A Peace Party Meeting at Greenupsburg, September 2, 1861

In 1861, three special elections took place in which the people of Kentucky voted overwhelmingly against a Convention, against Secession, against a dissolution of the Union. Even when the Southern Rights party embraced "Union and neutrality" as their new stance in order to garner support before the last election on August 5, 1861, they were decisively rejected by the voters who elected a large majority of Union men to her legislature, taking control of both the house and the senate. 

In the days following, the Secessionists under the guise of "Southern Peace Party" made a last ditch effort to turn the tide and induce Kentuckians to join their cause by stirring up anti-government and anti-Lincoln sentiment and raising the specter of  war on Kentucky soil. 

"They have appealed to the ballot-box three several times, directly in the Congressional elections, and still more directly in the State elections just passed, and they have been overwhelmingly beaten; Do they now acquiesce and agree to abide the decision of Kentucky? No elections are on hand; no further appeal to the ballot box can be made for two years to come, and yet we have a renewed agitation - barbeques, pic-nics, and the most inflammatory appeals to the people, and daily threats of war." 

According to Unionists, these public peace meetings were designed to "inflame the public mind with violent harrangues," scaring people with "LINCOLN's Congress, LINCOLN's war, LINCOLN's tyranny." However, the public was not fooled. "They had just as well accept the truth, that they can't scare anybody ... they pretend to be afraid of what they call Lincoln's troops - Kentuckians, who have as much interest in this State as they have, and equal rights with them, and no purpose to disturb them, if they only obey the law and behave themselves."    

"We are tired of this profession of neutrality, whilst giving reasons for revolution. To make Secession speeches, and publish Secession arguments, and then profess to be for peace and neutrality, is disreputable."

"They may change names as often as they please, but they are the same party - Southern Rights Peace party, or Secesssion party, it is all the same; they are for resisting the Federal Government and plunging into rebellion, no matter how."

"...a party that labored to induce Kentucky to secede, and invite war upon her own soil, and then cried out for peace...accompanied with a threat to resist law. Take off the mask, and be what you really are, and what you aim to make Kentucky - a rebel against the Federal Government."

One such peace party meeting took place during court days in Greenupsburg, on September 2, 1861 - two days before Confederate troops invaded Kentucky and occupied Columbus, violating the state's neutrality. In response, Union troops captured Paducah and Smithland. These events sealed the fate of secessionists in the state and brought Kentucky firmly into the fold of the Union.  On September 18, 1861, the Kentucky Legislature formally declared an end to neutrality and passed an act to create a military force in Kentucky. This prompted Secessionist lawmakers to leave Frankfort four days later. On September 25, 1861, a second act was passed, calling for 40,000 troops for 3 year service. Union enlistments began at once and within a month, 20,000 men were enrolled. Before the end of 1861, the call had been met.

Meanwhile, by mid-September 1861, the Confederates had established a recruiting camp on the May farm, just north of Prestonsburg, in Floyd County, Kentucky.

Following the Greenupsburg peace party meeting, the following members joined the Confederate Army

John P. Twyford, 4th KY Mounted Infantry, Corporal, enl. Sept. 14, 1861

Benjamin J. McComas, 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, 2nd Lieutenant, enl. Oct. 20, 1861

Joseph Martin, 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, Private, enl. Nov. 11, 1861

At least three members, Benjamin J. McComas, William A. Womack and John McCoy, were involved in a plan to seize the weapons of the Grayson Home Guards in Carter County, on September 30, 1861. This led to a skirmish at Landsdowne Hall in which Womack and McCoy were captured. McComas escaped and joined the Confederate Army at Prestonsburg.