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A Family Tragedy, Civil War Trails
Civil War Trails marker in Lafayette, Tennessee.
"The Execution of Pvt Elvis B Parker"
" Thousands of Tennessee families were caught in the crossfire of the Civil War. Dempsey Parker's family, which lived in the Hillsdale community here in Macon County, is one of the many examples of a family sharply divided between North and South.
Parker, a respected elder, had served his country in the War of 1812 and was an ardent Unionist. His son Isaac newton Parker, however, served in Confederate Lt Col James D Bennett's 7th Tennessee Cavalry. Son Daniel Webster Parker joined Co H 5th Kentucky Cavalry(US). Another son, Alfred B Parker, who did not enlist, was killed in March 1863 by unknown guerrillas.
Dempsey Parker's fourth son, Elvis Brooks Parker, enlisted in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry in October 1861. He went home after 90 days, believing his enlistment had expired, and then joined the Federal 5th Kentucky Cavalry. In August 1862, Confederate Gen John Hunt Morgan's troops captured Elvis Parker near Gallatin, and a subsequent court martial found him guilty of desertion and of 'fighting in the Federal ranks against his own countrymen.' Dempsey Parker proclaimed that he would not denounce his devotion to the Union, even if that pledge cost his son his life, and he challenged Morgan to shoot him if the general did not like those sentiments. On August 23, a firing squad executed Elvis Brooks Parker at Morgan's camp at Mills Woods near Hartsville.
Elvis Parker's brother Daniel Webster Parker continued to serve in the 5th Kentucky Cavalry(US) for the rest of the way. He died in Trousdale Co in 1909."
A Family Tragedy, Civil War Trails
Civil War Trails marker in Lafayette, Tennessee.
"The Execution of Pvt Elvis B Parker"
" Thousands of Tennessee families were caught in the crossfire of the Civil War. Dempsey Parker's family, which lived in the Hillsdale community here in Macon County, is one of the many examples of a family sharply divided between North and South.
Parker, a respected elder, had served his country in the War of 1812 and was an ardent Unionist. His son Isaac newton Parker, however, served in Confederate Lt Col James D Bennett's 7th Tennessee Cavalry. Son Daniel Webster Parker joined Co H 5th Kentucky Cavalry(US). Another son, Alfred B Parker, who did not enlist, was killed in March 1863 by unknown guerrillas.
Dempsey Parker's fourth son, Elvis Brooks Parker, enlisted in the 7th Tennessee Cavalry in October 1861. He went home after 90 days, believing his enlistment had expired, and then joined the Federal 5th Kentucky Cavalry. In August 1862, Confederate Gen John Hunt Morgan's troops captured Elvis Parker near Gallatin, and a subsequent court martial found him guilty of desertion and of 'fighting in the Federal ranks against his own countrymen.' Dempsey Parker proclaimed that he would not denounce his devotion to the Union, even if that pledge cost his son his life, and he challenged Morgan to shoot him if the general did not like those sentiments. On August 23, a firing squad executed Elvis Brooks Parker at Morgan's camp at Mills Woods near Hartsville.
Elvis Parker's brother Daniel Webster Parker continued to serve in the 5th Kentucky Cavalry(US) for the rest of the way. He died in Trousdale Co in 1909."