I knew Lt.Duke was released after his mother paid a bribe, but wasn't certain whether Sgt.Maj.John Duke was killed or not. I know both were among those that Burbrudge had ordered to be executed, but maybe both men were covered with the bribe. Sorry. Good luck. This, along with much else, is part of the TRUE history of that War that must be written, with the actual actions of Federal commanders reported as they happened, rather than censored to fit people's BS, Gov't-approved, and too often politically correct sanitized version in which "evil" Southerners were responsible for all, with their morally superior Northern opponents never having done any wrong. Much of our modern-day, popular narrative of the American Civil War, including, and especially, the neglect of war crimes committed by Federal troops (Burbridge-see below, Turchin, Col.Wm.Hoffman,etc.) and the Prison/Concentraion Camp issue (wherein Andersonville is all that is mentioned while death camps such as Camp Douglas and Elmira are barely remembered) is morally and intellectually dishonest and does a terrible disservice to the memory of all that War's victims, North and South. Best of luck, and I hope you succeed in drawing more attention to these neglected events and the brave Kentuckians who suffered as a result.
-MJG
*Lexington, KY: “The rapid increase in this district of lawless bands of armed men engaged in interrupting railroad and telegraphic communications, plundering and murdering peaceful union citizens, destroying the mails, etc., calls for the adoption of stringent measures on the part of the military authorities for their suppression. Therefore, all guerrillas, armed prowlers, by whatever name they may be known, and rebel sympathizers are hereby admonished that in future, stern retaliatory measures will be adopted and strictly enforced, whenever the lives or property of peaceful citizens are jeopardized by the lawless acts of such men. Rebel sympathizers living within five miles of any scene of outrage committed by armed men, not recognized as public enemies by the rules and usages of war, will be arrested and sent beyond the limits of the U.S. in accordance with instructions from the major general commanding the military district of the MS. So much of the property of rebel sympathizers as may be necessary to indemnify the government or loyal citizens for losses incurred by the acts of such lawless men will be seized and appropriated for this purpose. Whenever an unarmed union citizen is murdered four guerrillas will be selected from the prisoners in the hands of the military authorities and publicly shot to death in the most convenient place near the scene of the outrage.”
….Gen. Orders No. 59 – HQ District of KY and 5th Div. 23rd Army Corps. Lexington, KY – July 16, 1864 – By Command of Bvt. Maj. Gen. S. G. Burbridge.