Clayton Anderson

The Central Record, Feb 4, 1898

Letter to the newspaper written by Judge Sandifer.

Clayton Anderson, a wealthy farmer, lived near Lancaster and in 1861 was handling a lot of mules that he had been feeding for the southern market. I think he sent them down to Tennessee for sale but found it necessary to give them his personal attention, and applied for, and got a permit from the officer in command of the KY Dept of War, to make the trip. He was a southern man, outspoken in his convictions, and not at all prudent at all times as he should have been. On his return home, Mr. R. D. Lusk acting as attorney as he said for the government wrote a warrant for Anderson’s arrest charging him with disloyalty in aiding and abetting the southern rebellion and brought it to me for my signation as County Judge. I signed it and Anderson was brought before me as a court of inquiry. I think we were about 2 days getting through with the investigation, Mr. Lusk making a long speech at the close of the testimony. I gave the case, as I thought, careful attention. The evidence showed no overt act upon the part of Anderson that I thought would justify a court in holding him in bonds, as I dismissed this case and adjourned court, and as Anderson was going out of the courthouse Judge Sam’l Lusk spoke to Anderson and told him he was a rebel and that he had better get out of that community. Lusk used very rough language which so alarmed Anderson that he called on me to give him a bodyguard to send him home. I appointed the guard who saw him safe at home. Anderson was so alarmed at the threats made against him that he left his home that night for the southern army.

Contributed by Sandra Hurt-Norris.