On Bended Knees: The Night Rider Story

by Bill Cunningham

A non-fictional tale of the Kentucky and Tennessee tobacco wars and farmers' revolt against the impoverishing tobacco prices of the "Duke Trust." Story of James B. Duke's tobacco empire and Dr. David Amoss from Kentucky, who led the secret organiztion known as the "Night Riders."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

After serving the court system in several capacities, Bill Cunningham was elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2006. He and his wife, Paula, have five sons.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Sarah]

As someone living in Robertson county, tobacco farming is a big part of our community economy and symbol of the area. So fascinating to read this well researched book. I have heard from several farmers and those who've worked in the tobacco fields that it's the hardest work they've ever done.

[LB O'Nan]

Really enjoyed reading this historical account of the tobacco wars and of Dr. Amoss and his Night Riders. The book was of particular interest since my father grew up in the house right across the street from Dr. Amoss’s home. I grew up hearing tales of the Night Riders from my grandparents and others in the Cobb community. The stories were so outlandish and unbelievable, I assumed they were more folklore than historical truth. But after reading this account it appears the stories were true after all.

[Rick]

This is another narrative about Night Riders, a tale of tobacco growers in western Kentucky and Tennessee banding together to fight the Duke monopoly. With Duke manipulating tobacco prices, the growers fought back the only way they could: refusing to plant tobacco crops, and intimidating others to follow their lead. Night Riders refers to that intimidation element, their vigilante activities. As the Night Riders spread their violence, it was just a matter of time before the State militia was called out.

This is a nicely-written account of the affair, but I admit I enjoyed the 1939 version written by James Nall a bit more. Cunningham's 1983 take has more focus on the leader (Amoss) and that was not quite as interesting. Nall's book had detailed maps and statistics, Cunningham's does not but substitutes a few pictures. If you can only read one version of this story...look to Nall's...if you are really researching the field, add in Cunningham's. Any way you look at it, this is a little known piece of Americana worth reading.

[Allison Ross]

This was another book that I really had a hard time staying awake to read, however once I got over the list of names and thought about how if it was my family or ancestors I would want to see their names listed, the reading of the book improved. This is an excellent book for anyone who is going to attend Duke for the physician assistant program or any part of the School of Medicine. My father-in-law recommended it to me when I got into Duke for PA school; highly recommend reading it and finishing it to the end. There is an incredible spoiler at the end that all Dukies should know!! ❤️

[David George]

Fascinating, well-researched, and well written. Tells the story of the tobacco wars of Western Kentucky and Tennessee around 1900. The farmers, led by Paducah doctor David Amoss, fought the Duke Tobacco Company and its stranglehold on prices. Farmers turned against their neighbors and churches were divided by the conflict. Included in the story is the history of Duke University and a surprise ending in which the Duke family and the Amoss family had something in common in the story of a great medical school founded on tobacco wealth. Cunningham, a Kentucky judge and accomplished amateur historian takes a wise and balanced view of the good and evil on both sides. Of the legacies of David Amoss and James Buchanan Duke he says, "The lives of these two men also give testimony to the resiliency and depth of a free country than can absorb the abuses and wealth and the violent reaction to it." As a resident of Middle Tennessee I found the book engrossing. It's out of print and scarce, but the Nashville Public Library has a copy. Thanks to my friend from Western Kentucky, Duard Sullivan, for lending me his copy.

[Corey]

Full of twists and turns, this account of the tobacco war in Western KY is a great tale of the little guy fighting a faraway power.

[Fran]

Fascinating reading concerning the Night Rider Tobacco War, also known as the Black Patch Tobacco War in Western Kentucky and Tennessee.

[Dave]

Very interesting walk through Kentuckys history and the effects it had on the state.

[Terry Fedosky]

This is a great piece of history for western Kentucky. Fascinating..........