Sue Mundy
Encyclopedia
Sue Mundy was a fictional guerrilla character created by George D. Prentice
, the editor of the Louisville Journal, who opposed the heavy-handed military rule of General Stephen G. Burbridge
in Kentucky
during the American Civil War
.
Major General
Stephen G. Burbridge
was given command over the Commonwealth of Kentucky
in June 1864, after the state's Unionist population had suffered numerous guerrilla raids and murders. He declared martial law
.
Prentice created the "Sue Mundy" persona to portray Burbridge as an incompetent commander, unable to protect Kentucky citizens. There were, in fact, guerrilla
groups operated in Kentucky late in 1864 and in 1865 (as there were in neighboring Tennessee). Most were actually bandits, preying on those persons of either loyalty without discrimination. Some claimed to be part of "Sue Mundy's gang" because of the popular image and instant notoriety. Prentice published articles about the terrorism in the Louisville Journal, under the activities of Sue Mundy, to emphasize what he saw as the incompetence of Burbridge.
In the first editorial Prentice wrote about the character, he spelled her name 'Munday', but in every other editorial he spelled the name 'Mundy'. He portrayed her as a guerrilla. The 20-year-old guerrilla Marcellus Jerome Clarke
wore his hair long and had smooth-faced features. Some thought or alleged that he was Sue Mundy. Caught by Federal soldiers in Meade County
on March 12, 1865, he was tried in Louisville
and hanged a few days later. All along, Prentice vehemently denied that Clarke was Mundy.
By some accounts, including his own, Henry C. Magruder, another guerrilla soldier riding with Clarke, was the original Sue Mundy. In his Three Years in the Saddle: The Life and Confession of Henry Magruder: The Original Sue Munday, The Scourge of Kentucky, when the guerrillas were finally arrested, Clarke was executed by hanging soon after capture in March 1865. Magruder, having been shot in the lungs, was allowed to recover his health, in jail, before he was hanged.
George D. Prentice
George Dennison Prentice was the editor of the Louisville Journal, which he built into a major newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky. He attracted readers by satire as well as exaggerated reporting and support of the Know-Nothing Party in the 1850s. His writing was said to contribute to rabid...
, the editor of the Louisville Journal, who opposed the heavy-handed military rule of General Stephen G. Burbridge
Stephen G. Burbridge
-External links:* — Article by Civil War historian/author Bryan S. Bush...
in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
History
UnionUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Stephen G. Burbridge
Stephen G. Burbridge
-External links:* — Article by Civil War historian/author Bryan S. Bush...
was given command over the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in June 1864, after the state's Unionist population had suffered numerous guerrilla raids and murders. He declared martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
.
Prentice created the "Sue Mundy" persona to portray Burbridge as an incompetent commander, unable to protect Kentucky citizens. There were, in fact, guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War
Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War followed the same general patterns of irregular warfare conducted in 19th century Europe. Structurally, they can be divided into three different types of operations—the so-called 'People's War', 'partisan warfare', and 'raiding warfare'...
groups operated in Kentucky late in 1864 and in 1865 (as there were in neighboring Tennessee). Most were actually bandits, preying on those persons of either loyalty without discrimination. Some claimed to be part of "Sue Mundy's gang" because of the popular image and instant notoriety. Prentice published articles about the terrorism in the Louisville Journal, under the activities of Sue Mundy, to emphasize what he saw as the incompetence of Burbridge.
In the first editorial Prentice wrote about the character, he spelled her name 'Munday', but in every other editorial he spelled the name 'Mundy'. He portrayed her as a guerrilla. The 20-year-old guerrilla Marcellus Jerome Clarke
Marcellus Jerome Clarke
Marcellus Jerome Clarke was a Confederate captain who in 1864 became one of Kentucky's most famous guerrillas...
wore his hair long and had smooth-faced features. Some thought or alleged that he was Sue Mundy. Caught by Federal soldiers in Meade County
Meade County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of...
on March 12, 1865, he was tried in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and hanged a few days later. All along, Prentice vehemently denied that Clarke was Mundy.
By some accounts, including his own, Henry C. Magruder, another guerrilla soldier riding with Clarke, was the original Sue Mundy. In his Three Years in the Saddle: The Life and Confession of Henry Magruder: The Original Sue Munday, The Scourge of Kentucky, when the guerrillas were finally arrested, Clarke was executed by hanging soon after capture in March 1865. Magruder, having been shot in the lungs, was allowed to recover his health, in jail, before he was hanged.
External links
- "Guerilla [sic] Warfare in Kentucky" — Article by Civil War historian/author Bryan S. Bush