U.S. Marshals and the Moonshine War 1872-1913

Of all the duties in this country, that of U. S. Marshal is the most dangerous and onerous. The people of the neighboring counties seem to have the idea that the chief use of any officer of the law is to afford a target for their rifles and pistols, and we too well know how many United States officers have fallen victims to duty.

Springfield, Missouri, Advertiser, May 1876

1888 Reward poster for arrest and conviction of murderers of deputies

Partial List of Deputy Marshals Killed During the Moonshine War
Name	Date	District	Remarks
Madison F. Mitchell	June 28, 1872	District of South Carolina	Ambushed while escorting moonshiners to jail.
____ Burns	April 13, 1874	Western District of North Carolina	Shot in the back from ambush.
Horace Metcalf	August 22, 1874	Western District of Missouri	Killed arresting moonshiner.
George Ellis (Bailiff)	December 10, 1877	Western District of Kentucky	Killed in shoot-out with moonshiner, who was also killed.
Van B. Hendrix	December 31, 1877	District of South Carolina	Shot during arrest of moonshiner.
Alfred McCreory	June, 1877	District of South Carolina	Killed in revenge for moonshine raid.
James Letford	June, 1877	District of South Carolina	Killed in revenge for moonshine raid.
Rufus H. Springs	April 18, 1878	District of South Carolina	Ambushed during moonshine raid.
W.L. Miller	July 16, 1885	Middle District of Tennessee	Killed by moonshiners who hid his body in the mountains. The body was not found for several weeks.
Miller Hurst	October 10, 1885	Middle District of Tennessee	Ambushed while taking a moonshiner to jail.
Thomas Goodson	December 1, 1888	Eastern District of Tennessee	Ambushed and shot twice in the head.
Sam Hughes	August 21, 1889	Eastern District of Tennessee	Killed while arresting two moonshiners.
C.K. Stuart	March 4, 1892	Eastern District of Tennessee	Killed during prison rescue attempt by moonshiners.
James Ballinger	October 17, 1892	Middle District of Tennessee	Ambushed during moonshine raid.
C. B. Brockus	February 14, 1893	Western District of North Carolina	Killed during prison rescue attempt.
John D. Kirby	March 6, 1896	District of South Carolina	Shot in back of head during prison rescue attempt.
B. F. Taylor	August 29, 1897	Eastern District of Arkansas	Killed during moonshine raid.
Joe M. Dodson	August 29, 1897	Eastern District of Arkansas	Killed during moonshine raid.
John C. Mullins	December 25, 1908	Eastern District of Kentucky	Killed while arresting moonshiner.
John Sloan	May 05, 1913	Eastern District of Kentucky	Killed while arresting moonshiner.
Marion Ramey	May 05, 1913	Eastern District of Kentucky	Killed while arresting moonshiner.

Deputy Returning Fire on Moonshiners, Source: George Atkinson, After the Moonshiners

Raiding Party of Deputies and Internal Revenue Agents Source: George Atkinson, After the Moonshiners