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In last week鈥檚 article we wrote about Elvis Parker, a young man who had joined the Confederate Army right here in Hartsville. He was a part of Captain Bennett鈥檚 cavalry unit. Bennett was also from here and most of the men in his command were also local. Bennett rode with John Hunt Morgan.

As we saw in last week鈥檚 article, Elvis left the ranks of the Rebel cavalry, rode his horse up to Kentucky and enlisted in the Union cavalry.

If he had traveled further north and joined an Ohio regiment or a unit from Indiana, he would probably have served until the end of the war and returned home to his wife and infant son, with no problem.

But, the Kentucky unit he was in got into a messy little affair that took place between here and Gallatin 鈥︹�漷he Hartsville Races.鈥�

We have written about this running battle that saw the Union command race towards Gallatin with the intention of capturing John Hunt Morgan and his cavalry.

Morgan, however, had been warned of Johnson鈥檚 approach and set a trap. Caught by surprise, Johnson and his men turn tail and retreat back towards Hartsville鈥ith Morgan in pursuit.

Johnson鈥檚 cavalry panic and scatter and he is forced to surrender.

During the fighting, one of the Yankee cavalrymen captured was none other than Elvis Parker 鈥� recognized by the very men he had previously served with.

The Confederates had printed three issues of a camp paper, which they called 鈥淭he Vidette鈥� 鈥� yes, the same name we use today for our local paper.

Once back in their camp just outside Hartsville, they decided to print a fourth issue.

We have a copy of that paper in our archives and we can read this short note from that issue:

鈥淗artsville, Tenn. August 23, 1862

Ist. The whole command will appear on dress-parade in camp at 4:00 pm.

2nd. The prisoner Elvis B. Parker, private in the 5th Ky. Reg. U. S. A. and a deserter from Capt. Bennett鈥檚 Battalion of Cavalry, having been tried by a Court Martial, and FO性视界APPD GUILTY, of desertion, and fighting in the Federal ranks against his own countrymen, has been condemmed to death, and is sentenced to be executed at 4 o鈥檆lock this day within our camp鈥�.

According to the family, his wife was notified of the situation and she was able to spend a few hours with him before he was led off to the execution site. He held his infant son during their short time together. A book on Morgan recounted the event.

The book noted that none of the men in Morgan鈥檚 command enjoyed such executions 鈥� especially when the victim had been a fellow soldier. To make it easier, so that no one of the men would know if their shot was the fatal shot, twelve men were given rifles, but six of the rifles were loaded with blanks.

That way, at the sound of 鈥淔ire!鈥�, each man might pull their trigger, but none of them would know who was firing a real bullet or making the fatal shot.

According to the book, the firing squad was commanded by the nephew of John Hunt Morgan, who was a native Tennessean. He is quoted as addressing Elvis Parker and saying, 鈥淒ie like a Tennessean! ... Ready 鈥� Aim 鈥� Fire!鈥�

Elvis Parker鈥檚 wife claimed the body.

His grave was unmarked, perhaps on purpose to keep anyone from desecrating it.

The family also left Hartsville, well aware of ill feelings towards their son, brother and husband.

The descendants of Parker have made an effort to find the exact location of the burial, with no success.

This finishes our look at some of the events in Hartsville during the Civil War and helps explain why a Civil War cannon is on the new mural in downtown Hartsville鈥artsville was right in the thick of it!