The Nightriders

The Nightriders. . , [side 1] Confederate veterans returning from Civil War found their community in chaos and occupied by what they deemed an army of occupation. They organized a local home guard. From this group sprang an inner circle of outlaws, which became the West and Kimbrel Clan , otherwise known as “The Nightriders.” The nefarious group operated along the Harrisonburg Road, which was a wagon road that was established in the mid-late 19th century that connected the Natchez Trace and El Camino Real. This route is where the Nightriders robbed and murdered travelers in the years following the Civil War. The Nightriders claimed to be upstanding citizens of their community, which disguised their true identity as murderers and robbers. They were led by John West and Jackson Lawson “Laws” Kimbrel. The Kimbrel family operated a store/post office at Wheeling, which was located just yards west of this location. The Kimbrel family also established a neighborhood school for the community located near their home site. The school was known as the “Barefoot School,” so named because all those in attendance were barefooted. , [side 2] The Kimbrel family home site was located around one mile west of this location on the Harrisonburg Road. The home was a way-side inn for East-West travelers. Many travelers fell victim to the West-Kimbrel Clan after staying at the inn. Many were murdered and their bodies tossed in wells found along the Harrisonburg Road. On Easter Sunday, 1870, citizens rounded up and killed many of the Nightriders, including John West. They were killed and buried in Atlanta, LA, 8 miles east of this location. Laws Kimbrel and his brother, Owen Struderic “Shep” Kimbrel escaped. Shep was killed by lawmen in Oklahoma. Laws was later captured and hanged in Austin, TX in 1873.