In the Civil War, more Harlan County men fought to preserve the Union than did to uphold the Confederacy, but there were many who followed the Rebel flag. Many families were divided, if not brother against brother, then certainly cousin against cousin.

Both the Union and Confederate armies passed through Harlan County many times during the war and took food for their troops, horses, feed for their mounts and whatever else they needed. Sometimes vouchers were given for the supplies, but often not. If a unit was shorthanded, they would even draft men into service, be they willing recruits or not. There are numerous tales of men, old or young, being shot for resisting or for being suspected of sympathizing with the other side.

Many families found it necessary to hide their food, livestock and valuables from the assorted raiders, some of whom were no better than bandits. With their own men off fighting in the war, on either side, many families were virtually defenseless against such terrorizing.

When Union forces burned the Lee County, Va., Courthouse at Jonesville, Rebel troops retaliated by burning the courthouse in Harlan, then known as Mount Pleasant. Fortunately, the county court clerk's office was located in a separate building and few if any court records were destroyed in the fire.

On May 23, 1865, Leonard Farmer wrote the State Inspector General that we had not had a Circuit Court here in this county for three years. He added that the guerrillas had nearly laid waste to the county by pillaging, plundering and robbing, taking arms, clothing, bacon and so forth, and that when they found a man that opposed them they would burn the house and furniture and leave the women and children without clothing or beds on which to sleep. According to Farmer's letter, old men would take their blankets and hide in the mountains to avoid assassination.

It took several years after the war to catch up on the undone paperwork, estate proceedings, etc. for those who died during the war years, even of natural causes. Documents can be found in county's records dated in the 1870's and even late addressing such matters.

Not only were local residents directly affected by the presence of either or both sides of the military, a great many of Harlan County's young men died in battle or from one of the many illnesses prevalent in the camps. Even for the families whose menfolk eventually returned, the war years were hard with only the women, young children and the very old available to do the dawn to dusk work of daily life.