Tutt–Everett War facts for kids

The Tutt–Everett War was a long-lasting fight between two powerful families, the Tutts and the Everetts. It happened in Marion County, Arkansas, from 1844 to 1850. This conflict is also known as the Marion County War or the Tutt, King, Everett War. It was a serious feud that grew out of strong political disagreements before the American Civil War.

Why the Tutt–Everett War Started

This feud involved two main families: the Tutt family and the Everett family. The Tutts supported the Whig Party, and the Everetts supported the Democratic Party. These were two major political groups in the United States at the time.

Meet the Families

The Everett family moved to Arkansas from Kentucky. John "Sim" Everett, Jesse Everett, and Bart Everett became very important people in the area. The Tutt family came from Tennessee. Their leader was Hansford "Hamp" Tutt. They were powerful in Searcy County, Arkansas, and did not want Marion and Searcy counties to be separated. A third family, the Kings, also joined the fight. They supported the Tutts because they were also Whig Party members.

First Signs of Trouble

The first violence happened during a political discussion in Yellville, Arkansas. The debate quickly turned into a big fight. During this brawl, Alfred Burnes, who supported the Tutts, hit John Everett. John Everett was badly hurt but survived. For the next four years, angry arguments between the two groups often led to more fights.

Violence Grows: 1848–1850

The feud became much more serious in 1848. On October 9, the first gunfight happened in downtown Yellville. John Everett was killed in this shootout.

Revenge and More Fighting

Just two days later, the Everetts got their revenge. They shot and killed "Old" William King and his son Lumis. Billy King, another son of William, and a friend called "Cherokee Bob" were also shot but survived. After this, the two families had gunfights almost every month. People were often hurt, but no more deaths were recorded for a while.

That same year, Ewell Everett was elected as a judge. A Tutt supporter named George Adams became the constable (a local law officer). These elections made the tensions even higher. Jesse Everett and another Everett supporter, Jacob Stratton, moved to Texas by the end of the year.

The Big Fight of July 4, 1849

On July 4, 1849, the Marion County Sheriff, Jesse Mooney, tried to stop the feud. Sheriff Mooney was known for being tough. He gathered a group of citizens, called a posse, to help him.

On that same day, the biggest gunfight of the feud took place. The Everett family members were gathered in a building in Yellville. Across the street, the Tutt family members were meeting in a saloon. Sheriff Mooney tried to stop the violence, but both sides ignored him. A gunfight broke out, and Sheriff Mooney and his posse were caught in the middle.

The shooting continued for hours. When both sides ran out of bullets, the Tutt and Everett men rushed into the street. They continued fighting hand-to-hand.

Aftermath of the Big Fight

When the fighting ended, many people were dead. Jack King, Bart Everett, Davis Tutt, Ben Tutt, and Lunsford Tutt were all killed. John "Uncle Jacky" Hurst was also killed by S.W. Ferrall, a Tutt supporter. Many others were wounded. Dave Sinclair, who was thought to have killed John Everett earlier, ran away from Yellville. The Everett family members chased him and killed him the next day.

Jesse Everett heard that his brother Bart had died. He returned to Arkansas seeking revenge. Sheriff Mooney sent his son to Little Rock to ask for help from Governor Thomas Drew. Thomas Mooney met the governor, but he disappeared on his way back home.

Governor Drew ordered the state militia (a group of armed citizens) from nearby Carroll County, Arkansas to help. These militiamen took control of Yellville and helped Sheriff Mooney. Some people criticized Sheriff Mooney for not stopping the violence, but it was very hard for him to do much alone. Many men in the county were on one side or the other, making it difficult to find deputies.

The Carroll County militia arrested several members of the Everett family. However, when the militiamen went home six weeks later, the Everetts broke into the jail and freed their friends.

The End of the Feud

Hansford "Hamp" Tutt was later shot and killed along Crooked Creek. A mysterious stranger from Texas, known only as "The Dutchman," was hired by Everett to do it. "The Dutchman" was never seen again. Everett and another follower fled to Shreveport, Louisiana. Everett died soon after from a disease called cholera. With both Tutt and Everett now dead, the feud finally came to an end.

This was one of the most famous feuds in Arkansas history, along with the Flynn–Doran Feud of the 1880s. Davis Tutt, who was a child during this feud and whose father was a big part of it, later moved west. After serving in the Confederate Army, he was killed by Wild Bill Hickok on July 21, 1865. This was one of the most well-known gunfights in the Old West.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra Tutt-Everett para niños