The Shelby County Historical Society has unveiled a roadside marker commemorating the victims of the “Simpsonville Slaughter.” Following is a teaser from the article in the January 27, 2009 edition of The State Journal.
SIMPSONVILLE [Kentucky] – The sacrifices of nearly 30 men killed in an ambush of a Civil War black unit near here 144 years ago have finally been recognized – including one from Franklin County.
The Shelby County Historical Society unveiled Sunday a roadside historical marker to the war dead at a ceremony at the Whitney M. Young Job Corps Center in Simpsonville.
The marker describes the battle and the mass grave where the men were buried and will be installed on U.S. 60 near where the “Simpsonville Slaughter” occurred.
On Jan. 25, 1865, soldiers of the U.S. 5th Colored Cavalry were moving a herd of cattle to Louisville when Confederate guerrillas ambushed them. Twenty soldiers died during the battle and another six later died of wounds.
Charles Long, former president of the Shelby County Historical Society, said the soldiers were exposed on a narrow dirt path.
“They were attacked from the rear and murdered viciously,” Long said.
According to a newspaper account, about 15 guerrillas ambushed the soldiers and attacked “yelling like very devils and shooting their pistols in the air.” The guerrillas escaped after attacking the column’s rear guard and were commanded by Capt. Coulter.
Read the full article in the January 26, 2009 edition of The State Journal.