Owensboro in Daviess County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Courthouse Burned

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

1. Courthouse Burned Marker

Inscription. Twenty-two Kentucky courthouses were burned during Civil War, nineteen in last fifteen months: twelve by Confederates, eight by guerrillas, two by Union accident. See map on reverse side.

Jan. 4, 1865, the courthouse at Owensboro, occupied by Union troops, was burned by guerrillas. The records of all county offices saved by the respective officers.

Erected 1963 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 590.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Notable Events • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is January 4, 1865.

Location. 37° 46.483′ N, 87° 6.752′ W. Marker is in Owensboro, Kentucky, in Daviess County. It is on West 2nd Street west of St Ann Street, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located at the northeast corner of the Daviess County Courthouse grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 212 St Ann Street, Owensboro KY 42303, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Tri-State Region

and in the Western Coal Field.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Daviess Countians Who Served (here, next to this marker); Daviess Co. U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Court Bell (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Medal of Honor Winners (within shouting distance of this marker); Wendell H. Ford (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); George Graham Vest / "Tribute to a Dog" (about 300 feet away); Confederate Congressional Medal of Honour (about 400 feet away); Bill Smothers Park (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Owensboro.

Also see . . .
1. William Davison, a Confederate guerrilla. Hawesville was the birthplace of William Davison, a Confederate guerrilla captain and son of Dr. Hardin Davison. Davison's band of marauders terrorized civilians in the river counties of western Kentucky in 1864. Davison died in 1865 from wounds suffered while he was burning the Owensboro-Daviess County Courthouse. He was buried in a shallow grave in southern Hancock County and was moved to the Hawesville Cemetery after the war. (Submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Courthouse Burned. Formerly a captain in the 7th Kentucky Union Infantry Regiment, William “Bill” Davison resigned after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued and became a Confederate guerrilla. Davison then traveled to Hancock and Daviess counties

Courthouse Burned Marker (<i>side 2; map of Kentucky Courthouses burned during the Civil War</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

2. Courthouse Burned Marker (side 2; map of Kentucky Courthouses burned during the Civil War)

The twenty-two Kentucky courthouses burned during the civil war were located at: Mayfield, Cadiz, Marion, Princeton, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Owensboro, Hartford, Hardinsburg, Leitchfield, Tompkinsville, Hodgenville, Taylorsville, Lebanon, Campbellsville, Burkesville, Albany, Harlan, Stanton, Mt. Sterling, Owingsville and Morehead.

to assemble a group of guerrillas called “Davison’s Hyenas.” Davison had orders to burn every courthouse that was occupied by the United States Colored Troops (USCT). As the Daviess County courthouse was used to quarter three companies of USCT troops, Davison set his sights on this building. (Submitted on July 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Courthouse Burned Marker (<i>side 1; tall view; looking east along West 2nd Street</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

3. Courthouse Burned Marker (side 1; tall view; looking east along West 2nd Street)

Courthouse Burned Marker (<i>side 1; wide view; related marker visible at right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

4. Courthouse Burned Marker (side 1; wide view; related marker visible at right)

Courthouse Burned Marker (<i>side 2; wide view; Daviess County WWI Memorial in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2017

5. Courthouse Burned Marker (side 2; wide view; Daviess County WWI Memorial in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,296 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 7, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.