Marcellus Jerome Clarke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marcellus Jerome Clarke
Marcellus Jerome Clarke as a Confederate soldier
Nickname(s)	Sue Mundy/Sue Munday
Born	1844 Franklin, Kentucky
Died	March 15, 1865 (aged 20–21) Louisville, Kentucky
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Captain
Unit	Company B, 4th Kentucky Infantry 1st Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade

Marcellus Jerome Clarke (also known as M. Jerome Clarke) was born in 1844 and died on March 15, 1865. He was a captain for the Confederate States during the American Civil War. By 1864, he became one of Kentucky's most well-known guerrilla fighters. A guerrilla is someone who fights using small groups and surprise attacks, rather than large battles. There were many rumors that he was the mysterious "Sue Mundy" character. This character was made famous by George D. Prentice, who was the editor of the Louisville Journal newspaper.

Marcellus Jerome Clarke: A Civil War Figure

Marcellus Jerome Clarke was born in Franklin, Kentucky, in 1844. When he was 17 years old, in 1861, he joined the Confederate States Army (CSA). He became part of the 4th Kentucky Infantry, which was also known as the 1st Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade.

Joining the Confederate Army

While serving with the 4th Kentucky, Clarke was captured at Fort Donelson. However, he later managed to escape from Camp Morgan. He also took part in a major battle called the Battle of Chickamauga with the 4th Kentucky.

Later, Clarke was moved to a different unit called Morgan's Men. This unit was led by Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan. By this time, Clarke had become a captain. He was part of Morgan's last raid through Kentucky in the summer of 1864.

Becoming a Guerrilla Leader

After General Morgan died on September 4, 1864, Clarke decided to form his own guerrilla group. He returned to Kentucky in October of that year. His group carried out attacks across the state, targeting Union soldiers and destroying their supplies.

Clarke's actions seemed to inspire the Louisville Journal newspaper to write stories about the famous "Sue Mundy". These stories caused a lot of trouble for Major General Stephen G. Burbridge. He was the military governor of Kentucky at the time. Clarke's group, which the Journal called "Mundy's Gang," even joined forces with William Quantrill's Raiders. This made Clarke seem like a very dangerous enemy to the Union.

Raids and Attacks

On the night of February 2, 1865, Clarke's and Quantrill's combined forces rode into Lair Station, Kentucky. They burned down the railroad station and several freight cars. A week later, on February 8, 1865, the guerrillas attacked again. They killed three soldiers, took four others prisoner, and destroyed what was left of a supply wagon train.

Capture and Final Days

On March 12, 1865, Union soldiers were trying to capture Clarke and his group. About 50 soldiers from the 30th Wisconsin Infantry, led by Major Cyrus Wilson, surrounded a tobacco barn. This barn was located ten miles south of Brandenburg, near Breckinridge County.

During the fight, four Union soldiers were injured. However, Clarke was captured. Two other men, Henry Medkiff and Henry C. Magruder, were also captured with him. Magruder had been injured in an earlier attack.

Journey to Louisville

Major Wilson took the three captured men to Brandenburg. From there, they boarded a steamboat to Louisville. Military leaders decided to keep Clarke's trial a secret. The decision about his guilt was made even before the trial officially began. Clarke asked to be treated as a prisoner of war, but he was tried as a guerrilla fighter.

On March 14, military leaders planned Clarke's execution, even though his trial had not started. During the short hearing, Clarke was described as "standing firm and speaking calmly." He stated that he was a regular Confederate soldier. He also said that he had not committed the actions he was accused of, or that Quantrill's group had done them. During the three-hour trial, Clarke was not allowed to have a lawyer or witnesses to speak for him.

Execution and Legacy

Three days after his capture, Union leaders scheduled Clarke for a public hanging. This took place just west of the corner of 18th and Broadway in Louisville.

On March 15, a minister named Rev. J.J. Talbott visited the 20-year-old Clarke in prison. He told Clarke that he would be hanged that afternoon. Reports say Clarke knelt and prayed, asking the minister to baptize him. Clarke then dictated four letters for the minister to write. These letters were to his aunt, his cousin, a young lady named Elizabeth Lashbrook (who was his brother's wife), and his fiancée. Clarke's final wishes were for his body to be sent to his aunt and stepmother in Franklin. He wanted to be buried in his Confederate uniform, next to his parents.

When the carriage arrived at the gallows, Clarke made a final statement to the crowd. He said, "I am a regular Confederate soldier—not a guerrilla... I have served in the Army for nearly four years... I fought under General Buckner at Fort Donelson and I belonged to General Morgan's command when I entered Kentucky." His very last words were: "I believe in and die for the Confederate cause."

Thousands of people were thought to have attended Clarke's execution. Many were drawn by the rumors that he was "Sue Mundy." After his body was taken down, some people cut off buttons from his coat as souvenirs. Police even arrested three men for fighting over his hat.

Later, on October 29, 1865, Union leaders hanged Henry Magruder. This happened behind the walls of the Louisville Military Prison. Magruder had been allowed to heal from his wounds before his execution. Before he died, Magruder wrote his life story and claimed that he was the real "Sue Mundy." This marked the end of the stories of these two famous Kentucky guerrillas.