Roll of Honor
S. Creed Cardwell
Incident
Revenue Agent Creed Cardwell, Deputy Collector Stephen Mather, and Chief Deputy Revenue Collector Joe Spurrier were shot and killed in an ambush in Lincoln County, Tennessee, while en route to investigate reports of an illegal liquor still. They were ambushed as they were riding their horses down a remote trail. The agents were able to return fire, and one of the suspects was also shot and killed. Deputy Collector Mather was killed at the scene. Other agents were able to take the two wounded agents to a local doctor, where Agent Cardwell died later in the day. Chief Deputy Spurrier was taken to his home in Nashville, where he succumbed to his wounds three weeks later. Revenue Agent Cardwell served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue - Division of Revenue Agents.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, children, and sister.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-434D886D- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Revenue Agent Cardwell served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Revenue Agent S. Creed Cardwell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. S. Creed Cardwell's cause is highlighted.
How S. Creed Cardwell Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. S. Creed Cardwell is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. S. Creed Cardwell was killed by gun; unknown type.