This story concerns Abner Killough (1813-1893) and his wife
    Angeline/Angelina “Ann” Lacey Killough (1821-1898)
 
Story in the WEEKLY IRON AGE, Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 3, 1885.
 

BATTLE OF AVONDALE, 1865

A few days ago an AGE reporter was out at Avondale park, rambling about over the hills.  When the rain began to fall in torrents, shelter was sought in the front veranda of the old looking house on the top of the hill above the apple orchard.  As he was watching the rain drops patter against the side of the walls of the porch, a number of small holes were observed that looked as if they were caused by bullets.  The companion of the reporter, who was one of the oldest settlers of Birmingham, remarked that the holes were made by bullets and that the old house was the scene of the first battle and the only bloodshed that occurred in Jefferson county during the late war.  He was asked to tell the story and he did so:

“It was in the spring of 1865, when Wilson’s army marched through this section, southward.  The command camped in Elyton (later called Birmingham) and the picket lines extended around the mountain side to Avondale park.  At the time, the house was occupied by Mr. Abner Killough, the sheriff of the county (Jefferson), who owned considerable money and had it hidden in the hills around.  Mrs. Killough, the wife of the sheriff, was one day seated in the veranda knitting when she was approached by a number of Yankee officers who came to the porch where she was sitting with her head leaned back against that old window in an old rocking chair.  The soldiers were laughing and singing when suddenly the home supporting force, commanded by Captain Truss, rode up to the corner of the yard, and seeing the verandah lined by blue coats, fired and the bullets flew fast and thick.  Mrs. Killough, recognizing the Confederates, arose from her seat and was pierced by a ball which passed through her body sinking in the wall beyond.  She fell and was picked up bleeding and unconscious.  She survived the wound and now lives with her husband near Montevallo, Shelby County.  The Yankees fled and no one was hurt except Mrs. Killough.  This was the first battle and only blood shed in Jefferson County during the war.”  The gentleman took his pocket knife and began to cut around the dark-looking hole and out rolled a battered bullet, the one that had wounded the good woman.  The ball had been imbedded in the wood for just twenty years.