid away his weapons
and seated himself quietly before the tavern fire. Not many
hours had rolled into the forgetful past, when Jack and Bill
May, two of the Evans party, on pretence to get a drink of
liquor, went over to the tavern.  When Jack May: entered the
room and saw Murphy sitting before the fire, he drew a revolver, put it against the temple of Murphy's head, and shot two
balls through his brain. He fell dead upon the floor!




TIHE HILL AND EVANS FEUD.          1il
This ce'dulinly was the blackest deed committed by the Evans
party. They had hitherto professed too much nobleness of heart
to waylay the enemy or sneak up behind them unawares; but
now we see their policy violated, at the conclusion of the contest, and upon an unarmed and defenceless man. Thus we see
them do that which they had preached against for years. Prior
to this time, they conducted themselves admirably, but this last
act was the most cruel of all. Who can divine the hypocritical
workings of the human heart! I do -not say that this is an
immediate stain upon Dr. Evans's family, for, perhaps, the
Doctor would not have countenanced the deed before commit.
ted.  Nor do I say that they were not justifiable in the ace;
for the Hills had already broken the treaty in returning and
attempting to shoot Dr. Evans; and when an obligation is broken
by one of the bound parties, it cannot bind the other. But,
having been such advocates of open and fair work, we should
have hoped that they would not be guilty of this low trick.
Though the Mays went to the tavern, under pretext of getting
a drink of liquor, some people are of opinion that the whole
affair was preconcerted and advised by Dr. Evans. We have
no proof of this, but every one is at liberty to enjoy his own
opinion. It is enough to make us doubt that the Evanses were
actuated to their honorable course of conduct by principles of
honor, and make us believe that they aimed only at public
applause. But the misdeed of one individual should not rest
upon the entire party, much less upon Dr. Evans's family, for
one might do what the whole would condemn.
When Murphy fell, May ran across the square, got his horse
and left immediately. When the news reached Dr. Hill, who
was on the opposite side of town, he exclaimed with great
excitement -
" Who will now say that I had better not leave this county:?
Every breath I breathe here is fraught with danger!"
The tavern keeper sent word to Dr. Hill to know what should
be done with Murphy's body. He replied"By G-d, I'm afraid to do anything with him. I gave the
d-d fool money to go off on, and now as he has come back, I will
have nothing to do with him; and the Evanses would rather
kill me than Joe Murphy any day, were they to get a chance."
Murphy was taken down to his brother's, and buried the next




112                 THE CONCLUSION.
evening.  Dr. Hill and John Brown, the last of the party, left
the country as soon as they could get away.
Here, reader, end the scenes of this bloody and exciting
Feud   and gladly do I end it.  You have the facts before
you, and can reflect upon them in your:own peculiar style.: The
Hills all left the neighborhood, and the majority of them moved
to Washington county, where they now reside.  They were a
most distressed party, composed mostly of helpless widows and
their numerous families of little; destitute children.  They were
truly objects of charity.  It is uncertain in what land Dr. Hill
chose to make his home, but it is believed he went into Tennese
see and continued the practice of his profession.
Some people believe that the Feud has not yet ended, but
that when the numerous children of these families become a
little older, they will rise and avenge the blood of their fathers.
But it may be hoped that Kentucky will not meet this horrible
fate; for the tomahawk has long since been buried under the
tree of peace, and the green grass of forgetfulness has grown
thick over it.  The memory of past wrongs may yet cause, in
the surviving Hills, heart-burnings, but the history of the past
warns them to value the peace and safety they now enjoy. The
past is dark and the future bright to them, and they will be
slow to call down again upon themselves the miseries once
experienced.  The past stands to them a warning and a guide.
This narrative is not'devoid of a moral. The reader has
before him' two parties: the one, acting honorably and on the
defensive; the other, using every unfair means on the'offensive.  He sees the just come off victorious and with honor,
while-the unjust is vanquished and compelled to flee'the country in disgrace.  He can view the one course with admiration,
the other with detestation, and can choose between them in his
own affairs.  It clearly proves that, he who pursues an honest
and honorable course, will, in the'end, be triumphant over every
obstacle, and rise above every attempt at oppression.