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JUNE 18-19, 1864.--Descent on Laclede,
Mo., and Pursuit of the Raiders. REPORTS.
No. 1.--Brig. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, U.S. Army,
commanding District of North Missouri.
No. 2.--Capt. Eli J. Crandall, Linn County, Missouri, Enrolled Militia.
No. 3.--Lieut. Joseph M. Brown, Eighteenth Missouri Infantry.
No. 1.--Report of Brig. Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, U.S.
Army, commanding
District of North Missouri.
SAINT JOSEPH, MO., June 21, 1864.
A gang of guerrillas from Chariton County dashed into Laclede on Saturday and
killed 2 citizens and plundered others. Troops from Brookfield, under Captain
Crandall, were ordered in pursuit. Three of the guerrillas have been killed, and
the stolen property mostly recovered.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
Major-General ROSECRANS,
Commanding Department of the Missouri.
No. 2.--Reports of Capt. Eli J. Crandall, Linn County,
Missouri, Enrolled Militia.
BROOKFIELD, June 19, 1864.
GENERAL: I find that 16 bushwhackers, under command, it is said, of Captain
Holtzclaw, came into Laclede last night about 5 p.m., and arrested the citizens
who could be readily found. One man by name of Crowder shot 1 of them, and was
instantly killed himself. They also shot a man by name of Jones, a good, loyal
man. Our boys were mounted, and went from here, and some went on an engine and
drove them out of town in a hurry. Lieutenant Lewis ran them with 25 men until
after dark; he then returned to Laclede, and has again left Laclede; at daylight
he run them into the timber: a portion, some 4 in number, pressed the mail hack,
and put their man who was wounded in it, and also a lot of plunder taken from
stores, which our men captured again. The men on the engine shot 1 dead in the
hack, and the driver was wounded, and the other 2 cut the harness and left. But
1 of them was shot from the horse, but it was in the edge of the timber. They
found the horse, but it was so dark they could not find the man. They will look
for him this morning. I am going into the rebel portion of the county where
these men sprung up from so suddenly. I will report when I come in from my trip.
E. J. CRANDALL,
Captain.
General FISK.
-----
BROOKFIELD, June 20, 1864.
GENERAL: I had my whole force out yesterday after those bushwhackers. Lieutenant
Lewis, with 40 men, is now after them. They came into Laclede about 5 o'clock in
the afternoon and took the town. I think they had at least 50 or 60 prisoners
while in town. They then went into the stores of some men and took all the money
they could get and what other things they could conveniently carry off. I have
the amount, or nearly so; shall have the exact account of all goods, &c.,
taken sworn to by each of the losers, and shall be ready to make the assessment
on their sympathizing friends who feed and harbor them. This will stop
bushwhacking. Shall I go ahead with the assessment? I will make full statement
to you of losses, and also of assessments, giving the names of all the victims.
We captured 3 horses from the bushwhackers. One of them
we killed was a brother of the man who killed Brock; the other was a bad egg by
name of Callahan. I have the names of more of them who were in the gang; they
live in this and Chariton Counties. We shot the face most off one who got away.
He will not live.
E. J. CRANDALL,
Captain.
General FISK.
-----
BROOKFIELD, June 20, 1864.
GENERAL: Lieutenant Lewis with his men were heard from this morning, still
running the bushwhackers: he run into their camp last night and routed them.
They had a log house for rendezvous, with bacon and other stores for living, in
a place near the forks of Yellow Creek and Grand River. Lieutenant Lewis burned
the establishment, provisions, and other plunder, and arrested 2 or 3 men who
used to be bushwhacking in 1861, but have since taken the oath. One says he was
with the bushwhackers and helped to bushwhack a company of the Seventh Missouri
Cavalry at Hurricane Creek, Carroll County, in 1861. They had any amount of
bacon and meat and bread, some corn, which had been furnished by somebody. He
could not find anybody who had been furnishing either forcibly or voluntarily.
Lieutenant Lewis sent the prisoners back and he is still running them south.
E. J. CRANDALL,
Captain.
General FISK.
HDQRS. LINN COUNTY ENROLLED MISSOURI MILITIA,
Brookfield, June 20, 1864.
GENERAL: On the 18th of this month a band of rebel bushwhackers came into the
town of Laclede, Linn County, and robbed several of our Union citizens and shot
2 of them. There were 16 of the bushwhackers, commanded by Holtzclaw, of Howard
County. The greater portion of the men composing his company were known to our
citizens. They came into the town from the west, and arrested the citizens as
they came to them and marched them to the public square. One man (an esteemed
soldier) by name of Crowder, shot 1 of the devils through from a window, and the
same man turned and shot him (Crowder) dead, through the window, after he was
wounded by Crowder. About this time one of the citizens started to run (a Mr.
Jones) and was immediately shot by some of the bushwhackers. On their first
appearance in town a messenger started immediately for Brookfield and informed
Lieutenant Billings, who detailed as many men as he could mount and started with
them, and also sent a few soldiers on an engine, with such railroad employés as
were at hand to volunteer. They ran the engine to Laclede, and the bushwhackers
had loaded their wounded men into the hack that carries the mail from Laclede to
Linneus, and had gone west toward Locust Bottoms. Our men who were on the engine
followed up the hack, which had some distance to go by the side of the track
before they could turn off. When they came within shooting distance they
commenced a running fight. The wounded man (James Nave) was killed. The other
man in the hack and the driver were both wounded, and the 2 escorts riding on
horseback were mortally wounded, 1 of them since killed. The driver was taken
back to Laclede, as he was pressed with the hack. The other 2 wounded men have
not as yet been found. One had his leg broken and the other had one side of his
face torn all to pieces by two charges of buckshot. Lieutenant Lewis has been
after them ever since and has returned to-night, after riding some 60 miles in
pursuit, and to our surprise they were at 4 p.m. last night within 2 miles of
Laclede again. This trip has again proven to me the perfect folly of chasing
bushwhackers while the country is full of law-abiding citizens to harbor and
feed them. Lieutenant Lewis heard of them from place to place, and from rebels
that they had just gone on such a road but a short time before, but after riding
in that direction 8 or 10 miles, would hear of them in another direction, but in
no instance could he hear who fed them or their horses, Lieutenant Lewis
followed the trail of 8 or 10 men across Grand River and stopped at a rebel's
house for breakfast, and, after some considerable argument, prevailed upon them
to get some, and while they were at this house some one of the men picked up a
copy of the New York Day-Book, and noticing some article not particularly
pleasing he tore up the copy he had and all the other copies of the same paper
found in the room; that was the extent of damage done at that place. At the next
place they stopped to inquire for the bushwhackers, and could find out nothing.
The same soldier who tore up the Day-Book at the other place saw a copy at this
house, and that had to be destroyed. A young man living there said something
insulting to one of the soldiers as they were moving off, and the soldier
dismounted and knocked the said rebel down, and then mounted and followed his
company. This Lieutenant Lewis did not know of at the time. At this house our
boys found two loaded guns, and as they knew the men they broke the guns. Our
boys then went to the house of a Union man in the neighborhood, and a young lady
ran out and met them, and told Lieutenant Lewis that she had just left a house
near by, not over a quarter of a mile off, where I think a Bolon lives, and that
6 strange men were there when she left. Lewis immediately went to the house and
every person had left the house; it was entirely alone. He could find nothing of
them. He looked about and found a revolver, some caps and lead, and 3 or 4
pounds of powder, all of which he has brought in.
He had also got track of another bad man by name of
Wingate. He knew from Union people what kind of a man he was, and Lewis also
learned that Wingate had bought a new revolver and that he was a dangerous man.
This Wingate, on seeing our forces coming, took his revolver and put for the
brush. Lewis did not know this, but on coming up to the house, he asked for the
revolver and Mrs. Wingate said she knew nothing of it. Lewis told her she must
produce the revolver and show them where Wingate was or they would burn the
establishment out. They found a man at this place by fame of McDonald, and the
lieutenant asked him about rebels, and about where Wingate could be found. The
man was very insolent and refused to tell anything. The lieutenant gave orders
for a rope to be procured and if this man would not tell about where Win-gate
was he should be hung. This frightened him so badly that he told them that
Wingate had gone, with his revolver, to the brush, which is just as it was. They
searched for arms at this place and found three old rifles and one new U.S.
musket, complete, with cartridges, boxes, belts, and all this property was taken
and turned over to me.
Lieutenant Lewis and men say this is the extent of
damage done, and that no plundering has been allowed on the part of any of the
men. I instructed him to go out and catch those bushwhackers, if possible, and
to feed his horses and men on rebels and sympathizers, as they were the cause of
the present trouble, and must now come into Abraham's bosom, and help to stand
the expense of putting down the rebellion and clearing the country of these
desperadoes.
I am anxiously waiting to assess the damages on these
rebels to pay for the losses of our loyal people at Laclede. I have their bills
made out, and their affidavit attached certifying as to their respective losses.
Some men, unless they are helped, will be broken up entirely, as they took over
$1,000 from one man; and the man Crowder, who was killed, leaves a wife and
several children dependent entirely upon charity. The other lady is in rather
better circumstances. On one of the bushwhackers found next day they found some
$514.80; this was divided before I arrived at Laclede between the ladies who had
lost their husbands, by vote of soldiers and citizens.
Those same men are prowling about in this county, and
we cannot catch them while they are so well supplied with friends who feed them
and keep them posted. I know many who do this, but the evidence is not reliable
in Missouri as it comes through a negro source. Those men which our men visited
in the edge of Livingston were all noted rebels, and Lieutenant,Colonel Swain
knows them to be so, although he regards them as law-abiding citizens. I have
expected that his friends might be treated in a way not pleasing to them, they
have been so long protected by the Government and have tried to make themselves
obnoxious to Union men, falling back on their Paw Paw certificates of
enrollment, or their oath of allegiance; all of which they think gives them a
license to abuse not only the Government but our soldiers. This kind of
endurance has ceased to be a virtue, and the soldiers seem determined to handle
them without gloves, and not use any superfluous words. I think we must let all
rebels know that we appreciate them in the community and treat them as rebels.
You will not find a rebel in the country who is not armed with from one to two
navy revolvers. How will it answer for me to disarm all rebels in this county? I
would like to do so. When I send my men out I tell them to disarm all bad men.
No plundering of private property has been allowed by any of our men. This I am
assured by reliable and responsible men who were on this scout. My men would not
have gone out of the county had they not been deceived by rebels. The men they
came near running into, in the edge of Livingston County, were not the men who
visited Laclede in the late raid.
I have organized the people of Bucklin, Saint
Catherine, and Laclede into companies for self protection, and I have also
organized my old original company (Company G) of the Thirty-eighth Regiment,
under Lieutenant Woothly, who hold themselves in readiness to come out at any
time. I have sent a scout through Chariton County to-day to guard Mr. Carmon,
sheriff of that county, and other Union men who have been here for some days.
They dare not go home unless they can keep organized and on a war footing. They
have arms and ammunition for putting themselves partly on a war footing. Rebels
are perfectly safe, and in many instances heaping insult upon injury on our men
and friends. I am satisfied that those of us who are in the service are
occupying very delicate positions, as there are so many copperhead politicians
in the community who exaggerate every attempt on our part to restore peace and
put down bushwhacking. Rebels that I know tell my men I dare not send to them
for forage, as they have friends who will see them through; they meaning
copperhead Union men, who are so ready to take up their case in their behalf.
Our men, many of them, have left their homes from fear,
to fight for their country, leaving their crops planted and going to ruin, as
they know they cannot remain at home safe. Then when they go through the country
scouting and find the country full of bushwhackers, and at the same time find
rebels attending their farms, enjoying the blessing of their homes and protected
by the Government, and they through fear of offending somebody go hungry while
they have every reason to believe that this class of men are feeding our enemies
and we, through their acts, liable to be killed at any moment, I only wonder
that more devilment is not committed by them. General Fisk, I trust you will
excuse this long, uninteresting document, but I felt it my duty to give you an
idea of the feelings of our truly loyal men of this section. While none of us
would molest and injure the innocent, and in all cases look upon the ignorant
with a great deal of charity, yet we can but look upon those who still insist
that they are rebel sympathizers with scorn and contempt. We know that it is
this class who are now drawing the life blood out of our glorious Union. There
are now 40 Union refugees in town who have left their homes and have been
dodging from one place to another to save their lives, ready and willing to take
their guns if they can do anything, while their rebel neighbors are at home at
peace and making money. Some of the best men of this county are here to-day. I
can catch these bushwhackers if they remain here, and can make the rebel
sympathizers help to do it, but I must let them know that I regard them as
rebels and not as constitutional Union men. I am, general, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
E. J. CRANDALL,
Captain, Commanding.
General CLINTON B. FISK,
Comdg. District of North Missouri.
No. 3.--Report of Lieut. Joseph M. Brown, Eighteenth
Missouri Infantry.
LACLEDE, MO., June 22, 1864.
GENERAL: I send you this report by Col. I. V. Pratt, being here on recruiting
service by the order of Major-General Sherman. I was in the town on the 18th day
of this month when the bushwhackers sacked this place. I was in the town hall at
the time of attack; marched out upon the public square where all the citizens
were under guard. The bushwhackers killed 2 of the best citizens of this place,
Jonathan H. Jones, an attorney in this town, and David M. Crowder, a discharged
soldier of the First Missouri State Militia, one of the best of citizens. The
losses of our merchants are, as near as can be ascertained, as follows: John F.
Pershing, $811 in money and goods; Praty & Clarkson, $1,277 in money and
goods; Thomas Spencer, $587, mostly all money; J. J. Friend, $445, watches and
jewelry; John A. Riggen, $220, a fine mare, revolver, &c.; L. Seymore, $110,
money and merchandise; J. L. Reynolds, groceries, $24; Samuel Moore, $100,
groceries and liquors; J. M. Brown, fine silver watch, $40; Preston O'Neil, a
fine mare, saddle, and bridle, $200.
This is all that I know of at this time. David M.
Crowder shot and mortally wounded 1 bushwhacker, by the name of Jim Nave, whom
the captain of the thieves sent westward in a hack, but did not make his escape,
for a train coming in from Brookfield with some soldiers, they ran the engine,
with a few men upon the tender, and overtook the hack, fired upon it, killing
Nave and wounding 4 others, 1 of whom was overtaken and shot, making 2 of the
gang that lost their lives and 2 more wounded. The man that was pressed to drive
the hack was shot through the lungs. The captain is said to be Holtzclaw, of
Howard County, in this State, and he made the citizens a short speech in which
he said that he visited Laclede for the purpose of hanging some abolitionists,
and that if any of his Southern friends were abused, or that any of his men were
hurt or killed, or that he was pursued, he would deal with them severely,
killing two for one. He also said that he was well posted and knew all that was
going on in town and around the country. Now every man in this community has
taken the oath and professes that he is loyal to the core, yet this same band is
not far from this place at this time, as 1 or 2 are seen at a time every day;
but by the time one gets to where they were seen they cannot be found. I have
organized the citizens into a company for home defense, but they want ammunition
and arms to make any such movement as will benefit the community. Colonel Pratt
will give you the details if necessary.
JOSEPH M. BROWN,
First Lieut., Eighteenth Infantry, Missouri Veteran Vols.
Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS,
Comdg. Dept. of the Missouri.
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLI/4 [S# 86] UNION
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND THE
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STATES AND TERRITORIES, FROM OCTOBER 16, 1864, to DECEMBER 31,
1864.(*)--#2
MACON, October 17, 1864---4.40 p.m.
Colonel DU BOIS,
Chief of Staff:
Just reported from Brookfield a large force coming from Brunswick toward the
Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad. Have sent heavy scouting parties out in all
directions. The people are greatly excited, but I think they are only bands of
guerrillas, thieving and pressing men into the service. We will send telegraph
ii' anything turns up.
WM. FORBES,
Colonel Forty-second Missouri.
Of Campaigns, Battles, Engagements, Actions, Combats,
Sieges, Skirmishes, Affairs, Reconnoissances, Scouts and Other Military Events
Connected with the "War of the Rebellion" During the Period of Actual
Hostilities, From April 12, 1861, to May 26, 1866.
Brookfield, Mo. -- Exp. fr Nov. 16-23, 1864
Dyer's Compendium, Pt. 2 (Campaigns etc.)
Battle Index---Missouri
Nov. 16-23 Expedition from Brookfield
Nov. 16-23 Expedition from Brookfield
Jan. 4-16 Expedition from Brookfield
March 3-7 Expedition from Brookfield
March 4 Skirmish, Brookfield
March 7 Skirmish, Brookfield
16-23 Expedition from Brookfield to Brunswick, Keytesville and Salisbury
MISSOURI--62d Enrolled Militia.
62nd REGIMENT ENROLLED MILITIA INFANTRY.
Placed on duty in Linn County June 4, 1862. Expedition from Brookfield to
Brunswick, Keytesville and Salisbury November 16-23, 1864.
66th REGIMENT ENROLLED MILITIA INFANTRY.
Duty in 8th Military District, Dept. Missouri. At Milan, Mo., June 10, 1864.
66th REGIMENT PROVISIONAL ENROLLED MILITIA INFANTRY.
Duty in 8th Military District, North Missouri.
BROOKFIELD COMPANY HOME GUARD INFANTRY.
Organized at Brookfield, Mo., by authority of Gen. Lyon. Duty at Brookfield,
Mo., till August. Mustered out August, 1861.
Maj. H. A. GLEIM,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Sturgeon, Mo.:
MAJOR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 18th
instant, inclosing copy of General Orders, No. 47, from the Department of the
Missouri, and requiring a complete list of the Enrolled Missouri Militia in
active service in this district, which is hereto appended, detachment
Sixty-sixth Regiment, Col. O. P. Phillips, headquarters Milan, 25 men; 66th
Provisional Regiment (one company), Capt. Johnson W. Jewett, Milan. MILAN, MO.,
June 10, 1864.
General C. B. FISK,
Saint Joseph, Mo.:
DEAR SIR: Your kind communication of the 6th instant is at hand, informing me
that Capt. Dennis Adams and 40 men have been ordered on duty, &c. Captain
Adams has been temporarily absent in Iowa on business, but returned home
yesterday, as I am informed, and will, I presume, assume command of the Milan
post immediately, pursuant to your order and subject to your directions.
I have this moment dispatched a messenger to Captain
Adams, who lives about 8 miles distant, to inform him of his appointment, and
that there is a document from headquarters District of North Missouri, on
official business, in the post-office here for him. His appointment will give
general satisfaction to the loyal element here, though some of his warm friends
(Capt. E. L. Webb was one) have aspired to the same position, which was surely
their privilege, and for which they should not be blamed. I understand that
Captain Jewett and his copperhead friends are making a great effort to get up a
petition, or rather a remonstrance, to be sent up to you against the post. The
radicals and unconditional Union men of this county sneer at their puny
attempts, and utterly repudiate their every effort. But with one not on his
guard, they will deceive the very elect, were it possible, with their whining
cant and false protestations for the Union. I know them; they can't deceive me.
"Actions speak louder than words," and "Straws show which way the
wind blows."
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. H. B. COCHRANE.
-----
[Inclosure.]
List of Enrolled Missouri Militia troops on duty within
the limits of District of North Missouri at this date, June 23, 1864.
66th E. M. M. (Company F) Capt. E. L. Webb
EIGHTH DISTRICT.
Brig. Gen. JOSEPH B. DOUGLASS.
66th Regiment (one company), Lieut. James Sterling, Milan.
66th REGIMENT ENROLLED MILITIA INFANTRY.
Duty in 8th Military District, Dept. Missouri. At Milan, Mo., June 10, 1864.
66th REGIMENT PROVISIONAL ENROLLED MILITIA INFANTRY.
Duty in 8th Military District, North Missouri.
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