The Night Riders
Encyclopedia
The Night Riders were a vigilante
group operating from about 1906 to 1908 in southwestern Kentucky
and northwestern Tennessee
that used fear and intimidation against the Duke tobacco monopoly in the area. The Night Riders were led by Dr. David Amoss, a medical doctor from the Cobb community in Caldwell County, Kentucky
. These "masked riders" initiated what were called the Black Patch Wars because of the unfair price ceilings being generated by the Duke tobacco conglomerate. The Black Patch Wars developed into the most violent civil uprising since the Civil War. The price of tobacco had been artificially suppressed and as a consequence the people in these communities suffered greatly. However, the violent tactics of the Night Riders (whippings, murders, burning of buildings, and seizing of entire towns) set up an inevitable confrontation with the National Guard.
Finally, in April, 1908 a Kentucky National Guard element led by Captain Newton Jasper Wilburn forced the Night Riders out of the area with a series of daring raids against the leadership. Even though most of the Night Riders eventually escaped justice, Captain Wilburn's actions helped bring law and order to the beleaguered region.
The Amoss House in Caldwell County is dedicated to the history of Dr. Amoss and the Night Riders. Other area museums house numerous artifacts and personal histories regarding the era of the Night Riders.
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
group operating from about 1906 to 1908 in southwestern 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...
and northwestern Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
that used fear and intimidation against the Duke tobacco monopoly in the area. The Night Riders were led by Dr. David Amoss, a medical doctor from the Cobb community in Caldwell County, Kentucky
Caldwell County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 12,984 people, with 6,292 households in the county.-Communities:*Bakers*Baldwin Ford*Black Hawk*The Bluff*Cedar Bluff*Claxton*Cobb*Cresswell*Crider*Crowtown*Enon*Farmersville*Flat Rock*Friendship*Fryer...
. These "masked riders" initiated what were called the Black Patch Wars because of the unfair price ceilings being generated by the Duke tobacco conglomerate. The Black Patch Wars developed into the most violent civil uprising since the Civil War. The price of tobacco had been artificially suppressed and as a consequence the people in these communities suffered greatly. However, the violent tactics of the Night Riders (whippings, murders, burning of buildings, and seizing of entire towns) set up an inevitable confrontation with the National Guard.
Finally, in April, 1908 a Kentucky National Guard element led by Captain Newton Jasper Wilburn forced the Night Riders out of the area with a series of daring raids against the leadership. Even though most of the Night Riders eventually escaped justice, Captain Wilburn's actions helped bring law and order to the beleaguered region.
The Amoss House in Caldwell County is dedicated to the history of Dr. Amoss and the Night Riders. Other area museums house numerous artifacts and personal histories regarding the era of the Night Riders.