News Outlook Your Hometown Newspaper November 06, 2014 - 19
A House Divided: Bath County's involvement in the Civil War
Photo by Cecil Lawson
An historical marker on Main Street, Owingsville,
across from the Post Office gives information on the
life of Gen. Hood.
By..Rob Kiskaden
The final part in a three
part series
Kentucky had twenty-
two courthouses burned
during the Civil War. Most
were burned by Con-
federate troops or guer-
rilla forces, with nineteen
burned within the final
fifteen months of the war.
Bath County's courthouse
wasn't spared; however,
it wasn't due to hostile ac-
tion. On March 21, 1864,
Federal troops were tem-
porarily quartered in the
courthouse, which was
a two story wood frame
structure that stood where
the present day court-
house is located, It was a
cold night and the soldiers
had the coal stove fired up
as they settled in. Soon,
word came that Confed-
erate troops were on the
move toward Owingsville
and the Federals hastily
prepared themselves to en-
gage the incoming rebels.
In their haste, the overheat-
ed stove was turned over,
starting a fire. The wood
frame building became
quicy consumed and was
• ,. : :. : • . JlJ
destroyed as the:Umon
soldiers marched on. Sev-
eral vital records were lost
in the fire; records that
reflected back to Bath
County's earliest days.
Rueben Gudgell and J.
Monroe Nesbitt petitioned
the Federal Government
to replace the courthouse,
and the present day build-
ing was erected in 1866, at
a cost of $34,000.00. Court
was held in the Method-
ist Church on West Main
Street in Owingsville until
the courthouse was com-
pleted.
A large white two story
house sits on East Main
Street in Owingsville
across from the post office.
It is occupied by Owings-
ville's Mayor, Gary Hunt,
and is not a uniquely or-
nate house, and not even a
house of Civil War impor-
tance since it wasn't built
until the early 1900's. The
Civil War connection isn't
the house, but the property
it stands on. Confederate
General John Bell Hood
was born on the spot of
Mayor Hunt's home June
1, 1831. It was a simple
house built of log and
plank weather boarding
with a large stone chimney.
Hood graduated West
point m 1853 and was com-
missioned as a second
Photos courtesy of Bath County Memorial Library
Above: The home of Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood,
who was born in Owingsville on Main Street in 1831.
The home was demolished around 1920.
Right: Gen. John Bell Hood
lieutenant in the 4th US
Infantry stationed in Cali-
fornia. Soon afterward, he
transferred to Texas and
the 2nd US Cavalry where
one of his commanding of-
ricers was Robert E. Lee.
While on the Western
Frontier, Hood was injured
during an Indian attack and
lost use of a hand. When
the Civil War broke out,
Hood joined the Confed-
eracy and was promoted to
colonel with the 4th Texas
Infantry, later known as
the Texas Brigade. It was
with this brigade that Hood
gained the Confederacy
its first major victory at
Gaine's Mills in Hancock
County, Virginia in June,
1862. General Hood's
Brigade fought at Gettys-
burg, then at The Battles
of Franklin and Nashville,
Tennessee, where Hood
was now the Commander-
in-Chief of the Tennessee
Army. During the Battle of
Nashville, Hood lost a leg
and resigned his command
January 23, 1865. He re-
tired to San Antonio, Texas
and died of yellow fever in
New Orleans August 30,
1879.
On a personal note, it:is
interesting thaffy third
great-grandfather fought
against Hood's Army at
Franklin and Nashville.
Laban J. Kiskaden was a
private with the 175th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry who
fought on the same soil
as Hood's men. He was
wounded during the battle,
losing sight in his right eye
and nearly losing a leg.
The Hood House was
torn down around 1920; an
editorial in the Bath Coun-
ty News Outlook during
that time tells of the "disre-
gard for our town's history
and value of the older plac-
es that are being torn down
and erased from memory".
A bronze historical marker
stands along the street
marking the location of the
Hood House, but the mark-
er's placement has been a
cause for some debate over
the years.
Ginger Kincaid, a local
blogger and historian who
authors http://journalsof-
burlkincaid.blogspot.com,
tells me that her husband's
family once lived in the
Hood House before it was
razed, and that the histori-
cal marker is quite possibly
not at the correct location.
Could it be that someone
opposed the marker due
to the Southern connota-
The winter of 1864 erty as terrified residents
brought action to Sharps- fled into the street. The
burg and Bethel; the first rebels gathered the pegple
occurring in Bethel on the in the middle of the street
night of December 4. Rebel and held them at bay while
guerrillas raided and plun- House Divide-"u,
dered the town, burning
cont. on pg. 2O
stores and damaging prop
Tribute in
Honor of Bo Otis
Floating lantern vigil to be held in loving
memory of Bo Otis. Hoping to light up the sky
with floating lanterns at dusk. We would like t6
friends and community member
gather together to;
and pay
to Bo's life and
what would"
his 21st
Saturday,
15th 6:00-
p.m. at the'.
Education
Marketing Cente
KY.-.
B.M.B Construction
Korea Church
of God
Amish Crew
Pol Barns - Hay Barns - Sheds - Barn Repair
- Roofing- Garage- Foundation Remodel
;:: All Types of Carpentry
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J
,i Call 859-274-5125 • Leave message if no answer
7a.m. - 3p.m. Week days only
Medicare Beneficiaries
2014 Annual Enrollment Period
Ends December 7
Medicare recommends: Review and Compare
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
Know Your Options
Save Money
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Call 859-595-9595 to schedule your
appointment today!
will be having its Annual Bazaar
and Christmas Sale on Saturday
November 8th, 2014 from 8 a.m. -
3 p.m. We will have various crafts,
many Christmas items, and several
Christmas baskets which would
make great gifts. There will be
homemade baked goods, cookies,
candy, cakes, pies, etc.
Breakfast will be served beginning
at 8 a.m. Everyone welcome. For
info call 606-768-3474 or
606-768-2715.
Church located on Rt. 1693 on
Dan Ridge Rd. Wellington,
CORNERSTONE - SECURING YOUR FUTURE
