Marcellus Jerome Clarke
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marcellus Jerome Clarke | |
|---|---|
| 1844–15 March 1865 | |
 Marcellus Jerome Clarke as a Confederate soldier |
|
| Nickname | "Sue Mundy/Sue Munday" |
| Place of birth | Franklin, Kentucky |
| Place of death | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Company B, 4th Kentucky Infantry, 1st Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade |
Marcellus Jerome Clarke (1844–15 March 1865) was a Confederate soldier. In 1864, he became one of Kentucky's most notorious Confederate guerrillas.
[edit] Confederate Soldier
He was born in Franklin, Kentucky in 1844 and enlisted in the 4th Kentucky Infantry, 1st Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade, CSA in 1861 at the age of 17. While with the 4th Kentucky, Clarke was captured at Fort Donelson and later escaped from Camp Morgan. He saw action with the 4th Kentucky at the Battle of Chickamauga, and he then was reassigned to Morgan's Men.[1] While with Morgan's Men, he took part in Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan famous Morgan's Raid storming into Union territory.
[edit] Confederate Guerrilla
Following Morgan's death on 4 September 1864, Clarke formed his own guerrilla band, and raided throughout Kentucky.[2]His raids seemed to inspire the Louisville Courier's stories of the infamous Sue Munday, and caused Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Burbridge a substantial amount of embarrassment. Combined with the fact that Clarke's gang (referred to by the Courier as "Munday's Gang") had joined up with William Quantrill's Raiders, Clarke was seen as a dangerous enemy of the Union's law and order. This joint force of Quantrill and Clarke rode into Lair Station, Kentucky on the night of 2 February 1865, burning the railroad depot and freight cars as they rode through. A week later on 8 February 1865, the guerrillas killed three soldiers, took four more prisoners, and destroyed the remnants of the wagon train they set upon. [3]
Clarke was captured by Wisconsin troops in a farmer's barn in Meade County, Kentucky, not more than three miles from the Breckinridge County, Kentucky line on 12 March 1865.[4] He was taken to Louisville, Kentucky and was hanged in the block bounded by Broadway, Magazine, 17th and 18th Streets three days later before a crowd several thousand strong.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Kentucky Historical Marker Number 540" Available online at Kentucky Sue Mundy Markers Accessed 3 October 2006.
- ^ "Kentucky Historical Marker Number 537" Available online at Kentucky Sue Mundy Markers Accessed 3 October 2006.
- ^ "Sue Mundy/Jerome Clarke" Available Online at Sue Munday/Jerome Clarke Accessed 3 October 2006.
- ^ "Kentucky Historical Marker Number 536" Available online at Kentucky Sue Mundy Markers Accessed 3 October 2006.
- ^ "Kentucky Historical Marker Number 540" Available online at Kentucky Sue Mundy Markers Accessed 3 October 2006.
