Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

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

Description

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