Welcome to the Posey Circuit Court 

Posey County has a unique and interesting history which the Posey County Historical Society is proud to help preserve and promote.  If you have read these articles on the Invasion of Posey County by Confederate soldiers on November 08, 1862, please note they are on behalf of the Society which will be submitting other stories from our history. 

            If you have questions about the Posey County Historical Society or would like to become involved with it, please contact our Secretary, Albert Gibbs, at the Black Township Trustee’s Office at 130 West Third Street in Mt. Vernon or call Albert at 812-838-3851.

             Now, the final installment about the Invasion and the fate of the Belligerents from the Rebel side:

 PRISONERS OF WAR!

Pusillanimous Phony Patriots

October 04, 1863

             As the Readers may recall, on November 08, 1862, members of the Fourth Regiment of the Kentucky Calvary of the Confederate States of America under the command of Colonel E. G. Hall, kidnapped Dr. William Harris from his home in West Franklin and, also, stole numerous items from other Posey County citizens.

            After their arrest by Union forces in Henderson, Kentucky, the men were turned over to Posey County Sheriff, Blythe Hayes, for trial before a Posey County Jury and Posey Circuit Court Judge, William F. Parrett, Jr.

            The Defendants raised claims that civil authorities in Posey County had no jurisdiction to try them as they should be treated as Prisoners of War.  Judge Parrett denied their pre-trial Motions to Dismiss on this basis as well as their post-trial Motions for New Trials.  Judge Parrett directed the Defendants to the Federal Authorities through the Indiana’s Governor’s Office.

            William Quinn, James Quinn, Paul Manns, Charles Woods, Jonas Soakes, Frank DeChamps, Barnett Clay, John Grobin, George Finley and James Powell took the Judge up on this advice and sought redress of their two-year state prison sentences from Governor Morton.

            In a directive from the “War Department Provost Marshall General’s Office, Washington D.C. dated October 4, 1863,” the Confederates were determined to be Prisoners of War.

            This Order was made to “His Excellency Oliver P. Morton, Governor of Indiana” as follows:

“I have the honor to enclose herewith copy of a communication from Colonel Conrad Baker, Acting Provost Marshall for Indiana in regard to the action of the Civil Authorities of Indiana in the cases of General Officers and men captured by the United States forces November, 1862, under Col. J.W. Foster, 65^th Indiana Vols. Then commanding at Henderson, Kentucky. 

I would call your attention to the copy of General Hallack’s endorsement on Colonel Baker’s communication and request that the men may be turned over as prisoners of war.”

            This Directive was signed by the Provost Marshall General James B. Fry and brought a conclusion to the Invasion of Posey County.

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Last modified: 01/04/07