Shelton Laurel Massacre Memorial: Madison County, North Carolina
Photograph is Courtesy North Carolina Office of Archives & History: Department of Cultural
Resources
Shelton Laurel Massacre
Thirteen men and boys suspected of Unionism were killed
by Confederate soldiers in the Shelton Laurel area of Madison County in January 1863. The incident grew out of a
series of raids on the town of Marshall by fifty to sixty Unionists claiming that Confederate authorities had denied them
salt and other provisions.
Colonel Lawrence Allen was the commanding colonel of the 64th North Carolina Infantry Regiment, and his family was ill and at their home in Madison County. Next, the
Unionists attacked and plundered the colonel's house. With retribution in mind, Lt. Colonel Keith, second in command of
the 64th North Carolina, and soldiers from the 64th North Carolina Infantry Regiment arrived in the Shelton Laurel area and marched three boys, ages thirteen and
seventeen, and ten men, ages twenty to fifty-six, from their homes and into the woods. They were ordered to kneel. Hesitating
on Keith’s first command to shoot the thirteen, the troops complied with the second. Commanding Colonel Allen was not
culpable and he did not order or condone the murders. (See: official correspondence and records relating to the
Shelton Laurel Massacre at bottom of page.) During the Shelton Laurel tragedy, there were hundreds of Confederate soldiers
pursuing bushwhackers and deserters in the North Carolina mountains, commonly referred to as the Southern Appalachian Mountains (O.R., Ser. 1, Vol. 18, pp. 810-811*).
Also see hellish conditions in Western North Carolina: Cherokee County's Civil War Lawlessness and Depredations, O.R., Series IV, pt. 2, pp. 732-734, O.R., Series 1, Volume 53, pp. 324-336, and O.R., Series 1, Vol. 32, pt. II, pp. 610-611.
During the American Civil War, anarchy ruled
in the Tar Heel State's poorest region termed Western North Carolina. President Jeff Davis, Governor Zebulon Baird Vance, and numerous Confederate corps and division commanding generals heard incessant cries
and pleas from the local mountain populace for protection against outliers, deserters and bushwhackers. The Shelton Laurel
Massacre epitomized the region's lawlessness and anarchy. However, neighboring Cherokee County was also one of the bushwhackers' preferred areas to plunder and pillage. During a
series of raids, when the bushwhackers roamed Cherokee County with impunity (O.R., 53, 313-314), they were overjoyed while anticipating the loot from a particular farm. As they approached the farm, one Unionist
proclaimed "that we are going to make a big mistake here, because this farm belongs to Captain Willis Parker; and he, his brothers, and family will track us to the end of the earth." Parker was
6’2” and was a mounted infantry captain in Thomas’ Legion of Cherokees and Highlanders. Convinced that
Captain Parker will exact complete retribution for any harm bestowed upon his family--and that there were less hazardous targets
of opportunity--Captain Goldman Bryson's Company detoured and sacked the county seat, Murphy, in October 1863. Consequently, Goldman's Robbers received their fate at the hands of the Thomas Legion's Cherokee scouts.
(Captain Parker faithfully served in Company I, Infantry Regiment,
Thomas' Legion. On July 24, 1862, Company I initially mustered as Company D, Walker's Battalion, at Valleytown, Cherokee County, North Carolina. On September 27, 1862, when the Thomas Legion officially mustered at Knoxville,
it became Company I, Infantry Regiment, Thomas' Legion. Company I was also involved in the Skirmish at Hanging Dog).
*Official
Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Recommended Reading: Bushwhackers, The Civil War in North Carolina: The Mountains
Official Correspondence Regarding the Shelton Laurel Massacre
February 16, 1863, Ashville, N.C.,
Letter from A. S. Merrimon to Governor Vance
ASHEVILLE, N.C., February 16, 1863.
GOVERNOR:
Your letter of the 9th instant is just received. I beg to assure you that I shall at the next term of the
court prosecute vigorously such of the prisoners to whom you direct my attention as may be turned over to the civil authorities.
The late expedition to Laurel sent only four prisoners to jail, and one of them was admitted to bail on yesterday by Judge
Bailey. I understand there are no more to send. I have no knowledge of my own touching the shooting of several prisoners in
Laurel. I have learned, however, from a most reliable source that 13 of them were killed; that some of them were not taken
in arms but at their homes; that all the men shot (13, if not more) were prisoners at the time they were shot; that they were
taken off to a secluded cave or gorge in the mountains and then made to kneel down and were thus shot. One man was badly and
mortally shot in the bowels, and while he was writhing in agony and praying to God for mercy a soldier mercilessly and brutally
shot him in the head with his pistol. Several women were whipped; this I learned from one who got his information from some
of the guilty parties. I learned that all this was done by order of Lieut. Col. James A. Keith. I know not what you intend
doing with the guilty parties, but I suggest they are all guilty of murder. I do not suppose they had any order to do so barbarous
a deed; but if they had the order was void absolutely, no matter by whom issued. Such savage and barbarous cruelty is without
a parallel in the State, and I hope in every other. I am gratified that you intend to take the matter in hand. I will
make such investigation as I can, but I have no means of compelling any one to disclose facts to me. It will not be difficult,
I learn, to prove that the prisoners were killed. I assure you that I will prosecute all persons who have committed criminal
offenses in this circuit at the next term of the court, and in the mean time I will do all in my power to suppress crime and
violence. These are fearfully on the increase in this section of the State. A report might be made that would astonish you.
I have done all I could in reference to the complaints made to you from Jackson and Cherokee Counties.
I am, &c., yours, truly,
A. S. MERRIMON.
February 24, 1863, Ashville, N.C.,
Letter from A.S. Merrimon to Governor Vance
ASHEVILLE, N.C., February
24, 1863.
[Hon. ZEBULON B. VANCE:]
GOVERNOR:
In obedience to your directions so to do, I have made inquiries and gathered facts such as I could in reference
to the shooting of certain prisoners in Laurel Creek, in Madison County. I have to report to you that I learned that the militia
troops had nothing to do with what was done in Laurel. Thirteen prisoners, at least, were killed by order of Lieut. Col. J.
A. Keith. Most of them were taken at their homes, and none of them made resistance when taken; perhaps some of them ran. After
they were taken prisoners the soldiers took them off to a secluded place, made them kneel down, and shot them. They were buried
in a trench dug for the purpose. Some two weeks since their bodies were removed to a grave-yard. I learned that probably 8
of the 13 killed were not in the company that robbed Marshall and other places. I suppose they were shot on suspicion. I cannot
learn the names of the soldiers who shot them. Some of them shrank from the barbarous and brutal transaction at first, but
were compelled to act. This is a list of the names of those killed: Elison King (desperate man); Jo Woods (desperate man);
Will Shelton, twenty years old (of Sipus); Aronnata Shelton, fourteen years old (was not at Marshall); James Shelton (old
Jim), about fifty-six years old; James Shelton, jr., seventeen years old; David Shelton, thirteen years old (was not in the
raid); James Madcap, forty years old; Rod Shelton (Stob Rod); David Shelton (brother of Stob Rod); Joseph Cleandon, fifteen
or sixteen years old; Helen Moore, twenty-five or thirty years old; Wade Moore, twenty or twenty-five years old. It is said
that those whose names I have so marked did not go to Marshall. The prisoners were captured on one Friday and killed the next
Monday. Several women were severely whipped and ropes were tied around their necks. It is said Col. L. M. Allen was not in
command and that Keith commanded. Four prisoners are now in jail, sent here, as I learned, by order of General Davis. These
are Sipus Shelton, Isaac Shelton, William Morton, and David Shelton, son of Sipus. I think the facts stated are about true.
One thing is certain, 13 prisoners were shot without trial or any hearing whatever and in the most cruel manner. I have no
means of compelling witnesses to disclose facts to me, and I do not know that I shall be able to make a fuller report to Your
Excellency at any early day. I hope these facts will enable you to take such steps as will result in a more satisfactory development
of the true state of the matter.
I am, &c., yours, truly,
A. S. MERRIMON
February 28, 1863, Raleigh, N.C.,
Governor Z. B. Vance to Secretary of War James A. Seddon
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.,
Raleigh, N.C., February 28, 1863.
Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:
SIR: Some six months since a disturbance occurred in Madison County, North Carolina, near the Tennessee
border, by some disloyal persons capturing the little county town and seizing a lot of salt and other plunder. An armed force
was promptly sent from Knoxville, under command of General Davis, to suppress the insurrection, which was accomplished before
the local militia could get there, though ordered out immediately. But in doing so a degree of cruelty and barbarity was displayed,
shocking and outrageous in the extreme, on the part of Lieut. Col. J. A. Keith, Sixty-fourth North Carolina Troops, who seems
to have been in command, and to have acted in this respect without orders from his superiors, so far as I can learn. I beg
leave to ask you to read the inclosed letter (copy) from A. S. Merrimon, State's attorney for that judicial district, which
you will see discloses a scene of horror disgraceful to civilization. I desire you to have proceedings instituted at once
against this officer, who, if the half be true, is a disgrace to the service and to North Carolina. You may depend upon the
respectability and fairness of Mr. Merrimon, who made an investigation officially by my order. I have also written General
Davis.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Z. B. VANCE.
March 5, 1863, Richmond, Va.,
Secretary of War James A. Seddon to Governor Z. B. Vance
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, March 5, 1863.
His Excellency Z. B. VANCE,
Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.
SIR: I received your letter of the 28th ultimo in reference to the conduct of Lieut. Col. J. A. Keith, Sixty-fourth
North Carolina Regiment, and have directed General Donelson, commanding at Knoxville, to investigate the matter and report
the facts to the Department.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
May 18, 1863, Raleigh N.C.,
Governor Z. B. Vance to Secretary of War James A. Seddon
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Raleigh, May 18, 1863.
Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.
SIR: I had the honor to request of you some time since an examination into the case of Lieut. Col. J. A.
Keith, Sixty-fourth North Carolina Troops, charged with the murder of some unarmed prisoners and little boys during the recent
troubles in the mountains of this State. I have heard by rumor only that he was brought before a court-martial and honorably
acquitted by producing an order for his conduct from General Davis, commanding in East Tennessee. I have also been officially
notified of his resignation. Will it be consistent with your sense of duty to furnish me a copy of the proceedings of the
court-martial in his case? Murder is a crime against the common law in this State and he is now subject to that law.
Very respectfully, &c.,
Z. B. VANCE
May 18, 1863, Richmond, Va.,
Secretary of War James A. Seddon to Governor Z. B. Vance
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, Va., May 23, 1863.
His Excellency Z. B. VANCE, Governor of North Carolina.
SIR: Your letter of the 18th instant has been received. The resignation of Lieutenant-Colonel Keith was
accepted at the office of the Adjutant and Inspector General the 15th instant. No proceedings of court-martial in his case
have been received. His resignation was accepted on the recommendation of Colonel Palmer, commanding the brigade, and Major-General
Maury, the examining board having reported against his competency. The Adjutant and Inspector General was not aware of the
facts of the alleged murder as applying to this officer at the time of his action on the resignation, there being no reference
to the facts in the papers before him. In a communication to the Department by Lieutenant-Colonel Keith he claims that Brigadier-General
Heth gave him a verbal order to this effect: "I want no reports from you about your course at Laurel. I do not want to be
troubled with any prisoners and the last one of them should be killed;" that he went on further to state that he had been
troubled with several prisoners from Laurel, N. C., and he did not want any more brought to Knoxville. This statement is supported
by the deposition of a Doctor Thompson, and Keith states in his letter that he can prove it by another witness. The communication
of Keith and the deposition of Thompson were submitted to General Heth for remarks. He says that he gave written instructions
to Keith which will be found on the books of the Department of East Tennessee. He admits that he told Keith that those found
in arms ought not to be treated as enemies, and in the event of an engagement with them to take no prisoners as he considered
that they had forfeited all such claims, but he denies in strong terms the making use of any remarks which would authorize
maltreatment of prisoners who had been accepted as such or to women and children.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES A. SEDDON,
Secretary of War.
Additional Sources:
Official Records
of the Union and Confederate Armies; Vernon H. Crow, Storm in the Mountains: Thomas' Confederate Legion of Cherokee Indians
and Mountaineers; Walter Clark, Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great War 1861-1865;
National Park Service: American Civil War; Weymouth T. Jordan and Louis H. Manarin, North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865; D.
H. Hill, Confederate Military History Of North Carolina: North Carolina In The Civil War, 1861-1865; Christopher M. Watford,
The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers' and Civilians' Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865. Volume 2: The Mountains; Library
of Congress; National Archives and Records Administration; State Library of North Carolina; North Carolina Office of Archives
and History; North Carolina Museum of History.
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