diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/51118.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51118.txt | 7132 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 7132 deletions
diff --git a/old/51118.txt b/old/51118.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c80cd37..0000000 --- a/old/51118.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7132 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, A History of Southern Missouri and Northern -Arkansas, by William Monks - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: A History of Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas - Being an Account of the Early Settlements, the Civil War, the Ku-Klux, and Times of Peace - - -Author: William Monks - - - -Release Date: February 3, 2016 [eBook #51118] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND -NORTHERN ARKANSAS*** - - -E-text prepared by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this - file which includes the original illustrations. - See 51118-h.htm or 28711-h.zip: - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28711/28711-h/28711-h.htm) - or - (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28711/28711-h.zip) - - - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/monksmissouri00willrich - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - - - - -[Illustration: COLONEL MONKS AND WIFE.] - - -A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND NORTHERN ARKANSAS - -Being an Account of the Early Settlements, -the Civil War, the Ku-Klux, and -Times of Peace. - -by - -WILLIAM MONKS - -West Plains, Mo. - - - - - - - -West Plains Journal Co. -West Plains, Mo. -1907 - -Copyright 1907 -by -William Monks - - - - -Introduction. - - -Now the author was born in the state of Alabama, in Jackson county, on -the north side of the Tennessee River, near Huntsville. He was the son -of James Monks and Nancy Monks. The father of James Monks came over -from Ireland during the Revolutionary War and served in that war until -the independence of the United States was acknowledged. Afterwards he -married a lady of English descent and settled down in the State of -South Carolina. His father died when he was but an infant. His mother -removed to the state of Tennessee, being left with five children, James -being the youngest. Growing up to manhood in that state, he removed to -the north part of the state of Alabama and there married Nancy Graham, -who was a daughter of Jesse Graham. They were originally from the state -of Virginia. - -James Monks enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Indian -war that was known as the Seminole war, in the state of Florida. After -his term of service had expired he returned home and sold his farm and -had a flatboat built and placed in the Tennessee River near Gunters -Landing, with the intention of moving to the state of Florida. Taking -his brother-in-law, a Mr. Phillips, on the boat with him, they went -down the river by Decatur, were piloted through the Mussell Shoals, and -at the foot of the shoals at what is known as Tuscumbia, the writer -remembers seeing a part of the Cherokee Indians that were being removed -from the state of Alabama to their present location. The writer can -remember seeing the Cherokee Indians before they were removed from the -state of Alabama. - -On reaching Southern Illinois, eight miles from Paducah, my father -landed his boat and looked over the country and came to the conclusion -that that country was good enough, and located in what was then Pope -County. Afterwards they cropped a piece off of Pope and a piece off -of Johnson, and created a new county and named it Massack, after the -old government fort, and located the county seat, named Metropolis. My -father resided nine years in that state, then sold out and started to -move to the state of Texas. On arriving in Fulton county, Arkansas, he -concluded to locate in that county. - -Soon after his arrival, in the latter part of June or July, 1844, the -writer was employed to carry the United States mail from Salem, the -county seat of Fulton County, to Rockbridge, then the county seat of -Ozark county, Missouri. My father and mother taught me to be loyal to -my government from my earliest remembrance, and I don't think that -two persons more honest than they ever lived. They taught me from my -earliest recollection to be honest and upright, and I have tried, and -believe I have lived up to their teaching to the very letter; and no -man or woman before the war, during the war, nor since the war, can say -anything else and tell the truth. Religiously, my father and mother -were Baptists, and I believe that they were Christians. - - - - -EARLY SETTLEMENTS. - - -In the year 1844 father sold out and in May started to move to the -state of Texas; crossed the Mississippi river at Green's old ferry, -came by the way of Jackson, Missouri, and traveled the old military -road made by the government troops in removing the Cherokee Indians -from the state of Alabama to their present location--only road leading -west--and in July of the same year (learning that it was very dangerous -for a man to take his family into the state of Texas on account of the -Indians), he concluded to locate in Fulton county, Arkansas, purchased -an improvement and located on what is known as Bennett's river, about -25 miles from where West Plains is now located. The family at that -time consisted of six persons, to-wit: father, mother and four sons, -the author then being in his fifteenth year; father, being a farmer -by occupation, went to work on the farm. The country at that time was -very sparsely settled. The settlements were confined to the creeks -and rivers, where were found plenty of water and springs. No place at -that time was thought worth settling unless it had a spring upon it. -The vegetation was luxuriant, the broom sedge and blue stem growing as -high as a man's head--and he upon an ordinary horse. The table lands, -which were thought at that time to be worthless, had very little timber -growing on them, but were not prairie. There were what were known as -post oak runners and other brush growing on the table lands, but the -grass turf was very heavy and in the spring of the year the grass would -soon cover the sprouts and the stranger would have taken all of the -table lands, except where it was interspersed with groves, to have -been prairie. The country settled up--some of the settlements being -15 miles apart--yet the early settlers thought nothing of neighboring -and assisting each other as neighbors for the distance of 15 miles. At -that time Fulton county contained all of the present territory that now -includes Baxter, Fulton and a part of Sharp counties; and but a short -time previous to the organization of Fulton, all of the territory that -now embraces Fulton, Baxter and Sharp; Izard belonged to Independence -county and Batesville was the county seat. My father located about five -miles from the state line. - -Ozark county, in Missouri, joined Fulton county on the state line and -all of the territory that now comprises Ozark, Douglas and the west -half of Howell, belonged to Ozark county and Rockbridge, its county -seat, being located on Bryan's Fork of the North Fork, about 50 miles -from the state line. Oregon county contained all the territory that now -comprises Oregon, Shannon, and the east end of Howell; and a short time -previous all of the territory that now comprises Ripley, Oregon, Carter -and Shannon belonged to Ripley county; and all of the territory that -now comprises Texas, Dent, Wright and Crawford counties belonged to -Crawford county. The country at that time abounded in millions of deer, -turkeys, bears, wolves and small animals. I remember as my father was -moving west and after he had crossed White Water near what was known -as Bullinger's old mill, that we could see the deer feeding on the -hills in great herds like cattle, and wild turkeys were in abundance. -Wild meat was so plentiful that the settlers chiefly subsisted upon -the flesh of wild animals until they could grow some tame stock, such -as hogs and cattle. This country then was almost a "land of honey." -Bees abounded in great number and men hunted them for the profit they -derived from the beeswax. There was no such thing known as a bee moth. - -Honeydew fell in such quantities as to completely kill the tops of -the grass where it was open. I have known young turkeys, after they -were large enough for use, to have their wings so gummed with honeydew -that they could not fly out of the way of a dog--have known lots of -them to be caught with dogs when they wanted to use them. There was no -question in regard to there being honey when you cut a bee tree, if -the hollow and space in the tree were sufficient and the bees had had -time to fill it. I have known bee trees being cut that had 8 and 10 -feet of solid comb that was candied and grained. When my father first -located, beeswax, peltry and fur skins almost constituted the currency -of the country. I remember that a short time after my father located, -a gentleman came to my father's house and wanted to buy a horse and -offered to pay him in beeswax and peltry, and as I had been accustomed -to paper currency in the state of Illinois, I asked my father what -kind of money peltry was. He laughed and remarked, "Well son, it is -not money at all; it is deer skins." A man thought nothing of buying -a horse or a yoke of oxen, or to make any other common debt on the -promise of discharging the same in beeswax and peltry in one month's -time. - -The immigration consisted mostly of farmers and mechanics. Among the -mechanics were coopers who would make large hogsheads for the purpose -of holding the honey after it was separated from the beeswax, and a -man then had his choice to use either candied honey or fresh honey. I -knew whole hogsheads that were full of candied honey. When men would -make a contract to deliver any amount or number of pounds of beeswax, -and within a given time, especially in the fall of the year, they would -either take a yoke of cattle or two horses and a wagon and with their -guns and camp equipage go out from the settlements into what was then -termed the "wilderness," and burn bee comb. In a short time the bees -would be working so strong to the bait that they could scarcely course -them. In the morning they would hunt deer, take off pelts until the -deer would lie down, then they would hunt bees and mark the trees until -the deer would get up to feed in the afternoon, when they would again -resume their hunt for deer. After they had found a sufficient number of -bee trees and marked them, the morning following they would go out and -kill nothing but large deer; case-skin them until they had a sufficient -number of hides to contain the honey that they expected to take from -the trees, take the hides to the camp, tie a knot in the fore legs of -the hide, take dressed buckskin and a big awl, roll the hide of the -neck in about three folds, run two rows of stitches, draw it tight, -then go to their wagons with ridgepole and hooks already prepared, knot -the hind legs of the skins, hang them over the hooks, take their tub, -a knife and spoon, proceed to the trees, stop their team a sufficient -distance from the tree to prevent the bees from stinging the animals, -cut the tree, take out the honey, place it in the tub, and when the -tub was filled carry it to the wagon where the hides were prepared, -empty their tubs into the deer skins, return again to another tree -and continue cutting until the hides were all filled with honey; then -they would return home, take the hides from the hooks on the ridge -pole on the wagon, hang them on hooks prepared for the purpose in the -smokehouse and then the men's work was done. - -The labor of the women then commenced. They would proceed to separate -the honey from the beeswax, pouring the honey into hogsheads, kegs or -barrels prepared for it, and running the beeswax into cakes ready for -the market, while the men were stretching and drying the deerskins. -As soon as the deerskins were dried and the honey was separated from -the beeswax, they were ready for the market and took their place as -currency, while the flesh of the deer, sometimes, when bread was -scarce, took the place of both bread and meat, with a change, whenever -the appetite called for it, to turkey and other wild game. - -At night they would hunt for fur animals, such as raccoon, fox and -mink, and stretch their hides; a first-class raccoon hide would sell -for 40 to 50 cents; fox, 25 and 30 cents; mink, from 65 to 75c. I have -often known the people to pay their taxes, when the collector came -around, with fur skins, such as raccoon and fox. The collector would -take the hides right at the house and give them a clear receipt for -their taxes, both state and county. I have seen collectors leading a -horse for the purpose of carrying his fur skins. I have seen the horse -completely covered with fur skins, so you could see no part of him but -his head and his hoofs and tail--one could not have told there was a -horse beneath the load unless he had known it. - -The people then had many advantages that they are deprived of now, in -the way of wild meat, abundance of honey and fine range. A man could -raise all the stock in the way of horses and cattle that he could -possibly look after; the only expense was salting and caring for -them--didn't have to feed, winter nor summer, except the horses in use -and the cows used for milking purposes. While, on the other-hand, they -labored under a great many disadvantages, in the way of schools and -churches. During the residence of my father in the state of Illinois, -we had a very good common school system, and we had three months of -school every fall. My father being a farmer, sent me only the three -months' term in the fall. I had acquired a limited education before his -removal to Arkansas, yet he was interested in giving his children an -education. At that time there were no free schools, only subscription -schools; teachers generally were incompetent and employed through -favoritism, and not upon their qualifications to teach. In a year or -two after my father located, the settlement got together and located -a school-house site, took their teams, hauled round logs, built them -into walls, made a dirt floor, cut out a large window in the side, -split a tree and made a writing desk, split small trees, hewed them and -made benches for seats, cut a hole in one end of the house, erected -a wooden chimney, what was then known as a stick and clay chimney, -chinked and daubed the cracks, made a clapboard roof, hung the door -with wooden hinges, then the house was considered ready for the school -and had the name of teaching a three-months' subscription school; and -very often half of the pupils were better scholars than the teachers. -All they gained in their education was by attention to study. As the -country improved in population, the people improved in the erection of -school-houses and church-houses and constructed, in place of the round -log school-house and dirt floor, hewed log school-houses with puncheon -floors, stick and clay chimneys. - -Those pioneer settlers took a great interest in each other's welfare, -and the different settlements met together from a distance of 15 to -40 miles and adopted rules and customs binding each other to aid and -assist in helping any person who met with any misfortune in the way -of sickness, death or other causes that might occur, and I must say -that there was more charity and real religion practiced among those -pioneer settlers, although many of them were looked upon as being -crude and unlettered. There was a great deal of sickness along the -streams, especially chills and fever. Immigrants came in, generally -in sufficient numbers to form a settlement; and I have known them, -very often, after they had located and opened out 10 to 15 acres and -put it in cultivation and broke the ground and planted their corn, for -the whole family to be taken down at one time with chills and fever, -not able even to help each other or administer to their wants. As soon -as the information reached the other settlements for a distance of 15 -miles or more, the different settlements would set a day to meet at the -place with their horses, plows, hoes, wagons, etc.; also provisions, -such as bread-stuff and salt. On meeting, they would ascertain the -condition of the family or families and learn what they needed in the -way of provision, medicine, nursing, etc.; they would then and there -agree that the different settlements should divide up the time, set -the day for each one to furnish waiters to wait upon them in their -sickness, such medicine as they needed, provisions and everything that -was necessary to render comfort, and in the morning before breakfast -they would go out and kill a deer and as many turkeys as they needed, -dress them, prepare them for the cook, who had been brought with them, -go into the field after breakfast, plow and hoe the corn, clean out -the garden, leave the families in charge of nurses and return again -to their respective settlements. Those families, as soon as they were -well, not being acquainted with the customs and rules, would meet them -and inquire as to what amount they owed them for what they had done for -them during their sickness. They would be readily informed, "_Nothing._ -You are not acquainted with our rules and customs. Now, we have -obligated and pledged ourselves together not to let any sick or other -disabled person suffer for the want of necessary attention, and the -only thing we require of you is, if any other person should move into -the country and locate, and should be taken down and confined through -sickness or any other cause, that you help in furnishing such aid and -necessaries as they may need until they are able to again take care of -themselves." Now, I have just remarked that there was more real charity -and religion practiced among pioneers than there is in the present -day. The people then all appeared to be interested in bettering the -condition of society. - -As soon as it was possible, the different settlements erected -church-houses built of hewed timber, floored with puncheons, hewed -seats, size of house generally from 18 by 20 to 22 by 25 feet, chinked -and daubed. The churches or denominations then were Baptists and -Methodists. There didn't appear to be any antagonism or hatred existing -between the denominations; the doors were thrown wide open for any -minister that might travel through and they all turned out, and you -heard nothing said then in regard to "my church" or "your church." -They appeared to recognize the fact that it was the Lord's church and -that they were the Lord's people. In going to church, sometimes from -1 to 10 miles, they would see flocks of turkeys and herds of wild -deer, both going and coming. As soon as the crops were laid by, they -would agree among the different settlements as to where a camp-meeting -should be held; they would then erect camps or huts, make boards to -cover them, erect an arbor, fill the center of it with straw, and to -the distance of 25 to 35 miles they would all turn out, irrespective -of denomination, and all appeared to enjoy themselves, and the love of -Christ appeared to dwell in each heart, and they appeared to be proud -of the privilege of meeting each other and worshiping together. If -any member belonging to either of the denominations defrauded, or in -any way wronged his brother, he was at once waited upon and requested -to make reparation to his brother and acknowledge to his brother and -to the church, or he was withdrawn from or turned out of the church. -The immigration was chiefly from the Middle States, some from the -Southern States and very few from the Northeastern States. They were -frugal, energetic, honest, intelligent and industrious. As the country -increased in population, the facilities of both schools and churches -improved. - -The customs and habits were entirely different from those existing now; -the wearing apparel was entirely home-made; they would raise their -cotton, pick it out with their fingers or a hand gin, women would -spin their warp, spin their filling, get their different colors from -different barks for men's wear; the women used indigo and copperas for -the main colors in manufacturing the cloth for dresses, wound their -stripes on a stick and then wove it into cloth; you could scarcely -visit a house but what you would see a loom, big spinning-wheel and -little wheel; sometimes you would see three or four wheels at one -house. They made both their every day and Sunday wear; the women -appeared to take great pride in seeing who could weave the nicest piece -of cloth, make it into a dress, make cloth and make it into what was -known as Virginia bonnets, and the men tanned their own leather, made -shoes for the whole family. When the women were dressed completely in -their homespun they appeared to enjoy themselves, in church, in company -or any other gathering, and felt just as independent and proud as the -king upon his throne; they appeared to meet each other and greet each -other and all appeared to realize the fact that they were human and -they had but one superior and that was God. The women spun the warp, -spun the wool, wove it into cloth, procured the different barks from -the woods and dyed it, the general color being brown, made it with -their own hands into coats, pants, undershirts; made overshirts out -of homespun cotton and the whole suit was home-made, and very often a -cap, made either of the raccoon or a fox, was worn on the head. When -men met each other at any public gathering they appeared to be proud -of meeting each other; appeared to realize the fact that they were all -American citizens and human, bound together by the ties of love and -affection, and the highest ambition appeared to be to make each other -happy and help one another in time of need. - -I don't believe there was as much dissipation by partaking of -intoxicants, or other wickedness, as exists to-day among the same -number of persons. It is true that then any man who was able to -purchase a little still and had a spring could erect his own still -house and make his own whiskey without paying any tax or duty upon the -same, and anyone of his neighbors who wanted a gallon of whiskey could -carry a bushel of corn to the still-house and get a gallon of whiskey -in exchange for it. And if men became drunk on the whiskey it did not -appear to make them wild and crazy as the whiskey of to-day does. - -Men then, as well as now, would have disagreements and fall out -and fight, but the custom that prevailed among that class would -not tolerate nor allow a man to use weapons, and if two men had a -disagreement, one of them being a large, stout man physically, the -other being a small man, not equal in strength--if they were together -in a public place and the large one would challenge the weaker to -fight him, before he could hardly open his mouth, some man present who -considered himself to be his equal in physical strength, would just say -to him "now then, if you want to fight, that man is not your equal, -but I am; get your second and walk out and I will do the fighting for -this other man." I have, on different occasions, seen the large man who -was challenging the weaker for a fight reply to the challenge and say, -"My friend, I have nothing against you; this other man hasn't treated -me right," or set out some other reason that he ought to whip him; the -man in reply would say, "I don't want to hear another word from you -in regard to wanting to fight this other man, and if I do you have got -me to fight." Very often I have seen the man shut his mouth and turn -away and say nothing more. On the other hand, I have heard a man say to -another, "If you want to fight, I am your man; the other man is unable -to fight you," and in an instant the other would reply. "Well, sir, -I am your man; just as leave fight you as anybody else." They would -select their seconds, take a drink of whiskey together, enter into -an agreement that whenever the seconds said either one was whipped, -that they were to abide by it, unless they found out before their -seconds did that they were whipped, and if so, they would manifest it -by holloing "enough," when the other person was to stop at once and -inflict no more injury. I have often seen them fight until they were -both as bloody as butchers and in the end the seconds would have to -hollo for one or the other. As soon as they were separated they would -go to the same pool or place where there was water and wash themselves, -and walk arm-in-arm, laughing and talking and drinking together and -remark, "We are now fast friends and we have settled the matter as to -which was the best man." And if a man would produce a weapon on either -side his own friends would turn against him and he would be forced to -put it up at once. Men then appeared to be governed by that higher -inspiration, that a man should not use anything that would permanently -disable or take the life of his fellow-man; but if one man became -pregnant with fight or desire to maim his fellow-man, in order that -he should not be disappointed, some man would readily volunteer, who -believed that he was his equal physically, and deliver him of all his -fighting propensities. - - -Dow Bryant and a Gallon of Whisky - -I will here relate an instance that I well remember. A man by the name -of Bridges lived just above where Bakersfield is now located, owned a -little mill at the same place where they still continue the work of the -mill just above Bakersfield. The mill ground from twelve to fifteen -bushels per day; most of us carried our sacks on horseback, and ground -by turns. Bridges had employed a man by the name of Math Shipman to -run the mill. He was a small man weighing only about 135 pounds, and -there was a man by the name of Dow Bryant, lately from the state of -Tennessee, quite a large man, weighing 225 pounds, who delighted in -fighting under the old style, and claimed that he had whipped two of -the best men in Tennessee at the same time. Shipman had made some -statement that reflected upon Bryant; so Bryant procured a gallon of -whiskey, and, taking two men with him, went from Bennett's river over -to the mill and informed Shipman of what he had heard he had said in -regard to him, and said to Shipman that if he had said it and didn't -take it back, he would have to whip him, and the only thing he hated -about it would be the whipping of as little a man as he was. Shipman -replied that he need not take that matter into consideration, and that -his father had always taught him that if he told anything and it was -the truth, not to take it back under any consideration, and that what -he had said was true; and as to his whipping him, his father had always -taught him never to admit anything until he knew it was true; and "I -have my doubts about you being able to whip me; but if you will get -your second ready, as soon as the corn that is in the hopper is ground -out and I refill the hopper I will get my second and we will go out -into the mill yard so you can test it." They accordingly got their -seconds, went into the mill yard, formed a ring, and when the word -was given by the seconds, they went together. Shipman bit every finger -on the right hand and three fingers on the left hand to the bone; and -Bryant's friends, seeing he was going to be whipped, proposed parting -them. Bryant returned home, and when his neighbors would meet him with -his fingers all bound up, they would say, "Hello there! What's the -matter?" His reply would be, "I went over into the wilderness and got -hold of a wildcat, and it like to have eaten me up before I could get -loose from it." He would further say that Shipman was all mouth, and -that he could not put his hands anywhere about his head unless he got -them in his mouth. - -I will give another instance touching the same man (Bryant). He went -over to Salem during circuit court. The sheriff of the county was a man -by the name of Dick Benton, quite a small man, and the constable of -the township was named Moore and a very small man. Bryant was drinking -some, and wanted to fight as usual, and became noisy. The judge ordered -the constable to arrest him; but when Bryant saw the constable coming, -he backed behind an old building, and ordered the constable not to rush -upon him. When the constable came in reach, he knocked him down, came -walking around, and remarked that no tickey officer could arrest him. -The judge then ordered the sheriff to arrest him. When the sheriff came -within reach, he knocked him down, came walking back, and remarked, -"I thought they understood me when I told them that a tickey set of -officers could not arrest me." During the time the father-in-law of -the sheriff had come out. Bryant walked up to him, and with a d---- -said: "I want to know what you are doing here." Without any more words -being passed, the sheriff's father-in-law knocked Bryant down, jumped -onto him, but he holloed, and they took him off. Bryant straightened -himself up right into his face again and remarked, "I have told a lie, -I am not whipped." Without any more words he knocked him down again -and gave him a considerable pelting. Bryant holloed again, and after -they had taken him off, he straightened up and walked off about ten -steps distant, turned around, and remarked, "I have told a lie, I am -not whipped; but I am not going to say it within reach of that old man -any more." On the same day some men knocked him down, taking a common -clapboard, hit him three licks while he was running on all fours, then -got a piece of chalk and wrote on it, "Dow's board," and nailed it up -on the corner of the square. - -The drinking class for years used all manner of language and obscenity -in the streets, and even in the hearing of the court. There was a man -by the name of Neeley who became a candidate for circuit judge, and one -of the main reasons he urged for his election was that, if elected, he -would punish all offenders of the public peace, and force all persons -to respect the court, and he would discharge the duties with some -dignity and respect for himself and the people. Shortly after he was -elected and during his first court, a man by the name of Smith, who -lived just north of Salem on the South Fork, and who had worked for -his election, came into the court room after the court was in session, -walked around to the judge, took him by the hand and remarked, "Judge, -I want to congratulate you on your success, and I hope things will -change." The judge turned to the clerk and remarked, "Mr. Clerk, assess -a fine of five dollars against Mr. Smith." Smith soon retired from the -court room and declared that Neeley was a tyrant, and that if he had -his vote back he would not support him. In the afternoon the judge -ordered the sheriff to bring Mr. Smith into the court room and said -to him, "Mr. Smith, you were a warm friend of mine in my canvass, -worked for my election, and no doubt contributed much to my success. -Now I don't want to disappoint you in any promises that I made during -the canvass, but after court is convened and the judge on the bench, -it is contempt in any gentleman to come up and take him by the hand -and congratulate him on his success; and now I hope that you, with all -others of my friends, and those who are not, will support and protect -me in enforcing the dignity of the court." Mr. Smith at once became -pacified, and said that the judge was right. - -We remember another instance that occurred during the same court. There -was a young lawyer, who came into court, wearing a very fine pair of -boots, and, standing on his feet, he would occasionally raise onto his -toes, and you could hear his boots creak all over the court room. The -judge turned to him and remarked, "Mr., what did those boots cost you?" -The lawyer quickly replied, "Ten dollars, sir." The judge remarked to -him, "I think you got the boots too cheap. I think they ought to be -worth twenty dollars. Mr. Clerk, assess a fine of ten dollars against -this man." - -On the next day a man by the name of Cage Hogan, a man who was widely -known, in company with others, got on the public square, near the -saloon, and began to curse and swear, and use all manner of obscenity. -The judge ordered the sheriff to go down and see who was making the -disturbance. The sheriff went out to the place and stated to the -crowd that the judge had ordered him to see who was creating that -disturbance, and to arrest the party. Hogan remarked, with an oath, -"You go back and tell the old judge that it is Cage Hogan, and that I -suppose he has heard of me before, and I don't allow sheriffs to arrest -me until I get ready." The sheriff came back and reported to the court, -and the judge made an order for him to proceed at once and arrest -Mr. Hogan and all others that he might find acting in a boisterous -manner, and if necessary to take the power of the county, and if he -didn't immediately bring him into the court room he would assess a -fine against him of $100. The sheriff returned and informed Mr. Hogan -of what the court had said, and that he would be bound to arrest him -and take him by force if he didn't go without it. Hogan remarked that -if it would be any pleasure and consolation to the old tyrant he was -the man who could go into the court room. When he came into the court -room, the sheriff said, "Here is Mr. Hogan." Mr. Hogan remarked, with -an oath, "I am here, judge, and I would like to know what you want." -The judge replied that there were some parties creating a disturbance -in the hearing of the court and that he had ordered them arrested and -brought in. "Do you know who the parties are?" Hogan, with an oath, -replied, "I am the man; and, judge, I want you to understand that I am -a horse, and if you hain't become acquainted with old Cage Hogan, you -will." The judge remarked to him that they had a stable and that was -the place for horses, and that he would assess a fine of $50 against -him, and ordered the sheriff to take him to jail until it was paid. -Hogan, remarking, "I always carry the money to pay my way, and you need -not put yourself to any trouble to have the sheriff carry me to jail," -pulled out his pocket book, took out $50, and said, with an oath, -"Here is the money, and I want you to understand that I am no jail -bird, and you can't stick me in your old jail." The judge then said, -"Mr. Hogan seems to have plenty of money; Mr. Clerk assess another $50 -fine against him." At that Hogan appeared to hesitate and reflect, -and, pulling out a quart bottle of whiskey from his pocket, started to -approach the judge, who was on the bench, saying with an oath, "Here, -judge, let's drink together and be friends and stop this foolishness." -The judge turned to the clerk and said: "Mr. Clerk, assess another fine -of $50 against him," and ordered the sheriff to take him forthwith to -jail and keep him there until further orders, for he considered him an -unlawful horse, and he did not think it safe for society for him to -run at large. The sheriff, with a considerable posse, carried him to -the jail, and with considerable trouble put him in and shut him up. He -remained in jail two days, and at the evening session of the second day -the sheriff came into court and said that Mr. Hogan was very desirous -of seeing the court. The court then ordered him brought in. On his -being brought in, the court asked him if he still thought he was a -horse. Hogan replied, "No, sir; I am not anything now but Cage Hogan." -The judge said: "As you have now arrived at the conclusion that you are -human and not animal, are you willing to respect the laws of your land -and the dignity of this court?" Hogan replied: "I am, judge, with all -my heart." The judge then said to him, "What about that money of yours; -are you able to pay the $150 fine?" Hogan said, "No, judge, I don't -feel like I could pay $150 this evening; I don't feel as rich and as -brave as I did when you first brought me into court, and I want you to -be as lenient with me as possible." The court said, "Mr. Hogan, if you -will promise me that you will neither disturb the dignity of this court -nor incite others to do so, I will remit all of your fine except $50." -Mr. Hogan then and there paid the $50 fine and was released. From that -time up to the end of his term there never was any disturbance of any -nature in the hearing of the court, and if you went into the court room -everything was so quiet that you could almost hear a pin drop. - - -The Tutt and Evert War. - -My memory is that it was in the year 1846 that an incident occurred -in Marion county that I will now relate. It was known as the Tutt -and Evert war. They were once fast friends. They met in Yellville, -the county seat, and while there one of the Everts purchased a set -of silver spoons at the store of one of the Tutts. Afterwards a -misunderstanding grew up between them as to the payment for the spoons, -which led them into a fight. Afterwards, which was often, when they -would meet in Yellville, they would hardly ever get away without some -fighting taking place between the parties. There was a large gathering -and a public demonstration to take place within a few weeks. The Tutts -declared, backed by the Kings, that if the Everts came into town that -day they would kill them outright. Both parties came in early in the -day, heavily armed. After coming under the influence of intoxicants -to some extent, Evert went into the public square and stated what he -had heard from the Tutts, and said that if they, the Tutts and Kings, -were ready for the conflict, there never was a better time than then, -and that they, the Everts, were fully ready. Both parties, in short -range, opened fire. One of the Kings shot Simm Evert during the fight, -supposed to be through the heart. One of the Kings, just previous to -the shooting of Evert, had been shot through the hips and so disabled -that he could not stand upon his feet. After Simm Evert had received -the wound, he turned around, and, within a few steps of the wounded -King, picked up a large stone, raised it in both hands, and, stepping -up to King, came down on King's head with the stone with all the force -possible, completely crushing King's head. Then, turning around and -walking about three steps, he remarked, "I am a dead man," and fell to -the ground and expired within a few minutes. When the smoke cleared -away and the fighting ceased, an examination showed that there were -eight or ten left dead on the ground. The stoutest men afterwards went -to the stone, but there wasn't one of them that could raise it from the -ground. The surviving Kings made arrangements and attempted to leave -the country. At that time the sheriff of the county was a man by the -name of Mooney. A writ was placed in his hands and he arrested them. -Shortly after the arrest, the Everts and their friends came upon the -sheriff and his posse and demanded the prisoners. The sheriff gave them -up, and they were all shot. The sheriff then appealed to the governor -for aid; he sent the militia, who aided the sheriff in the arrest of -the Everts, a man by the name of Stratton, and some others of their -friends. The governor ordered them to be taken to Lawrence county and -placed in the Lawrence county jail at Smithville, the county seat of -that county. I saw the militia in charge of the prisoners pass my -father's house on their way to Smithville. - -In about ten days after they were put in prison, late one evening, -strange men commenced dropping into the town, who were unknown to -the citizens, until they reached to about the number of sixty-five. -Somewhere near midnight they paraded the streets, and the jail being a -log jail, they prepared levers and pried it up and let the prisoners -all out, and they all left together, Evert, Stratton, and their friends -proceeding directly to Texas. After their families had reached them -and everything had quieted down, they sent in and notified Hamp Tutt, -whom they charged with being the inciter and leader in bringing on the -original trouble, that if he would "hull out" and leave the state they -would not kill him. Tutt was a man of considerable wealth and declared -he would not leave the state. He at once hired a young doctor, who -claimed to be a very brave man, to act as his body guard, and kept -himself very close to the town for about the space of two years. One -day, however, he declared that he was going to take a ride out on the -main public road for his health. He, in company with the young doctor, -then rode out about one mile. On returning, not more than a quarter of -a mile from the town, after they had passed the place where they were -concealed, they, (the Everts) discharged a volley. Two balls entered -the back of Tutt, and his horse made but a few leaps when he fell to -the ground. The young doctor ran for dear life, reached the town, and -gave the alarm. Parties immediately went out to the place, but found -that Tutt was dead. On examining the place where the parties had lain -in ambush, they found that they had lain there for months watching for -the opportunity. So ended the Tutt and Evert war. - - -Indians Chase a Sheriff Ten Miles. - -Now the author will relate another incident that occurred in Marion -county, Arkansas, in the early settling of this country. There was a -large relation of the Coker family who lived in that county. One of -the Cokers raised two families, one by a white woman and the other by -an Indian woman. The Indian family, after they had grown up and become -men, resided a part of the time in the Nation, where the mother lived, -and a part of the time they remained in Marion county where their -father and other relatives lived. They were very dangerous men when -drinking, and the whole country feared them. They had been in different -troubles, and had killed three or four men, and if the authorities -attempted to arrest them, they defied them, and would go to the Nation -and remain awhile. There was a deputy sheriff in the county by the name -of Stinnett, who claimed to be very brave, who said he would arrest -them if he found their whereabouts. The Cokers learned what Stinnett -had said, and that the warrant for their arrest was in his possession, -so they got some good tow strings and vowed that whenever they met -him they would arrest him and take him to Yellville and put him in -jail. A short time afterwards they met him in the public road. As soon -as Stinnett recognized them, and having heard of the threats they -had made, he wheeled his horse and put spurs to him. They drew their -revolvers and put spurs to their horses in pursuit, commanding him -to halt. But Stinnett spurred his horse the harder. They pursued him -a distance of about ten miles; but Stinnett's horse proved to be the -best, and he made his escape. They again returned to the Nation. - -The good people, generally, of the county were terrorized and afraid -to raise their voices against them, and it became a question as to -whether they had a man in the county who had the courage to attempt -their arrest. They made it a question in the next election, to elect -a man that would make the arrest, if such a man could be found in the -county. There was a man living in the county by the name of Brown, who -was a cousin of the Cokers, and he told the people that if they would -elect him, he would arrest them or they would kill him. He was elected -by a large majority, and, after he had qualified, took charge of the -office. The first time the Cokers came into the settlement, he summoned -two men, thought to be brave, who pledged themselves that if it became -necessary they would die for him. He then went to the house of one of -the Coker family where the Cokers were staying, and on his arrival -found the two Coker brothers sitting in chairs in the yard. He was -within some thirty feet of them before they saw him. Their guns were -sitting near them, and they seized them; but before they could present -them Brown had his revolver cocked and leveled at one of their heads, -and told him not to attempt to raise his gun or he would kill him. -Coker turned his back to him with his gun on his shoulder, secretly -cocked it, and leveled it upon Brown as near as possible without -taking it from his shoulder and fired, missing his aim. About the same -time Brown discharged his revolver at Coker and made a slight scalp -wound. The other Coker threw his gun upon Brown and fired, killing -him instantly. The two men who were acting as a posse for the sheriff -turned and fled, leaving Brown lying dead on the ground. After the -shooting the Cokers fled to the Nation and remained there. - -The author will now relate another incident that occurred in the same -county. For years the Cokers and Hogans had been intimate friends, and -drank, gambled, and horseraced together a great deal. There came up a -trouble between Coker and one of his brothers-in-law, and one evening -Coker, in company with Hogan, went to the house of this brother-in-law. -Both had been drinking. Coker swore that he would ride onto the porch -of his brother-in-law, and made the attempt. His brother-in-law caught -the horse by the bridle and warned him not to ride onto porch, and -that if he did he would kill him. Coker drew his revolver, spurred his -horse, but as he entered the porch his brother-in-law shot him dead. -Coker being a cousin of the Indian Cokers, they charged Hogan with -inducing him, while drinking, to go to his brother-in-law's house, so -as to give him a chance to kill him, and that Hogan's life should pay -the penalty. Shortly afterwards Hogan was traveling on an old trail -that led along the bluff of White river. The river here made a bend in -horseshoe shape, following the bluff all around. The Cokers learned -that Hogan was going to pass through this gap, and they lay in wait for -him, cutting off all avenues of escape possible so he would be forced -into the horseshoe for his escape. When he came in sight they raised -the Indian war-whoop, and drew their revolvers. Hogan looked around -and saw that his pursuers were in about a hundred yards of him. He saw -his predicament, as for a quarter of a mile he confronted the bluff, -and that there was only one avenue of escape. He went to the edge of -the precipice and looked over. There, under the bluff, lay the deep, -blue waters of White river, 150 feet below. Again he turned his eyes -toward his pursuers. He knew it meant death if they caught him; so he -made the fearful leap over the bluff, striking the water where it was -about twenty-five feet deep. Hogan was a wicked man and cursed a great -deal. He swore it didn't take him long to reach the water, but that he -thought considerable time intervened from the time he struck the water -until he reached the top again. He swam to the bank which was but a -few feet distant. His pursuers came to the precipice, looked over, and -said that they had made Hogan do something they had intended to do, and -that was, to take his own life, as they supposed no human being could -make the leap and live. After cutting his saddle and bridle to pieces, -they turned his horse loose, and reported that Hogan was killed. Hogan -traveled around under the bluff for about two miles, made his way home, -wound up his business, sold his farm, and moved into Fulton county, -Arkansas, which ended the trouble between them. - -The author will relate another incident that occurred in Marion county, -Arkansas. There was a widow residing in that county, who was left with -a family of children, among them a boy about twelve years of age. Her -horse ran away, and she sent her boy in pursuit of it. After he had -found it and was returning home, leading the horse, Hogan and one of -his friends met him in the road. They had both been drinking, and -seeing the boy, concluded to have some fun out of him. Hogan, with an -oath, said, "What are you doing with my horse?" The boy replied, "It is -not your horse, it is mother's horse." Hogan sprang off his horse, and, -thinking to scare the boy and have some fun with him, said: "Here, you -know it's my horse; give him up." The boy pulled a barlow knife out of -his pocket, and, opening it, said, "You attempt to come near me, and -I will stick this knife into you." Hogan stepped up to him and said, -"You little rascal, would you attempt to cut me with a knife?" The -boy, without any further words, made a stroke at him with the knife, -and the blade entered his body near the left breast. Hogan declared -afterward that he jumped about ten feet high. He turned to his friend -and remarked: "I believe our fun with the little bugger has caused my -death, or at least a serious wound." He went to a physician, had the -wound probed, and found the knife had penetrated a rib and reached the -inside. The physician informed him that had it passed between the ribs -it would have killed him instantly. Hogan remarked to the boy, after he -stabbed him, "My son, you are made out of the right kind of stuff. I -had no intention of hurting you or taking your mother's horse from you, -I merely wanted to have some fun; but I see I have struck the wrong boy -this time. Go on and take your horse to your mother." - -The author will refer to another incident that occurred in Howell -county, Missouri. In the year 1860 there was a man who resided in West -Plains by the name of Jack McDaniel, who was a blacksmith by trade. -This same Hogan came to town, soon became under the influence of -whiskey, went down to McDaniel's shop with a horse, and ordered him to -shoe him. McDaniel had two other horses in the shop at the time to be -shod, and said to Hogan that as soon as he had shod those two horses, -he would shoe his. Hogan said, "I am in a hurry, and I want you to shoe -mine now." McDaniel told him that he could not shoe his horse until he -had shod the other two horses. Hogan said, "If you don't shoe him at -once, I will whip you." McDaniel then pulled a barlow knife out of his -pocket, and, opening it, said: "Yes; and if you fool with me, I will -cut your throat from ear to ear." At this remark, Hogan moved right up -to him and said, "Just smell of my neck." McDaniel struck at him with -the knife, and the blade entered just under the ear, cutting to the -bone all the way around into the mouth. Hogan went to a physician in -West Plains and had the wound dressed. He then went to a glass, looked -in, and said that he had lived a long time, been in many tight places, -but he had never had such a mouth as he had now, and remarked, "My -mouth looks as if it was spread from ear to ear." - -The people then generally gave their time to growing stock, especially -horses and cattle, as hogs and sheep had to be kept close around the -farms and penned of a night, especially the pigs, on account of wolves -and other wild animals. I have known the wolves to kill 2 and 3 year -old cattle. Farmers fed their corn chiefly to cattle, horses and mules. -They always commanded fair prices. Cattle, at the age of four years and -upwards were driven to Jacksonport, Arkansas and from there shipped to -New Orleans. Horses and mules were driven to Louisiana, Mississippi and -some to the Southern part of Arkansas and there put upon the market. -Prices generally ranging from $75 to $150. All of our groceries were -purchased in New Orleans, shipped to Jacksonport, from there they were -conveyed by wagons. Our dry goods were mostly purchased at Lynn Creek, -Missouri and brought through by wagon, but in the early settling of -the country they hauled dry goods all the way from St. Louis except -what were brought into the country by peddlers. The peddlers would go -to St. Louis on horse back with one and sometimes two led horses, buy -the goods, pack them, place them on their horses and peddle all the way -from St. Louis and still further west and take in exchange all kinds of -fur skins. - -I have seen peddlers with one horse still loaded with goods and the -other covered with fur skins, and I have seen them again after they had -disposed of all their goods with all three horses completely covered -with fur skins and sometimes so heavily loaded that the peddler would -either be walking and leading or driving. - -Money was scarce but the people spent very little money, were not in -debt and lived much better and easier than they do now. Their counties -were out debt and the county warrants were always at par. - -When my father first located here, there were about four or five -settlers in all of the territory that now belongs to Howell County; -there were but three men that resided upon what is known as the middle -bayou, William McCarty and his sons, Green and Willis. - -In about three years after my father settled here, McCarties sold out -and located on the bayou above Bakersfield. In 1844 there was a man by -the name of Thomas Hall who resided about 10 miles southwest of West -Plains, a man by the name of Cyrus Newberry resided about 10 miles from -where West Plains now is, and a man by the name of Braudwaters resided -near where Moody is now located. - -There was not a settlement in all the territory that now includes -Howell valley. There had been a settlement, by a man who was a hunter, -made at what is now termed the town spring at West Plains who had -cleared five or six acres, but had left it. All the valleys in Howell -county were considered worthless on account of there being no water. - -When the country commenced settling, there was no attention paid to -congressional lines. As they settled on the streams, they would make -conditional lines--blaze across the bottom until they would strike the -table-lands; and the next men who might come in and settle would blaze -his conditional line across, and for years there was but little land -entered. Men only sold their improvements, and there was a fixed law, -or custom, that prevailed among them--that no man should enter the land -and take another man's improvements without paying him for them. A few -such instances occurred to my knowledge. The man was at once waited -upon, and informed of the rules and customs of the country; and besides -the rules and customs, it was not right nor honest to take a man's -labor without paying him for it; and that it was the intention and -purpose of the people to see that justice was done every man; and he -was therefore notified to proceed to the late owner of the improvements -and pay him the value of the improvements; and if they couldn't agree -upon the value, submit it to two disinterested neighbors; and if they -couldn't agree let the third man be brought in, which finding would -be final. In every instance if the man who had made the entry failed -to comply with the terms, he was at once notified that his absence -from the settlement and a speedy departure from the country would be -satisfactory to the settlement; and that if he failed to comply, he -would have to submit to the punishments that would be inflicted upon -him. If the improvements, which were always reasonable, were paid for, -the party would move off, blaze out another claim, and go to work to -improve it; but if he didn't receive pay for his improvements, he -remained on the land and the other fellow's whereabouts would soon be -unknown; and when the land was sold for taxes, the man owning the -improvements would buy it in by paying the amount of taxes and costs -without an opposing bid. - -When my father first located in this country, a large portion of the -territory had never been sectionized. What was known as the old survey, -including range seven and a part of range eight (now in this county) -formed a part of the old survey. Congress passed a law graduating the -price of land according to the length of time it had been upon the -market. The government price was $1.25 per acre. The first reduction -was twenty-five cents upon the acre; then they reduced the purchase -price every few years until all the land included in the old survey -went down to a bit an acre. The graduation law allowed each man to take -up 320 acres by making actual settlement and cultivating it. But the -land speculators took advantage of the law and hired men to go upon the -land and make a few brush-heaps, and in the name of some man apply for -the entry, until all of the graduated lands were taken up, and there -was not a bona fide settler who had complied with the law in one out of -every hundred. - -Most of the land in Howell, Gunters, Peace, and Hutton valleys, and -the land where West Plains is now situated, were entered at a bit per -acre. After the entries, the valley lands commenced settling rapidly. -When the time came to procure a patent to the land, speculators went to -Washington and engineered a bill through Congress to allow the parties -to prove up without making proof of actual settlement, and in that -way fraudulently obtained patents to two-thirds of all the land above -referred to. The next thing, the speculators went East, sold their -lands (or mortgaged them) by representing that all of the table lands -were bottom lands and covered with walnut, hackberry, box elder, and -other bottom growths. They let the mortgages all be foreclosed. - -The merchants, who procured title to the lands, sent out agents to -examine the land, who went back and reported that the lands were -valueless and were not worth the taxes and refused to pay taxes on -them. With some few exceptions the lands were offered time and again -for taxes, would not sell for the amount of the taxes and thousands -of acres remained in that condition until a short time before the -building of the Kansas City & Memphis railroad. All of the table lands -were looked upon by the people as being entirely worthless and fit for -nothing but range. - -My father in the year 1849 sold out and removed from Bennett's river, -Fulton county, to the North Fork of White river, in Fulton County but -two miles from the State line, dividing Missouri and Arkansas. In the -year 1852 father took the winter fever, died and was buried in the -cemetery, three miles above the State line, known as the Teverbauch -cemetery. - -In the year 1854 my mother and one brother died with the bloody flux, -leaving three sons of the family, William, the oldest one living, -F. M. and James I. Monks. The author was married on the 10th day of -April 1853 to Martha A. Rice, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Rice. -He continued to reside upon the old homestead and was a farmer by -occupation. The country commenced settling up rapidly. All the land on -the streams was settled, with very few exceptions, with a frugal and -intelligent class of people, mostly from the middle states. In the year -1856 Howell county was created by taking a part of the territory of -Ozark and a part of the territory of Oregon, to-wit: Ranges 7 and 8 and -a small part of 9 were taken from Oregon county and the remainder of 9 -and 10 was taken from Ozark county. Andrew V. Taber, ---- Johnson (and -the name of the other commissioner we have forgotten at the present -time) proceeded to locate the county seat and purchased 40 acres near -the West Plains spring and laid it out into lots, got the county seat -near the center, as a sufficient amount of water was necessary, taking -into consideration the town spring and then what was known as the -Bingiman spring. The lots sold rapidly and the town grew beyond any -expectation and the country was improving and settling up with the town. - -In 1858 the author sold out on the North Fork of White river and -moved into Howell county and located 11 miles southwest of West -Plains upon sections 2 and 11, range 9, was appointed constable of -Benton township and in the year 1860 was elected constable of Benton -township, commenced reading law in the year 1858. In the year 1860 -West Plains was said to be the best, neatest, prettiest town in South -Missouri and contained about 200 inhabitants; had a neat frame court -house in the center of the square, a first-class hewed log jail, had -four first-class stores (for the country at that time) which kept -continually on hand a general assortment of merchandise, had two -saloons, tan yard and the county was out of debt, with money in the -treasury; a county warrant then was good for its face value in gold, -and the country was prosperous in every respect. The people generally -were fast friends and their chief interest was to develop the resources -of the country and aid and help each other. - - -How a Mob Was Prevented - -In 1860, a man resided about three miles below West Plains by the -name of Collins Coffey on the farm recently owned by Thomas Bolin and -some men by the name of Griffiths and Boles--(some of them resided in -West Plains and some of them resided in Thomasville, Oregon county) -and they and Coffey had a falling out with each other and the enmity -between them became very great. So the Griffiths, who lived at West -Plains went down to Thomasville and they and the Boles with a few other -friends declared that they would come up to Coffey's and mob him. - -They went to work and made for themselves a uniform, procured a bugle, -fife and snare drum, procured a hack, made them a place for a candle -and aimed to come up in the night. - -Coffey owned considerable stock among which was a bull about four -years old. The range then was luxuriant and there was a pond near the -side of the road that led from Thomasville and West Plains and the -bull with other cattle had lain down on the edge of the road about one -mile from Coffey's residence. They armed themselves, procured their -musicians, got into their hack, drawn by two horses and started off to -the scene of action with a bright light, with a flag flying and the -music playing. When they reached the place near where the male was -laying, he rose to his feet, squared himself and fetched a keen bellow -as though (although he was animal) he might have some information as to -their mission. They paid no attention to the action of the bull and on -their driving within about ten feet of him he made a desperate lunge -forward; they supposed that he intended to gore the horses, but missed -his aim, struck the hack near the coupling, broke the coupling pole and -turned head over heels, and fell right between the horses. The horses -became frightened, made a desperate lunge to extricate themselves, and -the bull at the same time was scuffling to extricate himself. Both -horses fell, the bull and horses were all piled into a heap, grunting -and scuffling. The occupants of the hack were all piled out in a heap, -almost in an instant, and before they could extricate themselves and -get onto their feet the bull had gotten up and was moving in the -direction of his master's house bellowing every step as if to say, "I -dare you to come any further." As soon as the posse got to their feet, -having prepared, before they started, with plenty of whiskey, and being -pretty well filled at the time of the occurrence, Boles got to his -feet, drew his pistol, cocked it and swore he could whip any bull he -ever saw, especially a one horned Coffey bull. - -The hack was almost demolished and the occupants considerably bruised, -both horses crippled, and after consultation, they concluded that as -the Coffey bull had proved so successful they had better abandon their -trip and retreat "in good order" to Thomasville, leaving their horses -hitched by the roadside and the shattered hack piled up at one side of -the road. - -The next morning they sent out a team and brought the horses and hack -back to Thomasville, and they were wiser and perhaps better men, as -they never again attempted to mob Coffey. - -The strange feature about this matter is that the bull was never known -to be cross before this occasion, when his master was to be mobbed. - -The society of the country had increased with the population, and -school houses and churches were erected all over the country, nice -farms were opened up, the dwellings changed from round log to hewed -log and frame, the people all manifested a great deal of interest in -schools and churches and the general development of the country. - - -Religion and Politics. - -The prominent religious denominations from 1849 to 1860 consisted -chiefly of Methodists, Baptists and the Christian order; but all -appeared to recognize each other as Christians and would very often -work together, as they had in the early pioneer days. - -Everything had the appearance of pointing to the day when Howell county -would become the garden spot of South Missouri. - -Politically, the country was largely Democratic. In political -campaigns the Whig and Democratic candidates would canvass the country -together, and while on the stump speaking they would assail each -other's platforms in most bitter terms. After the speaking was over -they would go to the same hotel or boarding place and laugh and talk -together as though they belonged to the same political party, and -after the election was over the successful party would be recognized -by the people as the officers of the whole people. You would see no -partisan line drawn by the different courts between political parties, -but the appointments of all local officers were made according to -the qualifications of the man and not as to what party he belonged. -The author, having been born and raised by Democratic parents, was -a Democrat and acted with the Democratic party, his first vote for -president having been cast for James Buchanan. In 1860 a great -political question of the nation began to be agitated and a very bitter -feeling was manifested from the stump between the Republican and -Democratic parties. - -After the Democratic party divided and the bolters nominated -Breckenridge for president, the author took part in the canvas and was -a strong advocate of Stephen A. Douglas, the regular nominee of the -Democratic party, and at the election cast his vote for Stephen A. -Douglas for president. - - - - -MISSOURI AND THE CIVIL WAR. - - -Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. Soon after -the election they began to discuss the question of seceding from the -Government. The author again took the field in opposition to secession, -and delivered a number of speeches. - -In a short time the people that had been the closest of friends and -trusted a neighbor with the most sacred thing they possessed became -bitter enemies and arrayed themselves against one another and as the -discussion of the great question of war continued to grow more bitter -the people appeared to align themselves for and against secession. The -people soon grew so bitter that they often talked of fighting each -other. - -Before the firing on Ft. Sumpter and after several of the states had -actually seceded the Union sentiment prevailed so strongly in the -state of Missouri that Clabourn Jackson, the then acting Governor, was -compelled to order an election in the state of Missouri to settle the -matter by a vote, of the people as to whether Missouri should secede -or remain in the Union. The author then took the stump and advocated -that the state remain in the Union and manifest her loyalty to the -preservation of the Union. In this campaign the feeling of the war grew -more bitter. The result, however, of the election was that the state -remained in the Union. In the mean time, Ft. Sumpter had been fired -upon by the rebels. - -Clabe Jackson, the Governor, appeared to be determined upon the state -seceding either by fair or foul means. Without regarding a majority -vote of the people of the state, Clabe Jackson, the then acting -Governor, issued his proclamation convening the Legislature in extra -session for the purpose of passing ordinances of secession. - -At that time Gen. Frost was in the command of the militia and some -state troops stationed in St. Louis Barracks but he was in heart and -sympathy a rebel. Everything appeared to have been greased and prepared -for the occasion. - -As the Governor had the whole machinery of the state completely under -his control he believed that it would be an easy matter for the -legislature to pass ordinances of secession and carry the state out of -the Union, but the Government authorities at Washington learned of the -critical condition and deep laid scheme of the Governor to carry the -state out of the Union and at once ordered Capt. Lyons of the Regular -Army, (who afterward became General of the volunteer forces and fought -the battle at Wilson Creek, Missouri) to come to St. Louis; he, being -a captain in the Regular Army, outranked Gen. Frost, took possession -of the troops, arms and amunitions, etc., reorganized and rapidly -increased the army by volunteers. - -On information reaching Gen. Lyons that the legislature had been -convened in extra session he at once took his available troops and left -St. Louis with the intention of surrounding the Capitol and taking the -members of both houses, the Governor, with all his state officers, -prisoners; when the Governor learned that the Government troops were en -route for Jefferson City and their purpose, he ordered the bridge to -be burned across the Gasconade river near its mouth, on what was then -known as the North Pacific R. R. This delayed the troops for several -hours. On their approach to Jefferson City the Governor and state -officers and the members of both houses of the legislature and all the -troops that had been ordered to the Capital by the Governor retreated -to Boonville, Missouri. - -I heard our representative in a speech delivered a short time -afterwards, say they came so near getting him while he was getting out -of Jefferson City that he lost his umbrella. Lyons pursued them and at -Boonville they made a stand and on Lyon's arrival with his troops he -attacked them and they fought for a short time. They again retreated, -went into the extreme west part of the state to a place known as Lone -Jack. There they made a stand again, Lyons still pursuing. He again -attacked then at Lone Jack and after a short fight they retreated again -into the State of Arkansas, and there Governor Jackson convened the -legislature and they passed ordinances of secession declaring the State -of Missouri out of the Union and that she was attached to the compact -forming the Confederate States. - -General Lyon returned to St. Louis, increasing his force considerably, -several regiments being attached to his command from other states. -The government ordered him to prepare his troops and move west to -Springfield. The terminus of the South Missouri Pacific R. R., at that -time was at Rolla, Missouri. While Lyon was massing his troops and -preparing to march to Springfield the most intense excitement prevailed -in the entire State of Missouri. - - -A Big Confederate Meeting at West Plains. - -The Confederate authorities at once commenced recruiting for the -Confederate service and the Confederate recruiting officers published -a public meeting at West Plains about the first or tenth of July and -while the Confederate authorities were moving, the union or loyal -element of the country was not idle, but was watching every move, -openly and secretly preparing for the conflict. - -A few days before the meeting was to be held at West Plains the -Confederates sent to the pinery and procured a long pine pole, hoisted -it at the corner of Durham's store at the northwest corner of the -public square and swung to the breeze the stars and bars. At the -same time, or near the same time, the Union men sent to the pinery -and procured a pole. They hoisted it on the northeast corner of East -Main street by the corner of McGinty's store where the S. J. Langston -Mercantile Co., building now stands and swung to the breeze the stars -and stripes. - -It was freely published throughout the county by the Rebels that if -any Union man attempted to open his mouth on that day he would be -shot as full of holes as a sifter bottom. There was a beautiful grove -then growing just east of the branch on East Main street running from -the town spring. Large preparations were made by the Rebels for the -occasion. It was published that there would be leading Confederates -from all over the state and different other states to speak on that -day and one of the main features of the day would be recruiting for -Confederate service. A big speaker's stand was erected with hundreds of -seats. When the day arrived the town was crowded with people and the -friends of both parties were armed and appeared to be ready for the -conflict. The stars and bars attracted a great deal of attention, being -the first flag that had ever been seen by the people that antagonized -the stars and stripes and threatened to destroy the United States -Government. - -There was soon a number of determined men gathered under each flag. -A number of their prominent speakers were on hand, among them Judge -Price, of Springfield, known as "Wild Bill" Price. They readily took in -the situation and saw that a conflict was imminent, and as they were -not ready for it they met together in council and agreed that their -men should not bring on the conflict on that day. Quite a number of -the parties prepared themselves at the speaker's stand. When different -speakers were introduced to address the people, many of the men would -sit, either with their guns in their hands or with their guns near to -them, and the most fiery and extreme speeches were made that I ever -heard. - -The author well remembers the speech of Judge William Price. He told -them that the lopeared Dutch had reached Rolla, Missouri, the terminus -of the railroad, and that they were complete heathens; that Abraham -Lincoln had given the state of Missouri to them, if they would send -enough lopeared Dutch to conquer the state, and that to his knowledge -they had gone out into the country and taken men's wives and daughters -and brought them into the camps, and that he saw them, in the presence -of the mothers, run bayonets through their infant children and hoist -them up and carry them around on their bayonets; that Abraham Lincoln -had offered a reward for all of the preachers that were in favor of -the South. He bursted into tears and asked the question, "I want to -know who the man is, and the color of his hair, that won't enlist in -the interest of his home, his wife, his children and everything that -is sacred and good, to drive out lopeared Dutch, a certain class of -Hessians, from our land." He urged them to come forward and place their -names upon the rolls. Nearly all the preachers present placed their -names on the recruiting list first. - -The excitement grew still more bitter. In the afternoon they began to -threaten openly that the stars and stripes should be hauled down; that -no flag should be allowed to float in West Plains that countenances and -tolerates heathen in our land. The Union men declared that the stars -and stripes should not be lowered unless it was done over their dead -bodies. Quite a number of Union men had assembled under the flag. The -Union men were led by a man named Captain Lyle. He had been warned and -cautioned by his friends not to open his mouth, for the reason that he -would be shot full of holes. Late in the evening there was a lull in -the speaking. The author walked up into the speaker's stand, called the -attention of the people, saw a number of rifles grasped in their hands, -and announced to them that they had been sitting all day listening to -Confederate speeches, but on the next Saturday, if they would meet him -at Black's store, about ten miles west of West Plains, they could hear -Union speeches and the constitution of the United States would be read; -thanked the crowd and stepped down. Quite a number of guns were raised -in the hands of parties and a shower of groans and hisses, and remarks -openly from a number that "We ought to shoot his black heart out now." - -It appeared for a while that it would be impossible to evade a conflict -of arms. A number of orders being sent to the Union men to draw down -their flag or they would fire on it and the men who supported it, an -answer was returned that the rebels were requested to draw down their -flag as it was a stranger in the land and unless they lowered their -flag the stars and stripes wouldn't be lowered an inch, unless it was -done over their dead bodies. At last a proposition came that they would -agree for the sake of averting bloodshed to commence lowering both -flags at the same time which proposition was accepted; so wound up that -day's proceedings. - -On the Saturday following, the author, with several other Union -speakers, met at Black's store where there were several rebel captains -and lieutenants. The author made a speech in favor of remaining in the -Union and stated that the attempt to secede by some of the states would -eventually result in sad disaster, besides bringing untold suffering -upon the people. Several other Union speeches were made after which the -author read the constitution of the United States and urged that all -lovers of republican form of government would comply with the demand of -the supreme law of the land and, if necessary, sacrifice property and -life in defence of the same; so ended that day's proceedings. - - -McBride Establishes Military Law. - -As the organization of the confederates proceeded they still grew more -bitter against the Union men and declared, by meeting and passing -resolutions, that every Union man should show his colors in favor of -the South or be hung as high as Hamen. In the meantime the Union men -had secretly organized and met together, to take into consideration as -to the time when they should act. - -The prevailing sentiment was, that they should remain dormant and let -the rebels shed the first blood, while the minority thought the time -had come for action, and that they ought to act before the rebels -crippled them and tied them up in such a manner that, when the time did -come, they would be entirely helpless and at their mercy. - -McBride, who had been elected judge of the 18th Judicial circuit, -which included Howell county, whose home was in Texas county, was made -Brigadier General of the Confederate forces and commenced organizing -and massing his troops. On the arrival of the federal troops at Rolla, -Missouri, he became fearful that they would attack him, rout him and -destroy his forces, so he concluded to march south to West Plains -and make his headquarters at that place until he could organize his -forces and prepare for marching west, where he intended to join the -forces of Gen. Sterling Price and Gen. McCullough who then were massing -their forces to march on Springfield, Missouri, to attack the federal -forces who were then stationed at Springfield under the command of -Gen. Lyon and Gen. Seigle. On his arrival at West Plains he opened -up headquarters, issued his proclamation that all Union men or any -men that were unfriendly to the Confederate cause should come in and -take the oath and the civil law was declared to be suspended and the -military law completely in force. - -Then was when the dark day and trouble began to hang over the Union -people. As soon as it was known that the civil law was suspended -little bunches of rebels organized all over the country and also in -the state of Arkansas. In a short time after Gen. McBride's arrival in -West Plains a man who was a door neighbor to the author came into his -field where he was cutting wheat, asked him if he had seen the order -of McBride. My answer was "No." He remarked, "Well, he has made a -general order, requiring all Union men, especially those who have been -open and active in behalf of the Union, to come in and take the oath, -and unless they do they are going to hang them as high as Hamen." The -author replied to him that he was a Union man and he knew it; he had -been open and outspoken for the Union and had voted for McBride when he -was elected Judge, but now he thought he was acting outside of the law -and humanity. - -I had neither violated the law of my land nor harmed any man and I -didn't consider that McBride had any right to order me to take an oath -to take up arms against my country or support those who had taken up -arms. If this did become a general war, I thought they were making a -blunder, for the Government, or the lopeared Dutch, as they termed -them, would have the advantage in the way of transporting forage -and commissaries and amunitions of war, while the Confederates would -have to rely mostly for their resources upon the county; that I was -a peace officer and while I was a strong Union man wasn't taking up -arms and I thought that those who wanted to fight, if there had to -be a fight, should go out into the open fields, and not force the -war onto non-combatants, and that the country would suffer enough at -best. Now you know I am a Union man, and I know that you are in favor -of the Confederate cause, and I think this is the course that ought -to be pursued at the present time. The Confederates are in control of -the country, and they will come around and say they must have forage -for the support of the army, and ask you if you know of any Union men; -you could tell them, "My neighbor right here is a Union man, but he -is not disposed to take up arms and go into the fight; take as little -from him as you can possibly do with, and as little from myself; -in return, if this war goes on, and the Federal authorities extend -their jurisdiction, they would be out hunting rebels for the purpose -of getting forage and commissaries, and I could say to them that my -neighbor here is a rebel but take just as little as possible from him, -and as little as possible from me, as we are going to have a hard time -to get through the war any way. But if you pursue the policy you say -has been adopted by the Confederates, you will force all non-combatants -into arms or drive them from the country and completely depopulate -it." He burst into a big laugh and remarked, "Your promises are like a -broken stick, you will never see the lopeared Dutch in this country." I -said to him, "My friend, if this war goes on, before the end of it you -will see what you call lopeared Dutch as thick as blackbirds;" and we -separated. - - -General Lyons Drives Rebels from Rolla. - -About June 10, 1851, the rebels were having a big meeting at Rolla, -Phelps county, Missouri, for the purpose of recruiting. General Lyons -at St. Louis, learned of the meeting, and at once placed quite a -force in the cars, well armed and closed them up so they would not be -detected and started for Rolla with the intention of capturing the -whole outfit. - -On the day set for the rebel meeting, quite a number of them had -assembled and a certain young lawyer was delivering an address, telling -them that one southern man could whip five lopeared Dutch and all -they wanted was just an opportunity; in the meantime Lyon's forces -had reached Dillon, the next station east of Rolla about five miles -distant. There the forces were taken from the cars and divided, some -marching southwest and the others northwest, making a flank movement -for the purpose of surrounding the whole place. While they were -marching some person, who was a rebel, went with all the speed possible -and informed the meeting that the Dutch were right upon them; that the -woods were full of them and to get out of there as quick as possible, -if they wanted to save their lives. - -The lawyer who was addressing them sprang from the speakers stand and -holloing at the top of his voice as he went, "Get away from here, the -Dutch are upon us." It was said that the lawyer ran so fast that if -a glass of water had been sat upon his coat tail it would not have -spilled. They scattered to the woods in all directions. The Federal -force came in; but their birds had all flown and left the citizens who -had remained to tell the sad tale. - -The rebel forces at once retreated to Salem, Missouri, where they again -concentrated their force. The Federal scout, in a few days followed -them to Salem, and there again routed them and they retreated directly -to West Plains, joining the command of McBride at that place. The -rebels, hurriedly, concentrated their forces from all the south and -southeastern counties of Missouri and from the northern counties of -Arkansas. - -General McBride made an order to gather all the arms, amunitions, and -horses that were fit for the service, as speedily as possible and the -report was put in circulation that he had given the county over to the -leading rebels, who resided in it, whose action, whatever they did -touching the Union men, would be indorsed and carried out by General -McBride. The leading rebels of the county at once sent out word that -they were going to take all the arms, amunition and available horses -from the Union men and that McBride required each and every one of them -to report and take the oath at once, and if they failed to comply with -said order, speedy action would be taken against them. - -They would either be arrested, imprisoned or forced into the -Confederate army to fight and their leaders would be hung. - -On the issuing of the said order the wildest excitement prevailed among -the Union men. They immediately met for the purpose of consultation as -to what their final action would be. There were divers opinions among -them; some of them were for acting at once; others (and a majority of -them) were in favor of waiting until the rebels shed the first blood. -Those who refused to report and take the oath had to place themselves -in hiding at once. The rebels made a general move to raid, harass and -capture the Union men. Then real danger confronted a man who claimed -to be a Union man. The rebels had made a general amnesty, upon the -condition that they would join the Confederate army and become loyal to -the Confederate States. About two-thirds of the men who had been open -and avowed Union men saw the danger that confronted them, and joined -the Confederate army and claimed that they would be loyal to its cause. -The remainder of the Union men were disarmed at once, except those who -kept themselves concealed in the mountains and hills. - -After they had completely disarmed them and forced many of them to join -the Confederate service, had taken most of their horses, cattle and -hogs for the use of the army, the leading rebels in the county claimed -that they had organized for the purpose of ridding the country of all -Union men who had refused to join the Confederate forces; that when -McBride moved west he was going to leave the whole matter in their -hands, and they intended to string up the Union men to limbs and shoot -them, so they would soon be rid of the class of men who were friends of -the lopeared Dutch and were nigger lovers. - - -The Testing of Loyal Hearts. - -Small bunches of rebel troops came in from Arkansas and joined the -bands that were raiding the country, and the Union men were hunted -like wild beasts. Then set in the darkest day that ever any class of -patriots, true to their government, had to confront. - -The author remembers well when the Union men would meet together, that -they took the proposition made by McBride into consideration, and it -was discussed pro and con. Some men would say, "While I am a Union -man and for the government, all that I have in the world is here in -Howell county; my little home, my property and, above all, my wife -and children. They have promised us protection provided we will join -the rebel army. Had we not better accept the proposition and wait for -results?" Others would arise, with tears dripping from their eyes, -and remark that this state of affairs is hard indeed. "Can I afford -to abandon my wife and children that I love so well and leave them -unprotected in the midst of an open state of war, at the mercy of a -mad and distracted people, who are thirsting for the loyal blood of -the nation, and be alienated from them, perhaps, never more to see -them?" Others would arise and remark that "We have seen this danger -coming for months and we are satisfied that the worst has not come, -and I know that I love my wife, my family, my little children, as I -love my own heart; I love to meet them around my fireside and enjoy -their sweet company, and I have delighted in laboring to furnish them -food and raiment and shelter while they were growing into manhood and -womanhood, but I have read and heard read that my highest duty was -to God and my second duty was to my country; and the organic law of -the nation requires at my hands that whenever it becomes necessary to -preserve my government, that I owe to it my life, my honor and the -welfare of my family; and the trying ordeal is now at hand and I don't -know what the final result will be--if I am forced away from my family, -I know they will be left at the mercy of an intolerant and unrelenting -enemy, but I now and here lay my life, my family, my property and my -future happiness upon the altar of my country, and let come what will, -weal or woe, I intend, with all my feeble effort, to defend the stars -and stripes, and stand up openly and courageously in defense of and -for the preservation of the Union." That proposition prevailed and was -unanimously adopted by the Union men. - -At this time there was no government aid in reach of these loyal -hearts, that were controlled by nothing but love of country. Uncle -Sam could do nothing for them. They were completely surrounded in -an enemy's country, and while they (the men), with what arms they -had preserved, could by strategy evade the arrest and slaughter of -themselves, their families were completely at the mercy of a mad and -howling mob, thirsting for the blood of Union men. - -While the loyal men in the North were enlisting in the interest of -their country, Uncle Sam paid them $13.00 per month, clothed them, and -their families were left in the care of friends; they knew nothing -about the war, except what they read; but not so with the Union men -who were surrounded in an enemy's country. They, without a single word -of protection or comfort from the government for themselves or their -families, but their love and devotion to their country led them to -furnish themselves, to leave their families as best they could, at the -mercy of a howling mob, for the defense of their country. - - -Rebels Defeated in Douglas County. - -The loyal men in Douglas county and the north part of the county of -Ozark were in the ascendency. A rebel force organized from the county -of Howell, Missouri, and Fulton county, Arkansas, wanting to have some -fun hunting Union men, learned that on Bryant's Fork on the north fork -of White river in Ozark county there was a bunch of Union men. So they -armed and equipped themselves, furnished themselves ropes, and marched -to hunt the place these men were said to be. The Union men hearing of -their intention hurriedly prepared a temporary barricade around the -house, and about sixty of them gathered together with their squirrel -rifles in readiness to repel the attack in case it was made. The rebel -scout consisted of two hundred and fifty men. - -Early in the morning reliable information reached the Union men that -the rebel forces were well under way and would reach them some time -in the afternoon. One of the Union men, who had always borne the -reputation of being a brave man and would fight anything, became -impatient as the time drew near that they were to be attacked. He had -been a great hunter and was considered a first-class shot, and he -remarked to the Union men, "I can't wait for the rebels to attack us, -I want to get a shot at one so bad with Old Betsy (his gun). I know -of a bald knob, about a quarter of a mile from here, where the rebel -force is bound to pass. I am going there; place yourselves in waiting, -and when you hear 'Old Betsey' belch, you may know there is one dead -rebel, and be certain that they are coming." In about an hour after -the man referred to had left, the rebel advance came in sight, but -they never heard "Old Betsy" belch. They vigorously attacked the Union -men inside their fortifications, and after fighting for about an hour, -they retreated, leaving one man dead upon the field and one wounded. -The Union men received no injury whatever. They became very uneasy in -regard to their friend and "Old Betsy," supposing he had fallen into -the hands of the enemy and they had used the rope on him. Search was -made all along the line of march of the rebels for the missing man, but -no information could be learned of his whereabouts. However, in about -one week, news came from Douglas county that their friend and "Old -Betsy" arrived safely at another rendezvous of Union men in Douglas -county, about forty miles distant, and reported that the Union men had -had a fight with the rebels, and they were all captured or killed, with -the exception of himself, and he had made his escape after the fight. - -Just before McBride broke camps to march west to join Gen. Price and -Gen. McCullough, he made a general order that they arrest and seize -every Union man possible, and after he left the country, that the -committee who had been organized to take charge of the county, would -at once exterminate every Union man who had failed to take the oath -or to join the Confederate army, giving them full power as to what -disposition they would make of them. - - -Rebels Capture Col. Monks. - -On the 7th of July, 1861, one of my neighbors came to me and informed -me that the time had come that every Union man had to show his colors -and unless they reported and took the oath or joined the Confederate -army, they would hang as high as Haman. While the Union men were on -their guard and watching their movements, once in a while they would -slip in home to see how the family was getting along. My family at that -time consisted of a wife and four children, three girls and one boy. My -wife had never been accustomed to staying alone and I came in home late -on the evening of the 7th, thinking that I would leave the next morning -before daylight. Sometime after the family had retired, not far from 11 -o'clock in the night, I was awakened by a rapping on the door. My wife, -suspecting who the parties were, answered them, and demanded to know -what was wanted; one of them, who claimed to be an orderly sergeant, -remarked that he wanted to know if Monks was at home. She replied that -he was not. A man by the name of William Biffle, whom the author had -been acquainted with for years, replied, "He is here, I know, for I -coursed him into this house late yesterday evening." The author at once -arose to his feet and remarked, "I am here, what is wanted?" A man by -the name of Garrett Weaver, who claimed to be an orderly sergeant and -in charge of the squad, also a neighbor to the author said, "I have -been ordered by Gen. McBride to arrest you, bring you in and make you -take the oath." I owned at that time a first-class rifle and there was -also another rifle gun in the house. I took my gun into my hands and -my wife took hold of the other gun. I told them that a general order -had gone forth, so I was informed, that they wanted to hang all the -leading Union men and "if that is your intention I will die before I -surrender." Weaver replied they were not going to hang me, but they -were just going to take me to McBride to take the oath and I should be -protected. Upon those terms I agreed to surrender, made a light in the -house and found that the house was surrounded by a posse of twenty-five -rebels. As soon as the light was made, a part of them rushed into the -house, took my gun and jerked the one my wife had in her hand out of -her possession, almost throwing her to the floor, began a general -search of the house for other arms and such things as they said the -army needed. - -As soon as I dressed, they ordered me to move. They didn't even give me -time to say good-bye to my wife, nor to imprint a kiss upon the cheeks -of my loving children. Closely surrounding me, they marched me about -250 yards, came to their horses, where two more of their posse guarded -the horses, they having dismounted, to approach the house on foot so -they might not be heard. - -[Illustration: COL. MONKS ARRESTED AND TAKEN FROM HOME] - - -"Billy, You Ought Not to be So Saucy." - -When within a few feet of the horses the author was halted. It was -just starlight. I noticed a man by the name of Wilburn Baker, a man -with whom the author had been acquainted from a boy, go to the horn of -one of the saddles, lift therefrom a coiled rope and move toward the -author. The author quickly arrived at the conclusion that the time had -come to enforce the order of hanging. Baker ordered the author seized -by the arms, drew them behind him and securely tied him. The author -asked, just as they had completed the tying, "What do you mean? Are you -going to cage me?" Baker replied, "Billy, you ought not to be so saucy, -for you don't know the danger you are in." I was at once ordered placed -on a horse. One of the posse rode up to my side and placed the other -end of the rope around his body and the posse moved west. A short time -before daylight they arrived at the house of William Nicks, who was a -rebel lieutenant. They dismounted and took the author into the house. -There appeared to be a general rejoicing among them. Nicks said, "You -have got him, have you? We had become uneasy about you, and thought -it might have been possible that he had his Union forces around him -and that you had met with disaster; but I feel satisfied that we have -now captured the leader and the counselor of the Union forces and the -remainder will be easily extinguished." Gen. McBride in the meantime, -being uneasy for fear the Federal troops would attack him, had removed -his forces from West Plains to the south part of Howell county, camping -at what was known as the Flag pond. - -I was closely guarded until daylight. McBride's forces had broken camp -at the Flag pond on the morning of July 8th and were marching west with -the intention of joining the forces of Gen. Price and Gen. McCullough, -who were then moving in the direction of Springfield, Missouri, with -the intention of attacking the Federal forces at that place, commanded -by Gen. Lyon and Gen. Siegel. Very early on the morning of the 8th -the party started in a southwest direction, with the author closely -guarded. On coming near the head of Bennett's river, Fulton county, -Arkansas, the posse commenced cheering and remarked: "Listen! Do you -hear the drums and the fife? That is Gen. McBride's command moving west -to kill them lopeared Dutch that you Union men have brought into the -state of Missouri. Do you know what we are going to do with such men as -you are? Those of you that we don't hang, the first fight that we get -into with the lopeared Dutch, we will make breastworks out of to keep -the bullets off of good men." - -About one mile further we came in sight of the moving column. We rode -along the line, when there was general cheering until we reached a -company that was organized in Oregon county and commanded by Capt. -Simpson. Simpson said, "Why have you brought a Union man in here alive! -If my company had possession of him, he could not live ten minutes." - -We soon reached a company commanded by Capt. Forshee which was -organized in this county to whom the whole posse that made the arrest, -belonged. The author was well acquainted with all of them and over -half of them resided in the same settlement and were his neighbors. -On reaching the company Captain Forshee walked out of the line and -remarked to them "Why have you brought him in here alive?" Some of -the posse remarked, that he had been a neighbor and they had all been -friends up to the war and they hated to kill him. Forshee said "When -I saw him at West Plains at the speaking when he got up and contended -that there was a union and the government ought to be preserved, I -wanted to shoot his black heart out of him and I feel the same way yet." - -The author was kept in close confinement and on the night of the 8th -the command went into camp near what is known as the old Steve Thompson -farm. The author, with several other prisoners, was placed in the guard -house and orders were given that he be closely guarded. - -After they had taken their suppers, men that the author had been -acquainted with from his boyhood, and men who had been acquainted with -his relatives, came to the guard house in considerable numbers and -remarked, "Hello, Monks?" "I never expected to see you under arrest." -"What have you been doing that they have arrested you? I thought you -was a good Democrat." "Have you left your party." "The Democratic party -is in favor of the South." The author replied to them that when they -thought he was a good Democrat they were right. But that he was not -a slave to party and that he held country higher than party and if -Democracy meant secession and nullification, that was one part of the -principals of Democracy that he had never learned; that true Democracy, -as understood by the author, taught every man that in case his country -was invaded either externally or internally that he owed his honor -and property in the support of it and for those reasons he was for -the preservation of the Union at all hazards. Some remarked that "We -ought to hang him right now without waiting any longer" Others remarked -that "We have been acquainted with his people both on his mother's and -father's side and they were all southern people and Democrats and they -are all of them, almost, in favor of the South. It is strange indeed to -see the course that he has taken." The author remarked that "There were -always some shabby sheep in a flock and I suppose from your reasoning -that I am one of them." They all retired, the officers giving orders -that the most vigilant watch be kept over the prisoner. After he had -retired a gentleman by the name of Joseph Teverbaugh who resided in -Ozark county, a merchant and the owner of about twenty negroes, who had -been well acquainted with the author from his boyhood, brought up the -conversation as to what disposition they thought ought to be made of -the author. The author could easily hear all the conversation inside -of the guard line. Many opinions were expressed. Quite a number said, -"Hang him outright." That was the only way to get shut of the Union -men, to make short work of it, and forever rid the country of that -element. - -Others said that appeared to be too harsh, that they were in favor -of taking him to Little Rock and confining him in the penitentiary -until the war was over, for it wouldn't take but a short time to rid -the country of the lopeared Dutch and those who were friends to them. -Others remarked that "that would be too easy for a man who was in -favor of the lopeared Dutch; that we are in favor of taking all like -him right into the army and making them fight and if they won't fight, -the first engagement we get into, pile them up and make breastworks -out of them, so that they will catch bullets off of good men." At this -juncture Teverbaugh remarked, "I have been acquainted with Billy from -a boy and you never can force him to fight against what he believes to -be right, that he was a good boy and since he has grown up to be a man -he has been an honorable and straightforward man and quite an active -man politically and my advice would be to confine him in the State -Penitentiary until the war is over, for I tell you now if he ever gains -his liberty you are going to have him to fight." - - -Sold as a Beef Cow. - -On the morning of the 9th they broke camp and marched near the mouth -of Bennett's river and went into camp at what was then known as -Talbert's mill. A short time after we had been in camp Capt. Forshee, -who had charge of the prisoners, came to the guard house and the author -requested him that he be allowed to take the oath and return home, as -his wife and children were almost scared to death owing to the reports -that were currently circulated all through the country, his wife would -believe they had hung him. The captain replied that they were not going -to allow him to take the oath. They had plenty of proof against him, -that he had been communicating to the lopeared Dutch and as soon as -they had formed a junction with Price and McCullough he would be tried -as a spy. He gave orders to the guard to see that he was kept in close -confinement, and about 11 o'clock in the night as near as the author -can guess, it being starlight, the Captain came down to the guard house -in company with one of his men, Frank Morrison. - -The author was lying on the ground pretending to be asleep. The Captain -came inside of the guard, called out, "Monks, are you asleep?" The -author raised up in a sitting position and said, "Captain what is -wanted"? The Captain remarked, "I want you to go up to my camp fire," -which was about 75 yards distance from the guard house. The author -said, "Captain, this is a strange time of night to come down and order -me to your camp fire." He said; "Not another word out of you, rise -to your feet." He ordered Morrison to step behind him with the same -gun that he had recently taken from the author and cock it and "if he -makes a crooked step from here up to the camp fire shoot him through." -The author heard Morrison cock the gun and about half way between the -guard house and the camp fire the Captain remarked to the author, -"Do you know Kasinger?" The author, suspecting that he was going to -be delivered to a mob, said "I know him very well; we have grown up -together from boys." The Captain said, "I thought he was a mighty nice -man. I have sold you to him for a beef cow." The author remarked there -was but one thing he was sorry for; that if he had known he was going -to be delivered to a mob he never would have surrendered and had some -satisfaction for his life. The Captain said, "I thought I was doing -mighty well to sell a black Republican or a Union man for a beef cow -where we have as many good men to feed, as we have here." - -His camp fire was under a gum tree with a large top. The fires had -all died down, it being in July and nothing but the stars were giving -the light. On coming within two or three feet of the tree the Captain -ordered the author to halt. He and Morrison walked about ten paces and -said, "I have brought you up here to liberate you. We have got plenty -of good men here to feed without feeding men who are friends to the -lopeared Dutch." The author replied to the Captain, "you may think you -are dealing with a fool. I have neither violated the civil nor military -law; have demanded a trial and you refuse to give it to me. You can't -bring me up here at this time of night and pretend to turn me loose for -the purpose of escaping the responsibility of an officer and deliver me -into the hands of a mob." - - -The Confederate Army or Hell. - -The author was satisfied that he could then see a bunch of men standing -in readiness. The Captain replied, "Sit down or you will be shot in -half a minute." The author sat down and leaned against the tree. He -had on strong summer clothing, wearing an alpaca vest and coat. In an -instant, about twenty-five men, led by Kasinger, and a man by the name -of William Sap, approached the author; Kasinger, holding a rope in his -hand with a noose in it, walked up to the author, held the noose of the -rope above his head and said, "Monks, you have half a minute to say you -will join the army and fight, or go to hell, just which you please." -The author replied that it was said that "hell was a hot place," but he -had never been there, and that he had always been counted a truthful -man until he had been arrested, and since his arrest he had been asked -divers questions of the whereabouts of the lopeared Dutch, and that -he had told them in every instance he knew nothing of them and had -been cursed for a liar. "If I was to say that I would join the army -and fight, I might have a cowardly set of legs and they might carry me -away; and in the next place, I am a Union man, first, last and all the -time. I suppose your intention is to hang me, and there is only one -thing I am sorry for, and that is that I ever surrendered; but there is -one consolation left, when you kill me you won't kill them all, and you -will meet plenty of them that won't be disarmed as I am now." - -Kasinger replied, "No damn foolishness, we mean business," and made an -attempt to drop the noose over my head, which was warded off with my -arms. - -At this juncture the author appealed to the Captain for protection from -the mob, saying that he was a prisoner, unarmed and helpless, and if -he suffered him to be murdered by a mob his blood would be upon the -Captain's head. No reply being made by the Captain, all of the parties -being considerably under the influence of whiskey, Sap raised his -left hand, pushed Kasinger back and remarked, "I have been shooting -and wounding some of these black Republicans who are friends of the -lopeared Dutch, but I intend to shoot the balance of them dead." At -the same time he drew a pistol from his right-hand pocket, cocked it, -stooped over, ran his fingers under the author's clothing, gave them -a twist and commenced punching him around the chest with the muzzle -of the revolver, and after, as the author thought, he had punched him -some fifty or sixty times with the revolver, the author said to him, -"William Sap, there is no question but that your intentions are to -kill me, and you want to torture me to death. You know that if I was -armed and on equal footing with you, you would not do this." He made a -quick jerk with his left hand, intending to jerk the author upon his -face, remarking to the Captain at the same time, "Captain, you promised -him to us and we are going to take him." The author, with all force -possible, leant against the tree, Sap's hold broke loose, tearing off -all the buttons that were on the vest and coat. - -[Illustration: A NARROW ESCAPE FOR COL. MONKS.] - -The author again appealed to the Captain for protection from the mob. -The Captain then remarked to Sap, "Hold on for a moment, I will take a -vote of my company as to whether we will hang him or not." The company -at that time was lying on the ground, most of them apparently asleep. -The Captain called out aloud to his company, "Gentlemen, I am going -now to take a vote of my company as to whether we will hang Monks or -not. All in favor of it vote, aye; all opposed, no." He then took the -affirmative vote and the negative vote. They appeared, to the author, -to be almost evenly divided. Sap again remarked to the Captain "You -promised him to us, we have bought him and paid for him and he is ours." - -The author again appealed to the Captain for protection. The Captain -replied to Sap, "He claims protection and as I am an officer and he -a prisoner I reckon we had better keep him until we reach McCullough -and Price and then we will try him for a spy and there is plenty of -evidence against him to prove that he has been writing to the lopeared -Dutch and after he is convicted will turn him over and you men can take -charge of him." At this juncture a brother in-law of the Captain said, -"Captain, I have one request to make of you. I want you to take Monks -in the morning and tie him hard and fast, with his face to a tree, -and let me shoot with a rest sixty yards and show you how I can spoil -a black Republican's pate." The Captain replied, "As soon as he is -convicted you can have the gratification of shooting him just as often -as you please." - -The Captain and Morrison again took charge of the author, carried him -back and delivered him to the guard with instructions to the guard to -be diligent in keeping him closely confined so that he would have no -possible chance of escape. On the morning of the 10th we broke camp -and went into camp that night just beyond where Mountain Home now -stands. Dr. Emmons, of West Plains, who was a strong Union man and who -afterwards became captain in the 6th Missouri Cavalry, attempted to go -through to the Federal forces but was pursued by the rebels, captured -somewhere in Texas county and brought back to the camp. He was also a -prisoner at the same time; but being a master mason, was paroled to the -limits of the camp and on the night of the 10th made his escape and got -through to the Federal lines, enlisted and was made captain. Of him we -will speak later. - - -In Camp at Yellville. - -On July 11th they broke camp and reached Yellville, Marion county, and -on the 13th reached Carrolton, a small town in Arkansas, and went into -camp. The author well remembers the spring. It ran out of the steep, -rocky gulch and the branch ran a little south of west and a beautiful -grove of timber surrounded the spring. The prisoners were marched down -within a few feet of the spring and there placed under guard. As usual, -the abuse that had been continually heaped upon the prisoners during -the march was renewed and in a short time a man who was said to be from -one of the counties north of Rolla, Mo., commenced making a speech and -inciting and encouraging the soldiers to mob the prisoners at once; -that he had disguised himself and entered the camps of the lopeared -Dutch at Rolla, and that to his own personal knowledge they had men's -wives and daughters inside of their camps, committing all manner -of offenses possible, and that they were heathens; didn't resemble -American people at all and that he would not guard nor feed any man who -was a friend to them; that they ought to be killed outright. - -The men who enlisted in the Confederate army from Howell and adjoining -counties, before starting, went to the blacksmith shops and had them -large butcher knives made; made a belt and scabbard and buckled them -around them, and said that they were going to scalp lopeared Dutch. In -a short time the tenor of the above mentioned speech had incited over -400 men and it had become necessary to double the guard. The grove of -timber was filled with men and boys looking over, expecting to see the -prisoners mobbed every minute. There was a man who drew his pistol, -others drew knives and made different attempts to break lines and mob -the prisoners. The man in possession of the pistol declared that he -intended to shoot them. He was on an elevated place and they called -him "Red," and there were three or four men holding him to prevent -his firing. The author remarked to him that: "The time will soon come -when you will meet men who are not disarmed. You had better save your -bravery until you meet them, and my opinion is that you won't need -any man to hold you then." Just about this time on the north side of -the spring--the land dropped toward the spring, on a descent of about -45 degrees--the author heard the voice of a man ordering the guard to -"open the lines and let these ladies come in." The author at once arose -to his feet and spoke out in an audible voice to the guard to give away -and let the ladies come in and see a Northern monkey exhibited, that -the monkeys grew a great deal larger in the north than they did in the -south. At this juncture it appeared to take one more man to hold Red -who said that "he would kill the saucy scoundrel if it took him a week -to do it." - -When the posse came in we saw that the ladies were accompanied by eight -or ten Confederate officers with about fifteen ladies. All the ladies -carried small Confederate flags, the first ones that the author had -ever seen. On coming very close to the prisoners they halted and one -of the officers remarked, "These are the Union men that are friends to -the lopeared Dutch. Couldn't you tie the knot upon them to hang them?" -I think almost everyone spoke out and said "we could." After heaping -other epithets and abuse upon the prisoners they and the officers -retired outside of the line. The speaker was still talking, urging and -insisting that the prisoners should be mobbed at once, that they should -not be permitted to live. - -At about this stage of the proceedings a man's voice was heard on top -of the bank saying, "Men, I believe your intentions are to kill these -prisoners. You have all started out to fight and you don't know how -soon you might be taken prisoner and you would not like to be treated -in any such manner; I know Billy, (referring to the author) and all you -have against him is the political side that he has taken and I order -the orderly sergeant to double the guard around the prisoners so there -will be no possible chance for the mob to get through, and move with -the prisoners south to a large hewed log house and place the prisoners -therein, and place a guard around the walls and suffer no man to -approach the house without an order from the officers." - -As the prisoner began to move, the excited soldiers, who were wanting -to mob them, brought out an Indian yell, and it appeared to the author -he could almost feel the ground shake. After they were put into the -houses, among the prisoners were some who were deserters, the author -whispered to the Union men and told them to lie down close to them so -that they could not distinguish from the outside one from another. The -author was informed by Maj. William Kelley, of the Confederate army, -who resides at Rolla, Phelps county, Missouri, at the present time, -that he was the officer who made the order to remove the prisoners into -the house and place a heavy guard around them to prevent their being -mobbed. This ended the excitement for the evening. - -The author had always been a believer in the realities of religion. -About one-tenth of the officers appeared to be Baptist and Methodist -preachers, and frequently when they would go into camp would call a -large number of the men together and very often take the prisoners and -place them near by under a heavy guard, and then convene religious -services. They always took for a text some subject in the Bible and -the author remembers well of the taking of the subjects in the book of -Joshua, where Joshua was commanded to pass around the fortifications -of the enemy and blow the ram's horn and the fortifications fell, and, -the God of Joshua was the same God that existed to-day and there was no -question but that God was on the side of the South and all they had to -do was to have faith and move on, attack the lopeared Dutch and God was -sure to deliver them into their hands. - -The author could not help but add, in his own mind, that when the -attack is made that God set the earth to shaking and all around where -the lopeared Dutch are standing that the earth will open and swallow -them up just leave their heads above the surface; so that those -Confederates who were so furious could take their big knives and scalp -the Dutch as they had said on divers occasions they intended to do. - - -Makes His Escape. - -The author was determined to make his escape whenever the opportunity -offered; and he could learn all about the whereabouts of the Federal -soldiers from the excited Confederate scouts who would ride along -the lines and say that the lopeared Dutch were as thick as rats at -Springfield, Missouri, moving around in every direction and they might -be attacked at any time and General McBride was looking every day to be -attacked by the Federal forces to cut off his forming a junction with -Generals Price and McCullough. - -In about four or five days they reached Berryville, near where the -Eureka Springs are, and went into camp just west of Berryville right -at the spurs of the Boston mountain. The prisoners were placed in the -guard house near a little creek that was then dry. Captain Forshee's -company went into camp next to the company commanded by Captain -Galloway of Howell county. As the weather was very hot and dry and -the author had been marched barefooted (one of his shoes having worn -out) until his feet were badly blistered, he was lying down, feigning -sickness. The guard has become a little careless. Just about sundown -heavy thunder set in the west. The clouds continued to increase, the -elements grew very dark. In the mean time they had put out a chain -guard all around the encampment and said guard was about thirty steps -from guard house. The low lands were all bottom, covered with heavy -timber and a large oak had fallen across the creek and reached from -bank to bank and the bark had all slipped off. About thirty feet from -the top of the tree the foot of a steep mountain set in. The guard fire -was about sixty yards south of the guardhouse. The clouds soon came up -and a heavy rain set in, with terrific thunder and lightning, and as -the army had temporary tents the guards all crawled in under the tents -and left the author by the fire. The rain soon quenched the fire. - -The chain guard were walking up and down the dry creek and they met at -the log referred to. The author thought now was his time to make his -escape, if ever; knowing that he would have to have a shoe, slipped to -one of the tents, got hold of a shoe, and then the thought struck him -that he would like to have a revolver, but on further examination found -their revolvers to be placed in such a position that it was impossible -to get one without waking the men. He then slipped to the butt of the -log and heard the guard meet at the log and turn again on their beat. -He at once crossed on the log on the other side, walked into the brush, -reached the foot of the mountain about twenty steps distant and halted. -Everything appeared to be quiet, the release around the guard fire were -singing, whooping and holloing. - -The author then took the mountain which was about one quarter of a mile -high, and it always has appeared to the author that he crossed the log -and went up the mountain as light as a cat. On reaching the top, still -raining heavily, the thought came into his mind that "I am once more -a free man, but I am in an enemy's country, without friends," and at -once determined in my mind to reach Springfield, Missouri, if possible. -I sat down, pulled on the shoe that I had taken and it just fitted -without a sock; I then procured a dead stick for the purpose of holding -before me as I traveled for fear I would walk off of some steep cliff -or bluff, as it was very mountainous. - -Having the guard fire for a criterion I moved northwest, soon struck -the leading road west that the army was marching on, traveled the road -for about one mile, came onto the pickets, surrounded the pickets, -struck the road again, traveled all night until just gray day, -directly west or nearly so. A slow rain continued all night. As soon as -it became light enough to see I found myself in a country completely -covered with pine timber. I turned square from the road, went about -350 yards up to the top of a high knob, found about one quarter of an -acre level bench. A large pine had turned out by the roots and the -hole was partially filled with old leaves. The author always had been -afraid of a snake but the time had come when he had more fear of a man -than a snake, so he rolled himself down into the hole in the leaves -and at the time had become chilled with the steady rain. About 9 or 10 -o'clock, as well as the author could guess, he heard the beat of the -drum which told that the army was marching on the same road that he -had traveled in the night. In a short time the army passed where the -author was lying in the sink. The author could have raised himself up -and have seen the procession pass but he had seen them just as often -as he wanted to and he remained still. Late in the evening a company -of about 65 men passed. The author was informed afterwards that they -had been detailed to make search for the prisoner, with orders if they -found him, to shoot him at once. The author was further informed by -Confederates who belonged to the command that as soon next morning as -it was reported that the author had made his escape that the chain -guard declared that no man could have passed between them and they were -satisfied that the author was still inside of the lines. - -They at once made a large detail and commenced searching. There were -quite a large number of box elders with very heavy, bushy tops. They -said every single tree, every drift and possible place of hiding, was -examined. Orders were at once issued by the commander, who sent word -back to the home of the author, that he had made his escape and to -watch for him and as soon as he came in home to arrest him and either -shoot him or hang him at once. - -In the afternoon of the same day it cleared off and just as soon as -dark came, the author was determined to try to reach Springfield, being -in a strange country and knowing that if he was re-captured it would -be certain death. He knew somewhere about the distance he had traveled -west. He located the north star which he used as his pilot or guide -and set out for Springfield, having no arms of any kind, not even a -pocket knife and had become very hungry. He came to a slippery-elm -tree, took a rock, knocked off some of the bark, ate it and proceeded -on his journey, traveling all night. When gray day appeared again, he -went to a hickory grub, broke the grub off with a rock, cut the top -off with a sharp edged rock, to be used for a weapon, placed himself -in hiding, remained all day. As soon as night came, again he proceeded -on his journey, traveled no roads except when they run in direction -of the north star. On the second morning he went into a small cave -surrounded by a thicket, about 10 o'clock in the day he found that he -was near enough to some rebel command to hear the drilling. As soon as -dark came on he proceeded on his journey. The nights were dark and only -star light until the after part of the night. He went near a spring -house, but when he got to it, there wasn't a drop of milk in it. He -passed through an Irish potato patch, grabbed two or three small Irish -potatoes and ate them; passed through a wheat field, rubbed out some -dry wheat in his hand, ate that; ate a few leaves off of a cabbage. On -the third morning, went into hiding, remained until the darkness came -again and resumed the journey. - -On the morning of the 4th at daylight I had reached an old trace, -pulled off my clothes and wrung them and put them on again as the dew -was very heavy and every morning my clothes would be wet. I went about -30 or 40 yards from the old trace and thought to myself, if I saw any -person passing that was not armed, that I would approach and learn -where I was. Hadn't been there more than a half hour when I heard a -wagon coming. As soon as the wagon came in sight I saw that there was a -lady driving, accompanied by a small girl and boy, I got up and moved -into the road, walked on, and met the wagon, spoke to the lady. She -stopped the wagon and I asked her if she would be kind enough to tell -me where I was, that I had got lost, traveled all night and didn't -know where I was. She told the author that he was in Stone county, -Missouri, and asked him where he was from. I told her that I was from -the state of Arkansas. She wanted to know if there was much excitement -there. I told her that there was; that men were enlisting and going -into the Confederate service and the people were generally excited over -the prospect of war. I asked her if there was any excitement in this -country. She replied that there was--that the rebels a day or two ago -had run in, on White River, and killed four Union men and drove out -about 40 head of cattle and "that's why I am going out here in this -wagon. My husband belongs to the home guards and has come in home on a -furlough and is afraid to knock around the place for fear he will be -waylaid and shot by the rebels." - -I then asked her if she would allow me to ask her a civil question. -She replied that she would. I asked her what her politics were, and -she told me that she was a Union woman. I told her, then, that I would -tell her the truth; that the rebels had had me prisoner and that I -had made my escape from them and had been traveling only in the night -time; that this was the fourth morning since I had made my escape, and -I asked her how far it was to the house; that she was the first person -I had spoken to since I had made my escape. She said it was about 350 -yards around the point, to go on down to the house, and as soon as she -got some light wood she would be back. I went to the house, halloed -at the fence, a man came to the door and invited me in. I walked in, -and at once I began to look for arms, and to my great delight I saw a -Springfield musket lying in the gun rack, with a cartridge box with -the letters U. S. on it. O! the thrill of joy that passed through my -mind. I had often heard the old adage quoted, that "a friend in need is -a friend indeed," but had never before realized its full meaning. In -a short time the lady returned. She went to work cooking, soon had me -something to eat, but I had almost lost my appetite, having fasted so -long. - -After I ate something and while she was preparing provisions to carry -with me the man told me there was but one place that we could cross -White river without being placed in great danger of being captured by -the rebels, for they were patrolling up and down the river every day. -I told him I never had attempted to travel a foot in daylight since I -had made my escape. He told me he thought if we could get safely across -the river, he knew of an old trace that led across the mountains and -intersected Taney county and as soon as we reached that settlement they -all belonged to home guards and a man would be in no danger in making -himself known. - -The woman baked enough biscuit and tied up bacon and red onions with -them, the author thought, to have lasted a hungry man three days, for -him to carry with him and we at once, after taking leave of the good -woman followed by her best wishes that I would get through to the -Federal lines safely, started for White river, about two miles distant. -Just before reaching the river he left the author standing in the road, -went into the house near by and soon came out with two other men in -company with him. On reaching the river where there was a canoe tied to -the bank they stepped aside by themselves, held a short consultation; -then all got into the canoe, carried me across the river, piloted me -across the river bottom to where the old trace left the bottom; there -we separated, they hoping that I would get through to the Federal -lines safely. They didn't think there was any danger in traveling in -daylight, because there wasn't a single settlement for the entire -distance of 25 miles. - -The author traveled on until dark had overtaken him. The moon gave no -light until the after part of the night. The author laid down by the -side of the road, took a nap, after the moon came up proceeded on his -journey and in about two miles came to a house. Hallooing at the gate, -a lady came to the door and said: "Come in." They appeared to have a -very savage dog. I remarked to the lady that I believed the dog would -bite me and noticed at the same time that she stood off to one side -of the door. She remarked: "Go in; that dog will not bite you." As I -stepped into the door I was confronted by a man standing in the middle -of the floor in his night clothes with his old Springfield musket -cocked and presented and he called out, "Halt!" The author halted, of -course, and the next remark was, "Who are you and where is the balance -of your crowd?" The author replied: "There is no balance of them and -there is not much of myself left. The Confederates have had me prisoner -and I have made my escape from them and I am now trying to reach -Springfield, Missouri." - -The man ordered his wife to strike a light, and after viewing the -author critically, placed his Springfield musket near the bed and -invited the author to take a seat, while he dressed himself. Being not -more than two hours until daylight, his wife asked me to go to bed and -rest. I told her that I wasn't fit to lie in bed; that I had lain on -the ground like a hog ever since I had been arrested. She said that it -didn't matter how dirty a Union man was, he was welcome to sleep in her -bed, and to lie down and she would proceed at once to get breakfast; -that there were some refugee wagons, about two miles distant, making -their way to Springfield, and that she would have me up in time to -reach them. Accordingly, after eating breakfast before daylight, and -starting with the purpose to reach the wagons before they broke camp, -the man remarked to the author, "My captain lives just this side of -where the wagons are camped and I know he would love to see you and -learn about the movements of the rebels." - -When we got to the house, he hallooed and the captain came out, asked -the author his name, where he lived and when he was taken prisoner. The -author gave him his name and place of residence, and on learning that -he was from Howell county, asked him if he was acquainted with a man by -the name of Washington Galloway. The author informed him that he was -well acquainted with him. He inquired as to which side he was on, the -Confederate or Union. The author informed him that he was on the rebel -side and was a captain commanding one of the rebel companies; that I -saw him and had had a conversation with him on the evening before I -made my escape. He said, "He is an own brother of mine. My name is -Jesse Galloway;" and the tears ran from his eyes like a whipped child. -He said, "Get down; you are not in a condition to travel any further -at the present time." He gave me a change of clothing and had my -clothes washed and sent me through to Springfield by one of his men on -horseback. - -About three weeks after I left him the rebels slipped up near his -house, lay in ambush, and when he came out into the yard they shot him -to death while he was holding an innocent child in his arms. - - -Arrives at Springfield. - -On reaching Springfield, I was conducted directly to the head quarters -of Gen. Lyon, gave him all the information in my possession and told -him I had been entirely stripped, had no means with me for support and -I would like to join the army. He remarked to me, "I don't want you to -join the army; we intend to move south next spring and you are one of -the men that will be in great demand. We have a position for you and -the Government will pay you good wages." - -A short time after I arrived I met a man by the name of Percy, a -lawyer, who resided at West Plains, a bitter rebel, who was in there -as a spy. I was alone and there were very few persons that I was -acquainted with living in Springfield. Percy had been posing as a -Union man and offered that if I would go with him, he would carry me -safely through home; tried to get me to agree to go outside the lines -with him after dark, but knowing that he was a bitter rebel and had -been taking an active part in the rebel movement I discarded him as -quick as possible. In a day or two Benjamin Alsup, who resided on -Hutton Valley, Howell county, happened to meet him in town, and he -being acquainted in and about Springfield, had him arrested at once. A -man by the name of Moore, who was a strong Union man, lived about two -miles from Springfield on the Wilson creek road took me home with him -for the purpose of resting up. He was the owner of a fine dapple gray -gelding four years old. He made Gen. Lyon a present of him. About five -days before the Wilson Creek battle it was reported that the Rebels -were on Cane creek, west of Springfield, in considerable force. Gen. -Lyon moved out with a considerable force, riding the same horse, but on -seeing the federal forces approaching they retreated. On the 8th day -of August the rebels appeared in large force, being commanded by Gen. -Price and Gen. McCullough. - - -General Lyon Killed at Wilson Creek. - -Gen. Lyon sent out scouts with glasses for the purpose, if possible, -of ascertaining their number. The rebels had gone into camp about ten -miles from Springfield, with the avowed purpose of attacking Gen. Lyon -the next day at Springfield, and as the scouts were not able with their -glasses to see the largest force of rebels, which was encamped around -a point out of sight, reported as to what they thought the number was. -Lyon and Siegel came to the conclusion that by strategy they could -easily whip them, so on the morning of the 10th, about midnight, they -broke camp at Springfield, taking all of their available men. The -morning being very foggy and misty, they easily surrounded the pickets -and took them prisoners without the firing of a gun, then drew up and -fired the artillery into them before they knew they were there. - -So the memorable fight known as the battle of Wilson Creek was begun. -Gen. Lyon rode the horse above referred to at the time he fell on the -battlefield. Both the Confederate and Union side were founding all -their future hopes upon the result of that battle, as to settling the -question in Missouri. The author heard the artillery all day. Late in -the evening word came to the Union men that Gen. Lyon had been killed -and that the Federal army was retreating in the direction of Rolla, -Missouri, and that all the Union men and the home guard would fall in -and meet them at once. O! the scene that followed. Men would hurriedly -ride around, meet their wives and children, tell them that the battle -was lost and they were then retreating and they had only time to come -around and bid them good-bye, and to do the best they could; that they -didn't know that they would ever be permitted to see them again. We -could hear the wife and children crying and sending up the most pitiful -petitions to God to have mercy. - -Everything on the Union side appeared to be dark, although it was a -drawn battle and the rebels commenced retreating at the same time, -and retreated about twenty-five miles west, but on learning that the -Federal troops were retreating, they faced about, taking possession -of the battle-ground and all of the southern and western portion of -the state; and then the rebels, being encouraged by the late victory, -determined to rid the country of all Union men at once. - -About that time about 350 men mostly from Oregon county commanded by -two very prominent men, made a scout into Ozark county, Missouri. On -reaching the North fork of White river they went into camp at what was -known as Jesse James' mill. The owner, a man of about 55 or 60 years -of age, as good a man as resided in Ozark county, was charged with -grinding grain for Union men and their families; at the time he, and -a man by the name of Brown, were cutting sawlogs about two miles from -home in the pinery. They went out and arrested them, arrested an old -man by the name of Russell and several others, carried them to a man's -house, who was a Union man, and had fled to prevent arrest. They took -Brown and James about 300 yards from the house, procured a rope, hunted -a long limb of a tree, rolled a big rock up to the first rope where it -was tied to the limb, placed the noose around James' neck, stood him on -the rock, rolled the rock from under him and left him swinging, rolled -the rock to the next rope, stood Brown on it, placed the noose around -his neck, rolled the rock out and left Brown swinging in the air, went -to the third rope, placed Russell on the rock, and just as they aimed -to adjust the noose, word came that the home guards and Federals were -right upon them in considerable force. They fled, leaving Russell -standing upon the rock and both Brown and James dangling in the air. - -[Illustration: HANGING JESSE JAMES AND MR. BROWN.] - - -Their Wives and Other Women Bury Them. - -Every Union man now having fled in fear of his life, the next day the -wives of Brown and James, with the help of a few other women, buried -them as best they could. They dug graves underneath the swinging -bodies, laid bed clothing in the graves and cut them loose. The bodies -fell into the coffinless graves and the earth was replaced. So the -author is satisfied that the bones of these men still remain in the -lonely earth underneath where they met their untimely death with no -charge against them except that they had been feeding Union men, with -no one to bury them but their wives and a few other women who aided. - -Some of the men who were in the scout and present when the hanging was -done are still living in the counties of Howell and Oregon. - - -A General Jackson Soldier Shot Down. - -A short time after this hanging there was a man by the name of Rhodes, -who resided on the head of Bennett's Bayou in Howell county. He was -about eighty years of age and had been a soldier under General Jackson. -His head was perfectly white and he was very feeble. When he heard of -the hanging of Brown and James he said openly that there was no civil -war in that, and that the men who did it were guilty of murder. - -Some two weeks from the date of the hanging of Brown and James, about -twenty-five men, hearing of what he had said, organized themselves and -commanded by Dr. Nunly and William Sapp, proceeded to the house of -Rhodes, where he and his aged wife resided alone, called him out and -told him they wanted him to go with them. His aged wife came out, and -being acquainted with a part of the men, and knowing that they had -participated in the hanging and shooting of a number of Union men, -talked with them and asked: "You are not going to hurt my old man?" -They said: "We just want him to go a piece with us over here." Ordering -the old man to come along, they went over to a point about one quarter -from the house and informed him of what he had said. There they shot -him, cut his ears off and his heart out. Dr. Nunly remarked that he was -going to take the heart home with him, pickle it and keep it so people -could see how a black republican's heart looked. - -They left him lying on the ground, proceeded directly to Joseph -Spears', who resided about six miles west of town on the Yellville -road, declaring that they were going to treat him the same way. They -reached his house about two hours in the night, all full of whiskey. -When they arrived there Spears was sick in bed. They dismounted, came -in, ordered their suppers and their horses fed. Spears at that time -owned a negro man, and he ordered him to put up the horses and feed -them, and his wife to get them supper. After supper, they concluded -to remain until morning. During the night they became sober, and -concluded, since Spears owned a "nigger," that it could not be possible -that he was a Union man, and the reports that they had heard that he -was a Union man might be untrue, and they would let him alone until -they could investigate further. - -[Illustration: CUTTING OUT RHODES' HEART.] - -In the meantime, Rhodes not having returned home, and not a single -Union man left in the country that Mrs. Rhodes could get to look after -him, and having heard when they reached Joseph Spears' that the old -man was not with them, although very feeble, she still continued the -search; on the second day, about fifty yards from the road and about a -quarter of a mile from home, while she was looking for him, she heard -hogs squealing and grunting as though they were eating something. She -proceeded to the place and found the hogs were just about to commence -eating the remains of her husband. The Union men having fled, she -notified some of the neighbors, and the women came in and helped dress -the body and buried him the best they could; and neither at the taking -down or burial of Brown and James and the burial of the old man Rhodes -did a single rebel put in an appearance. - -There never was a man arrested by the Confederate authorities, or a -single word of condemnation uttered, but as far as could be heard there -was general approval. It was said that the means used were desperate, -but that was the only way to get rid of the men and strike terror to -them so they could neither give aid nor countenance to the lopeared -Dutch. - - -Benjamin Alsup Taken to Little Rock. - -In a few days following they proceeded to arrest Benjamin Alsup, -residing in Hutton Valley, who was a strong Union man, took him to -Little Rock, placed him in the state penitentiary, and kept him there -until after Little Rock fell into the hands of the Federals, when they -exchanged him with other prisoners. While they had him in prison they -worked him in a bark mill by the side of an old mule, with a strap -around his breast and two leather hand holds. He pulled so much in the -mill that his little finger was calloused and he almost entirely lost -the use of it. - -After they had hung, shot, captured and driven from the country all of -the Union men, they called a public meeting for the purpose of taking -into consideration what should be done with the families of the Union -men, which meeting had a number of preachers in it. After discussing -the premises, they arrived at the conclusion that if they let the -families of the Union men, who had escaped and gone into the Federal -lines, remain, they would return and bring in the lopeared Dutch. They -didn't believe that both parties could ever live together, and as they -now had the country completely rid of the Union men, they would force -their families to leave. They at once appointed men, among whom were -several preachers, to go to each one of the Union families and notify -them that they would not be allowed to remain; because if they let them -stay, their men would be trying to come back, and they didn't believe -both parties could live together. They stated at the same time that -they were really sorry for the women and children, but nobody was to -blame but their husbands and sons, who had cast their lot with the -lopeared Dutch. Also, as they had taken up arms against the Confederate -states, all the property they had, both real and personal, was subject -to confiscation and belonged to the Confederate authorities; but they -would allow them to take enough of the property to carry them inside of -the lines of the lopeared Dutch, where they supposed their men were and -where they then could care for them. - - -Loyal Women Driven From Their Homes. - -They said they might have a reasonable time to make preparations to -leave the country, and if they didn't leave, they would be forced to do -so, if they had to arrest them and carry them out. - -The wildest excitement then prevailed among the women and children. -They had no men to transact their business and make preparations to -leave. Little had they thought, while they were chasing, arresting, -hanging and shooting their men, that they, too, would become victims -of the rebel hatred and be forced to leave house and home, not knowing -where their men were or whether they were dead or alive. All they knew -of their whereabouts was, that those who escaped arrest had left their -homes, aiming to reach the nearest Federal lines. - -Women were at once dispatched to reach the nearest Federal lines, if -possible, and inform them of the Confederate order, and procure help -to take them out. Their homes and houses were being continually raided -by small bands of Confederates roaming over the country, claiming that -they were hunting Union men, taking all classes of property that they -might see proper to take, without any restraint whatever. - -When the Union men heard that an order had been made requiring their -families to leave, not thinking that a thing of that kind would ever -occur, having left them with comfortable homes and plenty to eat, the -wildest consternation reigned amongst them. - -The Federal authorities were willing to give them aid, but were placed -in such a condition that they needed every man in the field, and for -that reason couldn't give them any help in getting out. The women had -to speedily fit up as best they could, close their doors and start for -the Federal lines, leaving the most of their property in the hands of -the rebels. The rebels proceeded at once to take possession of and -occupy most of the homes. - -The suffering that followed the women and children is indescribable. -They had to drive their own teams, take care of the little ones, travel -through the storms, exposed to it all without a man to help them, nor -could they hear a single word of comfort spoken by husband, son or -friend. On reaching the Federal lines, all vacant houses and places of -shelter were soon filled, and they were known and styled as refugees. -Many of them went into soldier huts, where the soldiers had wintered -and covered the tops of their huts with earth. They had to leave home -with a small amount of rations, and on the road the rebels would stop -them and make them divide up the little they had started with, and -reaching the Federal lines they would be almost destitute of food and -many of them very scantily clothed. - -[Illustration: MRS. MONKS AND CHILDREN BEING DRIVEN FROM HOME.] - -They would at once commence inquiring for their husbands and sons. -Numbers of them never found them, as they had been captured, killed and -imprisoned while attempting to reach the Federal lines. O! The untold -misery that then confronted them! After they had traveled and half -starved and suffered from cold and exposure, promising themselves that -when they reached the Federal lines they would again meet their loved -ones who could again care for them, they were doomed to disappointment, -in a large number of instances. - -Those who did meet their husbands and sons were also disappointed; -they had either joined the service or been employed by the government -as guides and scouts, and the small amount of pay they received from -the government, wouldn't provide food and raiment for their families. -They were compelled to still be absent from their families, although -they were suffering greatly for all of the necessaries of life and for -clothing and shelter. The women's task of caring for and looking after -the family and the little ones was just as great after they had reached -the Federal lines as before. The government ordered that wherever aid -could be given, rations should be issued to the families, and while the -government did all it could in this way, it was not able to furnish -shelter and houses for their comfort. Winter came on and they underwent -untold suffering; disease set in from exposure, besides the contagious -diseases of smallpox and measles, and hundreds of them died for want -of proper attention, while their men were in the lines of the service -of the government. - -Here let the author speak a word in behalf of the devotion and -patriotism manifested by those loyal women who had given their -husbands and their sons to be placed upon the altar of the country, -and sacrificed their homes and their firesides, had become exiles and -wanderers, without home or shelter, had undergone untold suffering, -had faced disease and death, had seen the little ones die, calling for -papa, shivering with cold, suffering with hunger--all for the love of -their country. Yet when they would see the Federal troops move by, with -the stars and stripes unfurled, they would cheer the boys in blue as -they would pass, and urge them to save the country they loved so well -and had made so many sacrifices for and were still willing to suffer -and wrestle with all the ills that a desperate war had brought upon -the country, and wanted to live to once more be returned to their own -hearthstones and be permitted to live under their own vine and fig -tree, where no man dare molest them or make them afraid, to again enjoy -all the sweet comforts of life. - -We revere and honor every Federal soldier who enlisted in the interest -of his country from the Northern States, where they knew nothing about -war except what they read, their families being left in comfortable -circumstances, with plenty to eat and wear and friends to speak works -of comfort to them, while their husbands and sons had gone to the front -and were willing to sacrifice themselves on the altar of their country, -if it became necessary. But O! the comparison between the sacrifices -made by the loyal element in those portions of the country where they -were completely surrounded by the enemy. - -Those who were willing to lay upon the altar of their country, their -fathers and sons, their wives and children, their property and their -sacred honor in support of the government they loved so well, with no -protection from the government; no arms, amunitions, rations, clothing -or pay from the government, was thought of for a moment. The only -question that prompted, ruled and controlled them was their patriotism -to their God and their country. When we come to compare the sacrifices, -privations, suffering and services between the two classes of loyalists -the first referred to, sink into insignificance. - -O! never let us forget to honor and revere patriotism and sacrifices -that were made by the loyal men and women that were surrounded in -the enemy's country and continual fighting without and within. Their -husbands and sons were shot and hung and imprisoned all over this -country, whose bodies never were even honored with a burial. Orders -being made by the rebels that they should not be buried; but yet they -live and speak in thunder tones to the living. Let us plead with the -living to revere and honor the stars and stripes that were maintained -and supported by the blood and lives and sacrifices of the loyal men -and women of the South. - -After the rebels had completely driven all the loyal element out of the -country and had but one political party left they exclaimed, "Now the -means that we have been forced to use are very harsh but the line has -been drawn and all of the parties who are giving aid and comfort to -the lopeared Dutch are all outside of the Confederate line and we will -never be troubled with them and the lopeared Dutch any more." - -The author went back in retreat with General Siegel, after the Wilson -Creek battle. On reaching Rolla, Missouri, Siegel went into quarters -for the winter. The author was almost worn out with exposure and -traveling, and as General Siegel informed him that there would be no -advance made south until the spring of 1862, and as his family had -been left in comfortable circumstances, with plenty to eat and wear, -and he, being acquainted with some men by the name of Cope, who lived -near Jerseyville in Jersey county, Illinois, went to that place, -remained a month, and being taken sick with lung fever, came very near -dying. He told his friends where he was staying that if he died, he -would die dissatisfied; that he wanted to live and be able to move with -the Federal command in the spring of 1862 when it moved south. After -he had partially recovered he learned that a Mr. Cope, who was living -neighbor to him at the time of his arrest and capture, had moved into -Randolph county, Illinois. He visited the family at once, hoping to -hear from his family at home, and remained there about a month. His -wife, among many others, being notified to leave, had been informed -that the author had made his escape, reached Springfield, and had gone -back with Siegel in his retreat to Rolla. She was permitted to dispose -of just enough of the property, at the rebels' own prices, to enable -her to move, the family consisting of herself and five small children. -She was followed on the road and her wagons searched for arms, and the -rebels threatened to take her to Little Rock, Arkansas, but to enable -her to reach Rolla, Missouri, she posed as the wife of a rebel who had -gone into the Confederate service, and said she was trying to reach her -father, who resided near Rolla. By making that impression, her wagons -were not disturbed any more. On reaching Rolla, she went to Colonel -Phelps, who was afterwards governor of the state, and inquired if he -knew anything of the whereabouts of the author. He informed her that he -had no knowledge of his whereabouts at that time, but he would take her -name, place an advertisement of her arrival at Rolla, in the paper, -and if he was alive it might reach him. - -Every house and cabin was full, it being in the dead of winter, and a -deep snow upon the ground, but through the aid and assistance of one -Cyrus Newberry, who had escaped through the lines in Howell county, -she procured a shelter about three miles north of Rolla, which was -very uncomfortable; her clothes were partially frozen on her at that -time. In a short time the advertisement reached the author in Randolph -county, Illinois. He at once set out for Rolla, Missouri, to meet his -family. The house that she had first got into was used by her but a -short time, and she had been forced to go into one of the huts that had -lately been occupied by the soldiers and had been made vacant by their -moving west to Springfield. - -On the arrival of the author, O! the horror and the joy that were -intermingled! I was proud to once more meet my wife and children, but -in a moment the thought would pass through my mind, "I left you in a -comfortable home, with plenty to eat, and now to see you here in this -'dug-out,' suffering for food and shelter! O! the war, the horrible -war! What is it that men won't do?" I set out at once to procure a -comfortable shelter for my family and to get in readiness to move south -with the army. Gen. Curtis, then in command of the western department, -was preparing to make a general move south. I was employed by the -government as a guide, receiving $1.50 per day, with rations and -clothing. - - -Establishing a Federal Post at West Plains. - -The army soon broke camp and moved southward. On arriving at West -Plains, the Federal army located a post there. Capt. McNulty, of the -First Illinois cavalry, who had been wounded in a battle with Gen. -Mulligan, was made Provost Marshal. The author was at once detailed -and placed in the Provost Marshal's office as assistant, as he was -well acquainted with all of the people in the surrounding country. The -Provost Marshal would order the author to be seated in a conspicuous -place in the office, and as a general order had gone forth from Curtis -requiring all rebels and rebel sympathizers to come in and take the -oath, and as hundreds of them were daily coming into the office for -that purpose, the Provost Marshal ordered the author to watch every -person who entered the office and whenever any person entered who had -been taking an active part in committing depredations, just to put his -hand upon his forehead and move it down over his face, and he would -order them to the guard house for further examination, without any -further words being said at the time. - -Many of the rebels who were taking the oath couldn't see how he could -draw a line between the different persons; let some take the oath and -be released at once, and others ordered to the guard house without a -word being spoken. Among the persons who came in and took the oath and -were released, was the man who was present at the time Capt. Forshee -attempted to deliver the author to the mob, who asked the Captain at -the time to tie the author with his face to a tree, and let him shoot -him in the back of the head, to show him how he could spoil a black -Republican's pate. - -The author remembers one incident that occurred during the stay at -West Plains. A man named Lusk, who was constable of Howell township, -and resided in West Plains, was a strong Union man at the beginning of -the war; when the general order was made that every man who had been a -Union man had to join the Confederate service and show his colors or be -hung, Lusk enlisted in the Confederate army and went out with McBride's -command. - -Three or four days after the capture of the author by the rebels, Lusk -came up to him in a braggadocio manner and says, "You ought to have -your black heart shot out of you." Lusk had taken the oath and been -released before the author reached West Plains. The author met him in -West Plains and remarked to him: "Hallo, Lusk! How are you getting -along? And what are you doing here?" He replied that he had taken the -oath; that he was tired of fighting. The author asked him if he felt -like he did when he wanted to shoot his black heart out. Lusk replied: -"Captain, I am sorry for what I did, and Captain Emmons so maltreated -me the other day that I could scarcely sit in my saddle." The author -remarked to him: "I will just give your face three good slaps with my -hand." After giving him three raps, the author let him pass. - - -Lusk Sees Some Lop-eared Dutch. - -Soon meeting Captain Emmons, who belonged to the 6th Missouri Cavalry, -had asked him what the trouble was between him and Lusk. He said that -while he was prisoner Lusk came to him with his big knife belted around -him, and said that he was just equal to ten lopeared Dutch and he -had that knife for the purpose of taking ten Dutch scalps before he -returned home, and otherwise abused him for being a Union man and a -friend to the Dutch. - -On the arrival of the troops in West Plains he inquired of the citizens -if Lusk had returned home. They informed him that he had and was -residing on Spring Creek, about six miles from town. About half of -Emmons' company were Germans. He went immediately to his company, -ordered the Orderly Sergeant to make detail of ten men and he wanted -them all to be Germans. He ordered them to be mounted and ready for a -scout at once. Taking charge of them in person he proceeded to the -house of Lusk, about six miles west of West Plains at the head of -Spring Creek, rode up to the house and holloed. Lusk immediately came -out into the yard and recognized Dr. Emmons and said "O! Doctor! Is -that you? I am proud to see you." The Doctor said to him, "I am proud -to see you, too." The Doctor at once informed him of what he had said -to him when he was a prisoner in regard to being equal to ten lopeared -Dutchmen and how he had his knife prepared to take that number of -scalps before he came back home, and wanted to know if he got the -scalps before he came home. Lusk replied that if he killed a single -Dutchmen he didn't know it and that he got all of the fighting that he -wanted, didn't want to fight any more. - -The Doctor wanted to know if he ever saw any lopeared Dutch and Lusk -replied that he "didn't know that he had." The Doctor replied, "I have -selected ten of the smallest sized of the full stock and I want you -to step over the fence and view them." He then ordered the scouts to -dismount and form in line. Lusk told the Doctor he didn't want anything -to do with them whatever. After they had formed a line the Doctor made -him step in front and view them; asked him what he thought of them. -He said "They are good looking men." The Doctor said to him, "If you -didn't get the chance when you were out in the service to fight ten -of them, and you say you didn't get any scalps, I have brought these -ten down and intend that you shall fight them." Lusk pleaded with the -Doctor that he didn't want to fight them and for God's sake not to let -them hurt him. Emmons said to him "Why Lusk! you said you were equal to -ten of them and intended to bring back ten of their scalps and there -will be nothing now unfair about this fight. I intend to give you a -fair show." He ordered Lusk to get his horse and get onto it and get -ready to march. - -There were some four-foot clapboards stacked up near Lusk's house, and -Emmons ordered six of the Germans to get a board apiece. They were all -soon mounted and moving toward West Plains, soon coming to a "horsen" -log. Emmons ordered them to dismount and form a line, placing the men -about ten paces from Lusk, then said to Lusk, "Now, prepare yourself, -and if you can whip these ten lopeared Dutch I will let you go back -home and give you a chromo." Lusk pleaded pitifully to not let the -Dutch abuse him. Emmons ordered the six who had the clapboards to -move one pace in the rear, leaving four of the number to attack Lusk; -he then ordered the four men to seize Lusk, take him to the "horsen" -log and take down his clothes. Two of them were to take him by the -hands and two by the legs and buck him tight against the log; if they -succeeded, the six would proceed, one at a time, and strike him three -licks across that part of the body that he generally used for sitting -on. - -He then turned to Lusk, saying, "Prepare to meet them; if you are a -better man than they are, down them and pile them up." At the command -of Capt. Emmons, the four men advanced on Lusk, who did not attempt to -move, seized him by the arms, led him to the log, bucked him over it, -two holding him by the arms and two by the legs, ordered the six men to -advance, one at a time, strike three licks with the flat side of the -board, march on a few paces and give room for the next. - -After the performance had been completely carried out as commanded, the -Captain declared that he could have heard Lusk holloing a mile distant -every time the clapboard hit him. - -After he had received the boarding, Emmons said that Lusk's setter -was blistered where the boards had hit him, and that he never saw ten -Germans enjoy themselves as much in his life. He then asked Lusk, in -their presence, how he felt now in regard to fighting lopeared Dutch. -Lusk declared that he had nothing against the Dutch and that he never -would want to fight another one as long as he lived, and he hoped that -Dr. Emmons would not let them do him any more harm. He dressed himself, -they were all mounted, formed a line, and Lusk was brought into West -Plains and took the oath, under the promise that he never would fight -another lopeared Dutchman. - - -Goes to Washington City. - -After the post was discontinued at West Plains, the author was again -ordered back to Rolla. The state had made a proposition to the Federal -authorities that if the government would arm, feed and clothe the -troops, it could place a number of regiments of state troops in the -service, and they would be able to send some of their regular troops to -the front. A delegation was appointed by the state to visit Washington -City, wait upon the President and see what the government could do for -the state. The author was appointed as one of the delegates, and on the -night following the departure of the delegation for Washington City, a -rebel scout appeared at the house where the author's family was living -and demanded the author. His wife replied that he was not at home, that -he was one of the delegation that had left that morning for Washington -City. She distinctly heard one man remark: "I expect that is so, for -there was a delegation left this morning for Washington City." The -house wasn't more than a quarter of a mile from the picket posts. - -After parleying for some little time, they left the house, marched west -about a mile, where some refugees were located in a house, and demanded -their surrender. The house was full of women and children, there -being also one boy and two men, to-wit: Peter Shriver and a man named -Johnson. They ordered the doors opened; the inmates refused; then the -rebels knocked down the door, and fired a volley right into the house. -Shriver and Johnson being armed, returned the fire, killed one of the -rebels on the spot, and fleeing through the rear part of the house, -made their escape. The rebels killed one boy and severely wounded a -girl and young Johnson, and retreated south, leaving their comrade dead. - -It was learned afterwards that most of the scout were men from Howell -county who had learned that the author had placed his family just -outside of the Federal lines and had marched all the way there, with -the avowed purpose of capturing the author and either shooting or -hanging him. - -On arrival of the delegation at Washington City they organized the -delegation and made Chas. D. Drake their spokesman. He was afterwards -elected to the United States Senate. Soon after the arrival President -Lincoln informed us that he would be prepared to meet the delegation in -a large hall, near the mansion, at which time and place he desired to -be introduced to the whole delegation. When the delegation entered the -hall the President and his secretary were seated together. - - -The Delegation Meets the President. - -The delegation entered the hall in a single file. Chas. D. Drake -approached the President and when within a few feet of the President -and secretary, they arose to their feet and as the delegation marched -by each one was introduced to them. Afterwards they were seated, and -the petition and address of the people of the State of Missouri was -delivered in an audible voice by Chas. D. Drake. In the opening of the -address we addressed the President and called ourselves his friends. - -As soon as the address was read the President rose to his feet and -proceeded to deliver an address to the delegation and the author never -will forget the impression that was made upon his mind in a part of -that address. He said: "You should not address me as your friend; I am -the President of the whole people and nation and while I am President, -I expect to try to enforce the law against all violators of law and -in the interest of the whole people of the nation; but if I have -any friends in Missouri I suspect you men compose a part of them. I -listened to your petition and offers, which make me proud for the -patriotism that you manifest, in offering your services to your country -in the darkest hour of her peril and I would be glad if the government -was able to grant every request that you have made. The government -at the present time is not in a condition to furnish clothing and -commissaries for the number of men that you propose to put in the -field, but the government will furnish all the arms that they can -possibly spare, amunitions and commissaries and authorize the state to -organize and put in the field any number of state troops, not to exceed -sixty regiments." He said he would do all in his power to feed them but -in the present condition of the government the state would have to pay -them. - -The delegation returned and informed the state of what promises the -government had made and at once went to organizing and putting state -troops into the field. The author was commissioned as lieutenant of -Company H. and the regiment was ordered into active service for the -period of sixty days. At the expiration of the term of service, the -government ordered that a company of scouts be organized and that the -author be made Captain of the company, to receive first lieutenant's -pay and be clothed and fed by the government, be ordered on duty at -once and placed under the direct command of Captain Murphy, who was -then commanding the post at Houston. - -The company scarcely saw an idle day, it was kept continuously scouting -and fighting. The counties of Texas, Dent, Wright, Crawford, LaClede -and Phelps, outside of the post, being completely under the control of -the rebels. Not a single Union man nor his family could remain at home -outside of the post. - - -Incidents of 1863. - -In the fall of 1863, Colonel Livingston, who was acting in the capacity -of Brigadier General, was ordered to proceed to Batesville, Arkansas, -and there erect a post. The author was transferred, by order of the -government, and made chief of scouts receiving Captain's pay and -ordered to move with the command of Colonel Livingston and be under -his command and control until further orders. On or about December 15, -1863, Colonel Livingston, who was Colonel of the 1st Nebraska regiment -and the 11th Missouri Cavalry regiment, broke camp at Rolla, and -marched in the direction of Batesville, Arkansas. Colonel Livingston, -on leaving Rolla, issued a general order and sent the same in all -directions, that all rebels, or "bushwhackers," who were captured -wearing Federal uniform, would be court-martialed and shot; or all -persons who were captured in robbing or plundering houses would be -court-martialed and shot. - -On our arrival at West Plains the advance of the command captured three -Confederates dressed in Federal uniforms, near what was known as the -Johnson farm. One of them broke from custody and escaped; the other two -were court-martialed and shot, while the command was camped at West -Plains. After those men were shot, some of the Confederates, dressed in -Federal uniforms, came inside the Federal lines, while in camp at West -Plains, just after dark, and took nine black cavalry horses from the -line and made their escape. The soldiers saw them take the horses, but -thought it was their own men taking them to water. - -The command, breaking camp at West Plains, marched in the direction -of Batesville, passed through Salem, Ark., and on Big Strawberry -encountered the rebels and had quite an engagement. The weather was -quite cold. I remember that after the fighting ceased, some of the -soldiers had been fighting with their revolvers, and their hands had -become so benumbed that they had lost the use of their fingers, and -couldn't return their revolvers to their scabbards, and the revolvers -had to be taken from their hands; the hands of some of them were badly -frostbitten. - -The command again renewed its march for Batesville. Small bands of -bushwhackers and rebels kept up a continuous fire every day on the -advance, and committed depredations by pillaging; claiming they were -Federal forces, most of them being dressed in Federal uniforms. The -pillaging grew so annoying that Col. Livingston, just before breaking -camp, divided the advance into two columns, marching from a mile to -two and a half miles apart. Late in the afternoon, one wing came onto -a number of those irregular Confederates, or bushwhackers, robbing the -house of a Union woman whose husband was in the Federal army. Nearly -all of them were dressed in Federal uniforms, claiming to the woman to -be Federal soldiers. They had all dismounted and gone into the house to -plunder it, except their captain, Elliott, whom they had left on guard. -The road came around in a short bend and concealed the approach of the -Federals until they were within a hundred yards of the house. There was -a large gate in front of the house. The woman was standing in the yard -about ten steps from the gate. She saw the troops coming before they -were discovered by the captain, and supposed them to be of the same -command. They were all cavalry. As soon as they saw the captain, they -put spurs to their horses, and with revolvers in hand, charged upon -them. The captain gave the alarm, and fled as rapidly as possible on -horseback, a part of the Federals in hot pursuit after him. - -Every avenue of escape was cut off from those who were in the house, -and they were forced to retreat through a ten-acre open field, before -they could reach the timber. The woman of the house, seeing them flee, -knew at once that they didn't belong to the same command. While the -Federals were approaching the gate at full speed, she ran to it and -threw it open, so that they would not be checked in their pursuit. -They overtook them about two-thirds of the way across the field, as -the rebels were cut off from their horses and were on foot. Three of -the rebels were killed, and three taken prisoners. They had everything -in their possession--bed clothing, domestic, knives and forks, and -even axes, that they had been taking from Confederates as well as from -Unionists; also a number of women's dresses. All of the dresses were -given to the woman whose house they were robbing at the time of their -capture. The soldiers had a fine time after they reached camp, by -turning the domestic into new towels. - -Just after supper, the author was notified to appear at the provost -marshal's office, to see whether or not he could identify the -prisoners. On his appearing and entering into conversation with the -prisoners and inquiring their names, one claimed to be named Smith, -another Taylor and the other Johnson. One of them lisped a little when -talking. The author soon recognized one of them and said to him: "Your -name is not Smith. You had just as well give your proper name, for I -know you." The Provost Marshal asked him if he knew the author. He -hesitated to answer. On the Provost Marshal urging him to answer, he -said: "I ought to know him, as he was one of my near neighbors when -the war commenced. My name is Calvin Hawkins." The author replied, -"That is correct," and turning to the other prisoner for a second -look, recognized him. He remarked, "Taylor is not your proper name." -The Provost Marshal asked him if he knew the author. He hesitatingly -replied that he did. His proper name was then demanded, which he gave -as Jacob Bridges. The other was a boy named Hankins, 13 years of age. - - -Court-Martialed and Shot. - -The Provost Marshal asked them if they had ever read or heard of the -general order that had been issued by Col. Livingston. They replied -that they had. He said to them: "You have violated the order in every -particular; you are wearing Federal uniforms, and have been caught -robbing and pillaging citizens' houses. Tonight your cases will be -submitted to a court martial, except the boy's." He then ordered the -author to take them to a room and inform them that they would certainly -be convicted by the court martial, and the only way they could escape -death would be to give the rendezvous and names of all irregular troops -in their knowledge, and agree to pilot a scout to the different places -of resort. - -The author informed them of what the Provost Marshal had said, and -further informed them that Col. Livingston, then acting in the -capacity of Brigadier General, would have the only power to commute -their sentences, after they were convicted. They refused to give any -information that would aid the authorities in capturing the different -irregular roving bands. The author bade them good-bye, told them he -was sorry for them, that they were in a bad condition, but had brought -it upon themselves and each of them had better prepare for death, for -they were certain to be court-martialed that night. He then left the -prisoners, the guard taking charge of them. The court-martial convened -that night; charges and specifications were preferred before the Judge -Advocate of violating both orders. They were accordingly convicted, and -the next morning, before we broke camp, the author saw the detail that -had been selected to execute them; saw the prisoners under guard moving -out to the place selected for the execution, heard the discharge of the -guns, and soon learned that they both had been shot. Somewhere on the -head of Big Strawberry, in Izard county, the boy's mother came to us, -and he was turned over to her. - -The command broke camp and proceeded on the way towards Batesville, -with more or less skirmishing with the rebels every day; and on the -25th of December, 1863, we had come to within about three miles of -Batesville, Independence county, the rebels in considerable force -then being in possession of the city. They had a strong picket about -a quarter of a mile from the main city, leading right down Poke -bayou. Another road turned to the right and entered the lower part -of the city. The commander halted and threw out a considerable force -in advance. The author was placed right in the front of the advance, -with orders to charge the pickets, and on their retreat, to charge the -enemy, and if they found them in too strong a force to fall back on the -main command. - -The rebel ladies had procured a large hall in the city, situated upon -High street, leading west through the city. They were all dressed in -gray, and had any amount of egg nog and other delicious drinks in the -hall and all through the public parts of the city. A large number of -the Confederate soldiers were in the hall dancing, a number of them -belonging to Col. Freeman's command. On reaching the rebel pickets, -they fired, and the commander ordered a charge with revolver and -saber, and we followed close upon their heels. On reaching the city, -the firing became promiscuous. The rebels retreated south, a number of -them retreating in the direction of White river, and swam the river -with their horses, while many of them abandoned their horses and swam -the river. One part of the rebel command filed to the right, thinking -that it was a Federal scout, and attempted to retreat upon the lower -road. The Federals saw them coming, and knew from their actions that -they were retreating. They at once deployed two lines in front of the -command, one on each side of the road. Before the rebels found out -their real condition they were completely into the trap, and they -surrendered without the firing of a gun. - - -How Received by the Batesville Ladies. - -After the fighting had subsided, the author, with a part of the -command, rode up High street to the hall where they had just been -dancing. There must have been as many as two hundred and fifty or -three hundred ladies in the hall and on the roof. Some of the boys -dismounted, went up into the hall and drank some of their eggnog, -although there were strict orders against it. - -The main command reached the east end of High street, marching in a -solid column of two, with a brass band and drums and fifes playing, -and striking up the tune of "Yankee Doodle," they came marching down -High street, in the direction of the hall. The women began to use the -strongest epithets possible in their vocabulary against the Union -soldiers, calling them "nigger lovers," "lopeared Dutch," "thieves" and -"murderers." The author spoke to them saying, "You are mistaken. These -men are gentlemen, sent here by the government to establish a military -post, and if you treat them nicely you will receive the same kind of -treatment." - -About this time the front of the command had moved up to the hall. At -once a number of the ladies began to make mouths at them and spit over -the banisters toward them, calling them vile names. The soldiers then -began to hallo at the top of their voices: "O, yonder is my Dixie girl, -the one that I marched away from the north to greet." "God bless their -little souls, ain't they sweet; sugar wouldn't melt in their mouths." -"I am going to get my bandbox and cage up one of the sweet little -morsels and take her home for a pet." - -The voices of the soldiers completely drowned the hearing of anything -the women were saying. In a little while the women hushed. As the -column was passing by, one of the women remarked, "I believe that -gentleman gave us good advice; I think we had better stop our abuse and -we will be treated better." We marched down to the west end of High -street, marched across to the next main street, then the head of the -column turned east again up Main street, and striking up the tune of -"Hail, Columbia, My Happy Land," marched up to the east end of Main -street, and ordered a guard placed around the whole town, to prevent -the escape of the rebel soldiers that were concealed in the town. The -author never saw as much confusion as there was there, for a short -time, among the citizens, especially the women. Some were laughing, -some were abusing the soldiers, some crying, and some cursing. - -After things had quieted down the soldiers went into camp. Colonel -Livingston began to hunt suitable buildings for his head quarters and -for an office for the Provost Marshall and Judge Advocate. It became a -fixed fact with the citizens of the city that the Federals were going -to locate a permanent post at that place. - -While they were in pursuit of the rebels the author remembered an -incident that attracted his attention. There were four or five negro -men standing upon the street corner and one of the officers holloed out -to the negroes; "Which way did the rebels go?" On one corner of the -street there was a bunch of rebel citizens standing and as soon as the -corner was turned and they were out of sight of the rebel citizens they -answered the officer, "Massa, we don't know which way the rebels went;" -one of them dodged around the corner in an instant, and in a low tone -of voice, and with a motion of his hand, said, "Massa dey went right -dat way," almost in an instant came back around the corner and said in -hearing of the rebel citizens "Massa, I declare I don't know the way -dem rebels went." - -The next morning Livingston issued a general order for all persons who -claimed protection from the Federal army to come in and report and take -the oath. The author remembers an incident that occurred on the evening -of the fight. There had been two or three men killed just across the -bridge and they placed a guard there with orders to let no person cross -it without a pass. Shortly after dark a young lady who had secreted -around her waist under her clothes, two pistols, a belt and scabbard -which belonged to a Confederate soldier, just after dark came to the -bridge and wanted to cross. The sergeant of the guard ask her if she -had a pass, to which she replied that she had not. He informed her that -he could not let her go over. Among the guards was an Irishman and the -young lady remarked to the sergeant that "it was very hard" that she -"had a relative that was killed just across the bridge and she wanted -to go over and see him and that a woman couldn't do any harm and they -might let her go over without a pass." - -The Irishman sprang to his feet and remarked "Be Jasus, women can do -a divil of a sight of harm, can convey more information, can carry -more intelligence through the lines to the rebels than twenty men and -there are so many of our officers, if she happens to be good looking, -would let her pass through." The sergeant believing that she was a near -relative of one of the men that was killed a short distance from the -bridge, let her pass over, and that night she delivered the pistols to -the Confederate soldiers. She afterwards admitted this when she was -arrested for refusing to take the oath. - - -If You Will Grease and Butter Him. - -She declared that she "wouldn't swallow old Lincoln," and the commander -ordered all persons who refused to take the oath, either men or women, -arrested and sent to Little Rock. When she found that she had to take -the oath or go to Little Rock, she said to them that "if they would -grease and butter the oath she would try to swallow it." Afterwards she -became very intimate with one of the young Federals, married him and -when the command broke up left the post, left the country and went with -him. - -The author remained there all that winter, being in active service -almost every day, capturing some of the worst men that there were in -the country. In a short time after the post was located the west side -of the river was all in the control of the rebels. The rebels began to -boast and brag that those Northern Yankees could stay around the open -field and around cities but whenever they crossed the river they would -show them just how rebel bullets would fly. Colonel Freeman's head -quarters were near the head of Silamore creek, they would get on the -mountains, on each side (as the Yankees knew nothing about mountains) -and roll rocks down on them and what they didn't kill with rocks and -bullets would be glad to get back across the river to Batesville. - -There were no ferry boats on the river, they had all been sunk or run -out by the rebels. - -The weather was very cold. White river froze over solid. The old -residents there said it was the first time they ever knew of the river -freezing over solid. The ice was so thick that it would hold the -weight of horses and wagons. Col. Livingston ordered lumber hauled and -laid the planks flat on the ice. He then sent some men who resided in -Nebraska when at home, to make a test. They reported that the ice was -safe for a command to pass over. The commander at once organized a -force, crossed the river on the ice, and took up the line of march for -the purpose of attacking Freeman's forces, which were distant about -ten or twelve miles. As soon as the rebel forces found that they were -moving up Silamore creek in the direction of Freeman's headquarters, -they placed men on the hills on each side of the creek, and as soon as -the Federal forces came within reach, they opened fire, and commenced -rolling stones. The commander halted, deployed skirmishers, ordered -them to fall back, march on foot and flank the rebels, while they would -continue the march up the creek and attract their attention until they -would have them completely flanked, and then close in on them. While -the main force moved up the creek slowly, under almost continuous fire, -all at once a general fire opened up on both sides of the hills. I -never before saw rebels running and dodging in all directions, trying -to make their escape, as they did then. A number of them were killed -and wounded, and the others taken prisoners. The remainder got down -from the hills, wiser men, and made a hasty retreat up the creek. Upon -the Federal column reaching the headquarters of Freeman, it was so -unexpected that he had to retreat, leaving all his camp equipage, his -trunk and clothing, and about $5,000 in Confederate money. - -They retreated in an almost northerly direction. Our force returned -to Batesville. The scouts, with a small force of troops, were sent up -White river to find where the line of march of the rebels was. They -found that they had crossed White river near the mouth of the north -fork and were moving in the direction of Pocahontas. There had been -two Federal companies detailed and sent out northeast in the direction -of Spring river. Freeman's command surrounded them and made prisoners -of one of the companies. The other company, commanded by Capt. Majors, -made a charge on the lines and cut their way through. - -Reinforcements were at once dispatched in the direction of the moving -columns of rebels. In the meantime, the rebels had reached Pocahontas, -on Black river, and had effected a crossing onto the east side of Black -river, except the rear guard, which were in their boat about midway of -the river, when the Federal forces reached the west side of the river. -They fired on the parties in the boat, wounding some of them, but they -succeeded in reaching the bank, and turned their boat loose. A strong -line of rebels was drawn up on the east bank of Black river, and opened -fire on the Federal forces on the west side. After considerable firing, -both sides ceased. The rebels appeared to move east; the Federal forces -again countermarched and returned to Batesville. - -The country on the west side of White river was still under the control -of a strong force of rebels commanded by Col. Weatherford and three -or four other Confederate commanders. About three weeks after their -return, an order was issued for two wagon trains with six mule teams -and a detail of two companies, to escort it. The train moved out, for -the purpose of getting corn and other forage, about fifteen miles -distant on White river. After they had arrived at their destination and -were loading their wagons, a large force of rebels surrounded them, -charged on them, and made prisoners of about half of the escort. The -Federal captain, who belonged to one of the 11th Missouri companies, -surrendered, handed his pistol, about half shot out, to a rebel -soldier, who turned his own pistol on him and shot him dead. The scouts -who escaped capture, retreated with all possible haste to Batesville. - -In the meantime, the rebel forces cut the wagons down, piled them in -heaps and set them on fire; while the mules, with all their gear and -breeching on were put into White river and swam across to the other -side. As soon as the news reached headquarters, a force was speedily -organized, and started on a forced march. Upon reaching the scene of -action the rebels were all safely across on the other side of the -river, harness and wagons were just about completely burned up. No -chance of any boats to cross the river and the river being full, they -countermarched and returned to Batesville again. - -The whole winter was taken up in scouting and fighting small bands of -rebels. Sometime in the latter part of the winter the commissaries and -forage were becoming scarce and the nearest Federal post down White -river was at Duvall's bluff. The commander called on the author, who -was Captain of scouts, for a detail of two men who could procure a -canoe and try, if possible, to reach Duvall's Bluff and inform the -Federal authorities there of the conditions of the post. The author -detailed a man by the name of Johardy Ware and a man by the name of -Simon Mason. They were to procure a canoe and travel in the night, -drawing it, when daylight came, into thick brush, and in that way, if -possible, reach the Federal post. They succeeded in reaching the post -and in a short time commissaries and provisions, with forage, were -forwarded up the river on two small transports, with a number of troops -to force its passage up the river. Sometime in the latter part of the -winter the boats reached Batesville and supplied all of the wants and -short rations of the soldiers and again made everything merry and happy. - - -Give an Oyster Supper - -In April, 1864, the author had promised to return to Rolla for the -purpose of aiding and recruiting a regiment, known as the 16th Missouri -Cavalry Volunteer. He informed the commander and asked for his -recommendation which was granted. He wanted to know when I wanted to -start so that he could make preparations to send me around by water. -The author informed him that he intended to march through by land. The -commander thought it was a thing impossible, that scouting bands of -rebels had possession of the country, from a short distance outside -of Batesville almost to Rolla, Missouri. The commander and Provost -Marshall gave the author an innovation, made an oyster supper for him -and his company of scouts, said they were loath to give them up, that -they had performed so much valuable service, and he didn't know where -he could get any other men to take their places. - -After taking leave of the officers and soldiers, the author took a -small flag, fastened upon a staff, fastened it to the browband of the -bridle and remarked to the officers as he bid them good bye, that the -stars and stripes should float from Batesville to Rolla or the author -would die in the attempt. The company then set out for Rolla, Missouri. -Colonel Woods of the 11th Missouri cavalry had been on detached service -and Lieutenant Colonel Stevens had been commanding the regiment. He had -received orders to join his regiment at Batesville, Arkansas, and, with -a considerable force of men, reached the state line about 12 o'clock, -and came in sight of the command. - -They saw our company approaching, at once drew up in line of battle, -and as many of the rebels had procured Federal uniforms, both parties -sent out couriers to ascertain who the forces were. On learning that -both sides were Federals, we marched up and went into camp with them. -The author was immediately taken to Col. Wood's headquarters. He -informed him that he had camped near West Plains the night before, -and that the bushwhackers had kept up a continuous fire until after -they got a considerable distance down South Fork; and he believed it -impossible for as small a force as I had to reach Rolla without great -disaster and perhaps annihilation. He said that the author and his -company of scouts were the very men he wanted, and offered to increase -his salary to $7.00 per day if he would go back with him and remain -with his command. The author told him that he was honor bound to return -to Missouri and assist in organizing a regiment of cavalry for the -United States service, and if the bushwhackers didn't keep clear, he -would give some of them a furlough before he reached Rolla. - -After dinner Woods broke camp and moved in the direction of Batesville, -and we in the direction of Rolla. Near where the last firing was done -they had arrested a man named Craws, who really was a Union man, and -the author had been well acquainted with him before the war commenced, -but Woods' soldiers could with difficulty be restrained from shooting -him. On my informing the Colonel that I was well acquainted with the -man and that there was no harm in him, he agreed to turn him over to -the author and let him bring him back home with him. After we had -started, Craws informed the author that he knew the parties who had -been firing on the Federal troops; that their headquarters were about -two miles from where he then resided; and that he was satisfied from -the last firing he had heard, that they had turned off from the main -road and gone up what was called the Newberry hollow. After passing the -old Newberry farm, they had a plain trail that turned to the right and -led directly to the camp. They were commanded by two men named Hawkins -and Yates. - -On reaching his house he agreed to continue with us to the road he -thought they had gone, and then return home. I think he was the -happiest man I ever saw when he found he had been turned over to my -care, believing that Woods' command intended to shoot him. - -On reaching the road, we found a fresh rebel trail leading right up the -creek; we moved on until near the Newberry residence, which we had been -informed by Craws was occupied by Hawkins' wife. We turned from the -road and halted, and the author, with two or three of his men, being -familiar with the country, reached a high point from which we could -distinctly see one horse standing at the door. Supposing the rebel -scouts were all there, we went back to the company, moved cautiously -toward the house, and gave orders to charge upon them as soon as our -approach was discovered. On coming within fifty yards of the house, -which was unenclosed, a woman stepped outside the door, looked toward -us, and then wheeled for the house, and we charged. Hawkins' horse was -hitched to a half of a horse shoe driven in at the side of the door, -the bridle rein looped over it, his halter rein being already tied over -the saddle horn. The author had ordered all to charge with pistols -in hand. As Hawkins reached the door and made an attempt to take his -bridle rein, he saw that it was impossible. The author demanding his -surrender, he attempted to draw his pistol and had it half way out of -its holster and cocked, when the author fired upon him. He fell back, -still holding his pistol. The author, supposing more of the enemy were -inside the house, dismounted, and rushing to the door, demanded the -surrender of every person that might be in the house. As the author -entered the door, he heard Hawkins, still holding his pistol, remark: -"Monks, you have killed me." The author replied that that was what -he intended to do, and he must let go of that pistol or he would be -shot again. He took his hand loose from the pistol and in a short time -was dead. His wife asked the author to lay him out, which request was -complied with. - -We mounted and again took the rebel trail and by this time it had grown -so dark that we lost it and went on to the residence of Captain Howard, -dismounted, fed our horses and got our supper. - -Captain Howard afterwards informed the author that he had just been -home and started back to the rebel camp and heard the horses feet, -stepped behind a tree and that we passed within fifteen feet of him; -said if it hadn't been dark we would have been certain to have found -the rebel camp; that that day some one of the rebel soldiers had -killed a deer, stretched the skin and had it hanging up and the camp -wasn't more than two hundred yards from the main road. After we ate -our suppers and fed our horses we again resumed our march and reached -Rolla, Missouri, on the second day afterwards. - - -Another Meeting With Captain Forshee - -In the spring of 1863 General Davidson was ordered to move from Rolla, -Missouri, directly south to Little Rock. On breaking camp and marching -in the direction of West Plains the author, with his company of scouts, -was ordered to report to him for service. On reaching West Plains he -went into camp. West Plains and vicinity were completely covered with -tents and troops. All of the hills adjoining West Plains were literally -covered with tents, Davidson's headquarters being inside of the town. -The author being sent out on a scout, came to the home of a man named -Barnett residing in Gunter's Valley and not being able to reach town, -went into camp near Barnett's. In a short time Barnett came in home. -He had been a lieutenant in the company where the author was prisoner. -He informed the author that he had been to Thomasville Mill and that -Captain Forshee, who lived about one mile below, had also returned with -him. - -The author at once placed a guard around Barnett's house (Barnett -being the father-in-law of the Captain) detailed two men to accompany -him, prepared, mounted, and started to the residence of Forshee fully -determined to kill him. The author instructed his men that if Forshee -remained in the house and didn't attempt to run, to play off and tell -him that they belonged to Colonel Woods, a Confederate officer on White -river. The author then being clothed in Federal uniform and having but -a limited acquaintance with Forshee before the war did not think that -he would recognize him. On reaching the house we repaired to the door, -hallooed, and his wife invited us in. The author had his pistol under -the cape of his coat still determined upon killing him. On entering -the house, found him in bed with one of his children, his wife did not -have the supper on the table. The author asked him if he had ever -been in the Confederate service; he answered that he had, went out in -the six months provisional Confederate service; didn't stay his time -out, resigned and came home. The author asked him if they had taken -any prisoners while they were in service; he hesitated a moment and -replied that they did. The author asked him if he remembered the names -of any of them; he said he remembered the names of two of them well. -The author asked him if he knew what became of them; he said that -Black enlisted in the Confederate service, served his time out and -then substituted himself and was now in the eastern Confederate army; -he again hesitated. The author asked him if he knew what became of the -other man; he said that he didn't; that he made his escape from the -Confederate army and he had heard that he was a captain in the Northern -army. The author said with an oath "How would you like to see him;" he -replied "I would not like to see him very well." The author then said, -with an oath, "I am here, look at me and see whether you think I am -worth a beef cow or not." At this his wife sprang between him and the -author and he said to the author, "Captain, there ain't one man out of -ninety-nine but what would kill me for the treatment you received while -a prisoner but I have always thought that if I ever met you and you -would give me the time to explain the cause of it, you wouldn't kill -me, and I want to live to raise my children." - -The thought passed through the mind of the author that he could not -kill him in the lap of his family; but he would take him to Barnett's -house where he had some more prisoners and on the next day he would -kill him on the way; ordered him to get out of that bed; Forshee again -appealed and said that he would like to know whether the author was -going to kill him or not; that he wanted to live to raise his children. -The author replied to him with an oath that "you ought to have thought -of these things when you was pulling me away from the bosom of my -family, never gave me time to bid them good-bye; get out of that bed." -There was about a six months old child in the cradle. He slid out of -the bed, kneeled down by the cradle, and was in the act of praying, his -wife still standing close by. The author ordered him to get up; that it -was too late to pray after the devil came; that I had been appointed by -the devil to send him up at once and lie had the coals hot and ready to -receive him and that I didn't want to disappoint the devil. He arose -to his feet and again asked the author if he was going to kill him; -said he wanted time to give me the whole truth of the matter; went -on to say Hawkins, Sapp, Kaiser and others were the cause of all the -mistreatment, but would admit that he done wrong in agreeing to deliver -the author to them for the purpose of having him mobbed and for abusing -him, himself. - -His wife had hot coffee on the table and she asked that he be allowed -to sit down, saying that she wanted to see him sup coffee once more. -The author told her that they never gave him time to bid his wife -good-bye, let alone to sup coffee with her. After taking a few sups -of coffee, the author said that he couldn't fool any longer with him; -that he must strike a line and move out. His wife said that she was -going with him, but her husband told her she had no business going, as -it was then snowing and the ground was considerably frozen. The author -told her that if she was determined to go, the boys could take her and -the children behind them, but the Captain would have to walk right in -front of the author, and if he made a crooked step from there until -he reached Barnett's, he would shoot him through. The boys took his -wife and children on the horses, and the author started the Captain in -front of him. He had thought that he would be compelled to shoot him -on the way, but he could not shoot him in the presence of his family; -so he thought he would take him to the guard house and keep him until -morning, and then on the way to West Plains he would make a pretext to -kill him, for he thought he must kill him. - -In the morning, after breakfast, we broke camp and moved in the -direction of West Plains. The author had now become cool, and while he -believed he ought to kill him for what he had done, he could not afford -to shoot, or cause a prisoner to be shot, while he was in his charge; -so on reaching West Plains, the prisoner was turned over to the guard -house. - -The morning following was very cool, and the ground was covered with -snow. Gen. Davidson had ordered out a large scout for the purpose of -marching towards Batesville and White river, to feel the strength of -the enemy, and the author's company composed a part of the detail. -After the command was mounted and waiting for orders to move, the -sergeant of the guard came out and inquired if there was a Captain -Monks in that command. The Colonel informed him that there was. He -said there was a prisoner in the guard house who wanted to see him. -The author got permission to ride to the guard house, and on reaching -the door, who should meet him but Capt. Forshee, who told the author -that he had almost frozen the night before, and wanted to know if -the author couldn't loan him a blanket. He was told that he was the -last man who should ask the author for the use of a blanket. Forshee -replied: "That's so, Captain; but I believe that you are a good man, -and don't want to see a man, while he is a prisoner, suffer from cold." -The author asked him if they had any gray backs in the guard house. -He said he had none on himself, but didn't know in what condition the -others were. - -The author had two new government blankets that he had paid $5 apiece -for a short time previous, on the back of his saddle. He told Forshee -that he didn't know as he would need them both until he had gotten back -from the scout, and would loan him a blanket until he returned. Forshee -replied: "I will never forget the favor." The author handed him one of -the blankets, and immediately started on the scout. While the scout was -south reconnoitering with the enemy, Gen. Davidson received orders from -headquarters countermanding the order to march to Little Rock by land, -and that he would march his forces to Ironton, Missouri, and there -await further orders. He at once broke camp and resumed his march in -the direction of Ironton, carrying the prisoners with him, with orders -for the scout on its return to move up and overtake him, as they were -all cavalry. So the author never saw Capt. Forshee nor his blanket any -more, but was informed that he was paroled at Ironton, took the oath, -returned to Oregon county, and died shortly after the close of the war. - -Upon the return of the scout to West Plains, a part of the command that -belonged to Gen. Davidson's forces moved on after the army, while the -author, with two companies, remained in West Plains about half a day -for the purpose of resting up. While in West Plains a rebel that the -author was well acquainted with, came to him and told him he had better -be getting out of West Plains, for a force of five hundred rebels was -liable to come into West Plains at any moment. The author pretended -to become considerably alarmed, and reported that he was going to -march directly to Rolla with the two companies then under his command. -After marching about fifteen miles in the direction of Rolla, he made -a flank movement, marched into the corner of Douglass county, was -there reinforced, and the next day marched directly to the west end of -Howell county. The rebels, believing that the Federal troops had all -left the county, came in small bunches from all over the county. The -author made a forced march and reached the west end of the county about -dark, turned directly toward West Plains, took the rebels completely by -surprise, had a number of skirmishes with them, reaching West Plains -with more rebel prisoners than he had men of his own. On the next day -we turned in the direction of Rolla, and by forced march reached Texas -county. On the next morning we reached the Federal post at Houston, in -Texas county, and turned over the prisoners, among whom were several -prominent officers. Capt. Nicks was one of them. On the night of his -capture the author said to him: "It appears to me that it is about the -same time of night that they brought me prisoner to your house." He -answered: "I declare I believe it is." After the rebels found the small -number of the force that had made the scout, they declared that it was -a shame to let Monks run right into the very heart of the rebels and -carry out more prisoners than he had men. - - -Murdering Federal Soldiers. - -Some time in June, 1863, a rebel scout and a Federal scout had a -fight about twenty miles northwest of Rolla. The rebels were forced -to abandon a number of wagons and mules, and the Federals, owing to -the emergency that confronted them at the time, did not wish to be -encumbered with them, so they employed a farmer to keep the mules in -his pasture until the government should send for them. The Federal -scouts from Rolla and Jefferson City would meet occasionally while -scouting. On the scout's arrival at Rolla, another scout composed of -about one company of Federals was sent out to bring in the wagons -and teams. Just before reaching the place where the wagons and teams -had been left, they saw a command of about two hundred and fifty men, -all dressed in Federal uniforms, and they at once took them to be a -Federal scout from Jefferson City. On approaching each other, they -passed the army salute, and marched right down the Federal line; they, -being unsuspecting, believed them to be Federal troops. As soon as -they were in position each man had his man covered with a pistol. The -rebel scout outnumbering the Federal scout more than two to one, they -demanded their surrender. The Federals, seeing their condition, at once -surrendered. They were marched about a quarter of a mile, near where -the wagons and teams were left, dismounted and went into camp, as the -rebels claimed, for dinner. Several citizens were present. They marched -the Federal company together, surrounded them in a hollow square, -brought some old ragged clothing, and ordered them to strip. After they -were all stripped completely naked, and while some were attempting -to put on the old clothing, all their uniforms having been removed a -short distance from them, at a certain signal the rebels fired a deadly -volley into them. Then followed one of the most desperate scenes ever -witnessed by the eye of man. The men saw their doom, and those who were -not killed by the first volley rushed at the rebels, caught them, tried -to wrest their arms from them, and a desperate struggle took place; men -wrestling, as it were, for their very lives. - -A number of the Federals had their throats cut with knives. After the -rebels had completed the slaughter and hadn't left a man alive to tell -the tale, they ate their dinner, and taking the mules and wagons, moved -southwest with them. The citizens at once reported the affair to the -commander of the post at Rolla. - -The men who were killed belonged to an Iowa regiment, and the author -believes it was the 3rd Iowa, but will not be positive. A strong detail -was made and sent at once to the scene of the late tragedy, with wagons -and teams to bring the dead back to Rolla. On their arrival with them, -it was the most horrible scene that the author ever looked upon. After -they were buried, the regiment to which they belonged declared and -avowed that they intended to take the same number of rebel lives. The -commander, knowing their determination, and being satisfied that they -would carry it into effect if the opportunity offered, transferred them -to another part of the country. - - -A Rebel Raid. - -Some time in the fall of 1863 the Federal authorities at Rolla learned -that the rebels were organizing a strong force in Arkansas, for the -purpose of making a raid into Missouri. The rebels were under the -command of Gen. Burbrage. The author, being still the commander of the -scouts, was ordered to take one man and go south, for the purpose of -learning, if possible, the movements of the rebels. The author left -Rolla, came by way of Houston, where there was a post, thence to Hutton -Valley, where there was living a man named Andy Smith, who was a Union -man, but had made the rebels believe he was in favor of the south. -The author approached Smith's house after dark, got something to eat -and to feed his horses, and learned from Smith that the rebels were -about prepared to make the raid into Missouri. On the next day the -author was informed by Smith that Burbrage was then moving with his -full force in the direction of Missouri. The author at once started, -intending to reach the nearest Federal force, which was in Douglas -county. In the meantime, Gen. Burbrage, with his whole force, reached -the Missouri line, leaving West Plains a little to the right, taking -an old trace that ran on the divide between the waters of the North -fork of White river and of Eleven Points river, this being afterwards -known as "the old Burbrage trail." The author, expecting they would -march by way of West Plains and on through Hutton Valley, thought he -would be able to keep ahead of them and make his report; but owing to -their marching an entirely different route, the author crossed their -trail. He found that a large force of men had just passed and he, in -company with a man named Long, examined the horse tracks, found that -the shoes contained three nails in each side, and knew at once that it -must be Burbrage's command. They had passed not more than three hours -before this time. Making a forced march, the author and Long followed -on the same trail, and soon came to a house, holloed, and a lady coming -out, we inquired how far the command was ahead. The lady informed us -that they hadn't been gone more than three hours, and she exclaimed: -"Hurrah for Gen. Burbrage and his brave men! The Yankees and lopeared -Dutch are goin' to ketch it now, and they intend to clean them out of -the country!" We then became satisfied as to whose command it was, and -their destination. We rode on about two hundred yards from the house, -turned to the left, and started with all possible speed, intending, -if possible, to go around them and get the word in ahead of them. On -striking the road at the head of the North Fork of White river, we -looked ahead of us about a hundred yards and saw twenty-five men, about -fifty yards from the road, all in citizen's dress, wearing white hat -bands. The state had ordered all the state militia to wear white hat -bands, so that they might be designated from the rebels. The author -remarked to Long: "I guess the men are militia, but we will ride slowly -along the road and pass them, for fear they are rebels." They remained -still on their horses until after we had passed them, then they moved -forward and came riding up and halted us, and wanted to know who we -were. The author told them his name was Williams and Long told them his -name was Tucker. They asked us if we had ever heard of the Alsups, and -we told them we had. Then they wanted to know where we were going. We -told them we were going into Arkansas, near Yellville; that a general -order had been made in the state of Missouri that all able-bodied men -must come and enroll their names and those who were not in the state -service would have to be taxed; that we didn't want to fight nor pay a -tax to support those who were fighting. They ordered us to dismount, -surrounded us, with cocked pistols, and ordered us to crawl out of our -clothes and give up our arms. We commenced to strip. Long had on a -very fine pair of boots, for which he had just paid $5.00, and while -the author didn't know at what moment they would be shot, he could -not help but be tickled at the conduct of Long when they ordered him -to take off his boots. He crossed his legs and commenced pulling, -with the remark: "My boots are tight." The pistols were cocked and -presented right on him, not more than six feet away, and they told him -to hurry up or they would shoot his brains out. While he was pulling -at his boots he appeared to be looking right down the muzzles of the -revolvers. As soon as he had pulled off his boots and pitched them -over, they remarked: "Hell, a right brand new pair of socks on. Pull -them off quick and throw them over." A part of these men were dressed -in the dirtiest, most ragged clothes the author had ever seen--old wool -hats, with strings tied under their chins, old shoes with the toes worn -out, and old socks that were mostly legs; but claiming all the time to -be militia. They ordered us to get into their old clothes and shoes, -and placed their old hats upon us. Our clothing and hats all being new, -the author thought that was one of the hardest things they had ordered -him to do; that he was just as apt to get out of the garments as to get -into them. After we were dressed in their old clothing, one of them -asked: "What did you say your name was?" Long replied, "Tucker." One -that was standing a little back came running up with his pistol cocked, -and remarked that if he was a certain Tucker (naming the Tucker): "I -am going to kill him right here." Another of the number said: "Hold -on, this man is not the Tucker that you are thinking of." Then their -leader said, with an oath: "We belong to Gen. Burbrage's command. He -is just ahead. Do you want us to take you up to headquarters?" We told -him we had heard of Gen. Burbrage, and expected that he was a good -man, so if they wanted to take us to his headquarters all right: but -we did not want to fall into the hands of the militia, as we wanted to -get through to Yellville while Gen. Burbrage was in the country. One -of the men looked at the horses we were riding and remarked: "Let's -take the horses. We have orders to take all horses that are fit for the -service." Another said the horses were rather small for the service, -and as we would have a great deal of water to cross between there and -Yellville, it would be a pity to make us wade it. Then their leader -remarked: "We are Confederate soldiers, out fighting for our country, -and you men are too damned cowardly to fight. We have got to have -clothing, and as we suppose you are good southern men, when you get to -Yellville you can work for more clothes." They then ordered us to take -the road and move on, and tell the Alsups that the country was full of -rebels. - -We mounted our horses and rode away, feeling happy on account of our -escape. They remained in the road and watched us until we were out of -their sight. The author looked over at Long's feet and saw his toes -sticking out of his old shoes; could see his naked skin in several -places through his raiment. He hardly looked natural--didn't look like -the same man. We hadn't gone more than a mile until we struck a farm -and a road leading between the farm on one side and the bluff and river -on the other, and looking in front, saw about fifteen men coming. The -author said to Long: "What shall we do? Shall we attempt to run, or -had we better pass them?" We concluded that it was impossible to get -away by running; the only chance left being to try to pass through them -without being recognized. - -We rode up to meet them, and they halted us and wanted to know where -we were going. We told them we were going to Marion county, Arkansas, -near Yellville. They asked us our names and we again gave the names -of Williams and Tucker. A man named Charley Durham who had resided at -West Plains and had met me several times, rode up near us and asked -me; "What did you say your name was?" I replied, "Williams." He asked: -"Did you ever live down here about the state line?" I told him I never -did, but I might have had relatives who lived on the state line. He -said: "I am satisfied that I have seen you somewhere." One of the crowd -asked us if we had met about twenty-five soldiers just ahead, and when -we informed them that we had, they remarked: "Bully for the boys; we -had better be moving on or we will be late." They moved on, and we -continued down the road. As soon as we were out of sight I said to -Long; "We will not risk our chances in passing any more of them; there -are too many men down here that are acquainted with us. If it hadn't -been for my old clothes, Charley Durham would have recognized me beyond -a doubt." We then left the road and took to the woods, reaching the -Federal forces about midnight. They had not heard a thing regarding -the approach of the rebels. They hurriedly began to gather in all the -forces, and at once set out to find, if possible, the destination of -Gen. Burbrage. It was learned that he had completely cut us off from -reaching either Houston or Rolla. On the next day the Federal forces -met Gen. Burbrage at Hearstville, Wright county, Missouri, and there -fought a battle with him. The commander of the post at Houston, who -was in command of the Federals, was killed on the first fire from the -artillery of Gen. Burbrage. Col McDonald, during the engagement, was -shot dead at the head of the town spring. Burbrage retreated on the -same route that he had come up on. His command was separated into -several divisions, to get food. - -Long and I had been furnished clothes and arms. Capt. Alsup being in -command, moved near the road that leads down Fox Creek, saw a rebel -scout moving down Fox Creek, composed of a part of the same men we -had met the day before. Capt. Alsup said he thought that by striking -the road and taking the rebels by surprise we could rout them. On -marching about a mile we came in sight of them, dismounted for dinner -at the house of a man named Ferris. I proposed to Capt. Alsup that we -charge them. He thought it might be too dangerous; that they would -have the benefit of the house, and might outnumber us, and we would be -compelled to retreat and might be cut off from our horses. He ordered -us to dismount, formed a line, left men to hold the horses, and on -moving about ten steps, the rebel picket, who was placed just outside -of the line, discovered us. They opened fire from each side of the -house, and along a picket fence which enclosed the house. We returned -the fire. The first volley that was fired, a ball passed near my ear, -and wounded the horse that I was riding. The firing continued for some -time. We had them cut off from their horses, unless they came outside -and faced the continual firing. One man attempted to leave the house -and reach his horse, but about ten feet from the door he received a -wound in the face and fell to the ground. In a moment he arose to -his feet, and he and several others again retreated into the house. -The firing continued for fifteen or twenty minutes, when the rebels -retreated on foot, by taking advantage of the house, except one man, -who reached his horse, cut the halter, sprang into the saddle, turned -his horse down the lane, leaning close to the horn of the saddle, put -spurs and made his escape. In the meantime the wounded man attempted to -make his escape by taking advantage of the house and retreating. Capt. -Alsup, when he saw the rebels were retreating, ordered a charge. The -wounded man was again wounded, and fell to the ground, helpless. All -the other rebels reached the woods, and made their escape. - -Farris, the man who owned the house where the rebels were stopping, -received a serious wound in the breast. They left sixteen horses with -their rigs, saddle-riders filled with new clothing, in our possession. -Gen. Burbrage retreated from the state, and the author reported to his -command at Rolla. - - -Rescuing Union Families. - -In the fall of 1862 some of the Union men whose families were still -residing in Ozark and Howell counties went to the Federal post and were -promised arms and ammunition in order to return and try to get their -families out, as it had become almost impossible for their families -to get through alone, on account of being robbed. About fifty of them -procured arms and started for Howell county, from the outpost of the -Federal authorities. They marched at night and lay by in the day, -and on reaching the western part of Howell county, informed their -families to get ready to move, still keeping themselves in hiding. -About twenty families prepared for moving, and had assembled on the -bayou, near where Friend's old mill was located. Just about the time -they were ready to start, a bunch of rebels came up and opened fire -on them. They returned the fire and held the rebels at a distance -while they moved all their wagons up close together, and started in -the direction of Ozark county. One of the men who had come to assist -in the escort became excited upon the first fire from the rebels and -ran, never stopping until he reached the Federal lines. The remainder -of the men bravely repelled the rebels, while their families kept -their teams steadily moving. On reaching the big North Fork of White -River, and while the families in their wagons were in mid-stream, -the rebels reached the bluff and opened fire on them. The Union men -vigorously returned the fire. They all reached the opposite side of the -river without one of their number being killed; some of the women and -children had received slight wounds, but nothing serious. The rebels -still continued to fire upon them until they reached the northern part -of Ozark county, when further pursuit was abandoned, and about twenty -families were enabled to reach the Federal lines. In a short time the -Union men attempted to again reach their homes, for the purpose of -helping destitute families to get out. They traveled only at night, -keeping themselves concealed in day time. In this way they reached -Fulton county, Arkansas, when the rebels found out that some of the -Union men were in the country. The rebel forces at once became so -strong that the Federals had to retreat without getting any of their -families, passing back through the western part of Howell county, over -into Ozark, and went into camp on the head of Lick Creek. Shortly -after they got into camp the rebels slipped up on them and opened fire, -mortally wounding a man named Fox and slightly wounding several others. -They had to scatter at once to avoid being captured, and when they -reached the Federal lines they were almost worn out. At this time all -of the Federal posts had numbers of refugee families stationed near -them, entirely destitute of food and raiment, and relying entirely for -their preservation upon the small amount of help they received from the -government. - - -General Price's Raid. - -Upon my return from Batesville, Arkansas, in the spring of 1864, I -commenced recruiting for the 16th Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, the -most of the regiment being composed of men who had been in the state -service. The required number to form the regiment was soon procured, -and the regiment was organized, electing for their Colonel, John Mahan. -The author was elected Captain of Co. K. The regiment was at once -placed in active service, being quartered at Springfield, Missouri, up -to the time of Gen. Price's raid. Then the regiment was divided, one -half of it being sent in pursuit of Price. The other half, which was -known as the second battalion, was placed under my command and held at -Springfield, it being expected that Gen. Price would change his line -of march and attack the city. As soon as the fact was ascertained that -Price was marching north and west of Springfield, orders were made to -send every available man that could be spared from the post. Among -the troops sent out was the author's battalion. We were ordered on a -forced march in the direction of Utony, for the purpose of cutting off -Price's retreat. We reached Utony about 10 o'clock at night, where they -had a strong Federal garrison. Two thousand rebels of Price's command -had just marched across the road before we reached the garrison, -and gone into camp in sight of the town. Strong pickets were thrown -out on each side. About daylight the Federal forces broke camp and -moved on the rebel camp, soon coming in sight of the rebel forces, -and fire was opened on both sides. The rebels commenced retreating, -the Federals pursuing, and continuous firing and fighting was kept -up until we came near the Arkansas line. A number of rebel prisoners -were taken, besides some of their commissary wagons falling into -the possession of the Federals. The Federal commander then ordered -a retreat back to Springfield. Price's forces had torn up all the -railroads as they passed over them, cutting off all supplies, and -the soldiers and prisoners had been placed on quarter rations. The -prisoners, numbering about three hundred and fifty, were ordered to be -taken to Rolla, Missouri. After the first day's march from Springfield -they met a Federal train carrying commissaries to Springfield and -other western points. The men being then on quarter rations, the -Colonel took possession of some of the commissaries and issued them to -the soldiers and prisoners, for which he was afterward arrested and -court-martialed. On reaching Lebanon, Missouri, I saw the quartermaster -haul in about five or six loads of shucked corn, which was distributed -to the soldiers and prisoners. I well remember that while they were -distributing the corn to the prisoners, a general rush, which appeared -to be almost uncontrollable, was made around the wagon. The corn was -thrown out on the ground among them, they picked it up in their arms, -and at once retired to their camp fires, so that they might parch and -eat it. After leaving Lebanon, the prisoners were all placed in charge -of the author. He remembers one rebel prisoner who had on a fine dress -coat, with a bullet hole right in the center of the back, and the -soldiers had to be watched closely to prevent them from shooting him, -as they believed it to be a coat that had been taken from the body of -some Union man, after he had been shot. - -On reaching Rolla, the author turned over all the prisoners to the -commander of the post, and they were sent directly to Rock Island, -there to be held as prisoners until such time as they might be -exchanged. I again returned to Springfield and reported to my regiment. -A short time thereafter, the loyal men of the counties of Howell, -Dent, Texas, Phelps, Ozark and Douglas, in Missouri, and of Fulton, -Izard and Independence counties, in Arkansas, with a number of the -officers and soldiers, including the commander at Rolla, petitioned -Gen. Schofield, who was then in command of the western district, to -have the author detached from his regiment, then at Springfield, and -sent south of Rolla to some convenient place, and given command of a -post, as it was almost impossible to send commissaries through from -Rolla to Springfield, on what was known as the wire road, on account of -the roving bands of rebels, who had complete control of the country, a -short distance from the military post. - - -Capt. Monks Establishes a Post at Licking. - -Gen. Schofield at once made an order that Capt. Monks be detached from -his regiment and report at Rolla, with his company, for further orders. -Gen. Sanborn, then in command at Springfield, informed the author of -his final destination; that on reaching Rolla, he would be ordered by -Gen. Schofield to Licking, Missouri, to establish a post. - -It soon leaked out, and the rebels swore openly that if he established -a post at Licking or at any other southern point, they would soon drive -the post into the ground and annihilate him and his men. I went to Gen. -Sanborn and requested that he send a telegram to Gen. Schofield, and -ask him to countermand that part of the order that required Capt. Monks -to report at Rolla for further orders, and order him to move directly -from Springfield to Licking. The General hesitated for sometime, as to -whether it would be good policy, owing to the large numbers of rebels -in the country through which I had to pass. He didn't believe that I -would be able to reach Licking with the one company, but he finally -decided that if I was willing to risk it, he would ask Gen. Schofield -to change his order. On Gen. Schofield's receiving the telegram, he -made an order that I be detached from my regiment, be furnished two -company wagons, be well supplied with arms, and proceed directly to -Licking. On reaching Licking I was to report by courier to headquarters -for further orders; and in obedience to said order, two company wagons, -with tents, commissaries, arms and ammunition were at once furnished, -and I set out for Licking, Texas county; passed Hartville, the county -seat of Wright county, and struck the waters of Big Piney. There was -considerable snow on the ground at the time. I took the rebels by -complete surprise. While they were expecting me from Rolla to Licking, -I struck them from the direction they least expected. On reaching -Piney, I encountered a rebel force of about sixty men. We had a fight, -two or three rebels were killed, and the rest retreated south. From -that time until we reached Licking, we had more or less fighting every -day. We would strike trails of rebels in the snow, where there appeared -to be over one hundred men, but they were so sure that it was a large -scout from Springfield that they did not take time to ascertain, but -retreated south at once. On reaching Licking, I sent a dispatch to -Gen. Schofield, telling of my arrival, and immediately received orders -to establish a post and erect a stockade fort, and to issue such -orders as I believed would rid the country of those irregular bands of -rebels and bushwhackers and protect all in their person and property, -especially the loyal men. I immediately selected a frame building for -my headquarters, with an office near by for the man acting as provost -marshal; issued my order requiring all persons who claimed protection -from the Federal authorities to come in and take the oath, and bring -with them axes, shovels, picks and spades, with their teams, for the -purpose of erecting a stockade fort. And further setting out in said -order, requiring all persons who knew of any irregular bands of rebels -or bushwhackers roaming or passing through the country, to report -them at once; and if they failed to report them, they would be taken -as bushwhackers and treated as such. In a short time I had erected -a complete stockade fort with port-holes, and room enough inside to -place all the cavalry horses in case of an attack by the rebels. I had -these orders printed and sent out all over the country. In a short -time, a man who had been known to be a rebel, but had stayed at home -unmolested, but who had been giving aid and comfort to the rebels, -came into the office and said: "Captain, I want to see you in your -private room." On entering the room he said: "I have read that order -of yours. You don't intend to enforce it, do you, Captain?" I said to -him that I did or I wouldn't have made it; that the rebels and I could -not both stay in that country. He said to me, "Captain, of all the post -commanders we have had here, there never was one of them issued such -an order as that. You know if I were to report those rebel bands they -would kill me." I replied, "Very well; you have read my order, and I -have said to you and all others that if you fail to report them I will -kill you; and you say if you do report them, they will kill you; now, -if you are more afraid of them than you are of me, you will have to -risk the consequences; for, by the eternal God! if you fail to report -them, I have said to you that I would treat you as a bushwhacker, and -you well know how I treat them." He dropped his head for a few minutes, -then raised it and said: "Well, it is mighty hard, Captain." I replied -that there were a great many hard things now; asked him where all of -his Union neighbors were. He said that they had been forced to leave -their homes and were around the Federal posts for the reason that they -claimed to be Union men. I told him that "a lot of you rebels have -lain here in the country and made more money than you ever made before -in your lives, and at the same time you have been giving aid, comfort -and encouragement to all of these irregular bands--giving them all the -information that they wanted, so that they might know just when to -make their raids, and now I propose to break it up and stop it, unless -they are able to rout me and drive me away. The government proposes to -protect all of you who will come in and take the oath and comply with -every requirement set out in the order. All I ask of you men is to give -me information of these irregular rebel bands and their whereabouts, -and you can again return home and your information will be kept a -secret; but this much you are required to do." In a short time a large -number of them had come in and enrolled their names, took the oath and -went to work on the fort like heroes. - -Occasionally one would come in and say "Captain, I want to procure a -pass for me and my family through the Federal lines; I want to leave." -I would ask him; "What's the matter now? You have stayed here all -through the war, up to the present time, and now I have come among you, -and offered to protect every one of you who will take the oath and -comply with orders." He would reply with a long sigh, "Yes, Captain -but that order that you have made." I would ask him "what order." -"You require all citizens, especially we people who have been rebels, -and stayed at home, to report all of the roving bands of rebels and -bushwhackers; if we don't do it, you will treat us like bushwhackers; -if we were to report them, they would kill us." I said, "Now, you must -chose between the two powers; and if you are more afraid of the rebels -than you are of me, you will have to risk your chances. You say if you -report them, they will kill you. Now, by the Eternal, I am determined -to enforce everything that I have set out in that order. This day you -must settle in your own mind whom you will obey. As soon as the first -roving bands of rebels and guerrillas reached the country for the -purpose of raiding the wire road between Rolla and Springfield, the -night never was too dark but that this same class of men would come in -and report them. I would at once make a detail, send these men right -out with them. As soon as they would get near to the rebels, they would -dismiss these men and let them go home." - -The rebels, for several years, had been sending out a large scout -from North Arkansas and the border counties of Missouri and when they -would reach Texas and Pulaski counties they would divide into small -squads and travel the byways and ridges; on reaching the wire road -they would then concentrate and lay in wait until the wagon trains -and non-combatants who were merchants, were moving through from Rolla -to Springfield under the protection of an escort; and all at once -they would make a charge upon them from their hiding places, rout the -escort, capture the train and all others that might be in company with -it, cut the mules loose from the wagon, take all the goods that was not -cumbersome, especially coffee, sugar, salt and dry goods, place them on -the backs of the mules, travel a short distance, divide up again into -small parties, take byways and mountains, travel fifteen or twenty -miles, go into camp; on reaching the counties of Oregon and Shannon, -Fulton and Lawrence, of Arkansas, they would concentrate their forces, -go into camp, eat, drink, and be merry. As soon as their supplies -would run short, they would make another scout of a similar nature. -The commanders of the post, as soon as they would attack the trains, -would order out a scout to pursue them. They would strike their trail -and follow them a short distance to where they would separate and take -to the mountains. They would abandon the pursuit, return and swear -that the country wasn't worth protecting. In that way they completely -outgeneraled the Federal forces and held complete possession of the -country almost in sight of the post. - -On one occasion, when the weather was very cold and bleak, I knew of -their capturing some of the Federal soldiers within one mile of the -fort, kept them until the coldest part of the night, just before day, -stripped them naked, turned them loose, and they were compelled to -travel a mile before they could reach a fire, and they were almost -frostbitten. Every Union man was driven away from his home and moved -his family to different posts. - -The author had declared that he and the rebels could not both remain -in the country together; that he would either rout them or they would -have to rout him, and for that reason every man that remained in the -country would have to aid him in the work. So, in every instance, when -he would send a force in pursuit of those raiding bands, he would order -the scout to follow them, and when they divided to still continue -pursuit of the most visible trail, and when they came in sight to not -take time to count noses, but charge them and pursue them until they -were completely annihilated. They would go into camp and move at -their leisure, but not so when my scouts got in pursuit of them. In a -number of instances they would overtake them from twenty to twenty-five -miles from the wire road, in camp, having a jolly good time, and the -first intimation they would have would be the boys in blue charging in -amongst them, shooting right and left, and they would scatter in all -directions. - -It was but a short time until they remarked to some of the rebel -sympathizers that they had never seen such a change in the movements of -the Federal scouts; that they used to consider themselves safe from a -Federal scout as soon as they left the main road and divided into small -squads; but now they were in as much danger in the most secluded spot -in the mountains as they were in the traveled roads; therefore, their -commanders would have to change their tactics in regard to the scouts, -and abandon that part of the country, as almost every scout that they -had made to the wire road had proved disastrous since "Old Monks" had -been placed in command of the post. In a short time, the Union men, who -had been driven from the country, began to return and go onto their -farms, and about five months after I had been placed in command of the -post, the civil authorities came and held circuit court, Judge Waddle, -of Springfield, then being circuit judge. - - -Skirmishes with the Rebels. - -Some time in the summer, Col. Freeman, who was commanding the rebels -in northeastern Arkansas, whose headquarters were near the Spring -River mill, made a raid and threatened to capture the Federal forces -that were then at the Licking post. I soon gained information of his -intention, made every preparation to repel the attack, also informed -the commander at Rolla of the intended raid. Col. Freeman, accompanied -by other rebel commanders, concentrated all of the available rebel -force then at his command, raided the country, came within about five -miles of the post, learned that reinforcements had been sent to the -post, countermarched and retreated to his headquarters near the head of -Spring river. - -A regiment of Federal troops, known as the Fifteenth Veterans, was sent -as a reinforcement, with a part of the Fifth Missouri State Militia -that was then stationed at Salem, with orders to remain at the post. -I received orders to organize all of the available troops and pursue -the rebel forces, and, if possible, to reach the Spring River mill, -in Fulton county, Arkansas, and destroy the mill, which Freeman was -using at that time for grinding meal. The Federal force composing the -scout, aggregating about three hundred and fifty men, moved from the -post at Licking. The author divided his forces, ordering one wing of -them to move through Spring Valley, in Texas county; the other wing to -move directly in the direction of Thomasville, with orders to form a -junction about seven miles from Thomasville, where there was a rebel -force stationed. On reaching the Wallace farm, in Oregon county, we -came onto a force of rebels, commanded by James Jamison, who had -met for the purpose of receiving ammunition which had been smuggled -through from Ironton. After an engagement, the rebels fled, leaving -one man dead; James Jamison received a flesh wound in the thigh. The -Federal force which had been ordered through Spring Valley had had an -engagement near the head of the valley, which had delayed them. The -plans of the author had been frustrated by coming in contact with the -rebels sooner than he expected. As they had retreated in the direction -of Thomasville, where the main force was said to be stationed, I -continued my march, and in about one mile came onto a rebel camp, where -the rebels had cabins erected for quarters; here another spirited -engagement took place, the rebels retreating in the direction of -Thomasville, the Federal forces still pursuing. - -Just above Thomasville the command encountered a strong picket force, -fired upon the command, intending to halt it, but being satisfied that -there was a trap laid I ordered a charge. The picket force retreated -to the left, up a steep hill, and at once the whole rebel force opened -fire from the side of the mountain; the bullets flew just above our -heads like hail, one ball passing through my hat. We still continued -the charge and on reaching the top of the hill, routed the whole rebel -force and they again retreated. The author marched into Thomasville, -selected his camping ground inside of Captain Olds' barn lot, giving us -the advantage of the barn, in case we were attacked by a superior rebel -force. I at once dispatched a forage train with strong escort to gather -in all the forage possible, as it was very scarce in the country. After -we had been in camp about an hour I inquired of Captain Olds if he knew -of any corn. He said he did not. In about a half hour my attention was -called by one of the captains pointing to a large smokehouse, and on -looking, saw the soldiers taking down any amount of first-class corn. I -informed the captain that Captain Olds had claimed that he had no corn; -to take the quartermaster and let him place a guard over the corn, to -see that it was not wasted, and that it was properly apportioned. In a -short time the author saw Captain Olds coming. He went to one of the -other captains and inquired who the commander was. He was informed that -it was Capt. Monks. He came to the author laughing and remarked: "You -found my corn, did you? I told you that I had none; I had to secrete it -in that building to keep it so that the rebels could not find it." I -just remarked to Captain Olds: "You needn't try to hide anything from -these lopeared Dutch, for I don't care where you put it they will find -it." The men who discovered the corn were all Germans and belonged to a -German company. He asked us to feed just as sparingly as possible and -leave him a part of the corn, which we did. He then attempted to warn -the author of his danger and asked him if he intended to camp there for -the night; said that Colonel Freeman had over one thousand men which -he could concentrate within five or six hours and that he would cut -the author's command all to pieces. The author replied to the captain -that that was his business, that Freeman had come up on the scout and -claimed that he was wanting a fight; the author prepared for him and -expected to accommodate him but he changed his notion and retreated, -devastating the country as he went, and now the author was hunting -him and his forces and wanted to fight. If he came up that night and -attacked the author's command that it would save any more trouble -hunting him. - -Just about that time the author saw the other part of the command -approaching and called the attention of Captain Olds and asked him if -he thought that was a part of Freeman's command. After looking a few -minutes he said to the author: "They are Federal troops." I asked him -if he thought we would be able to remain there until morning? He said -that he thought we would and invited me to come into his house and -eat supper. While at supper asked if we intended to march any further -south. The author informed him that if his information was correct -in regard to Freeman's forces we were about as far away from home as -we ought to get and that we had better move back in the direction -of the post. The author ordered the command to be ready to march by -early daylight, next morning broke camp and moved in the direction of -Spring river. On reaching the head of Warm fork of Spring river, we -encountered another rebel force; had a short engagement, and they again -retreated. On reaching the head of Spring river about the middle of the -afternoon, we again met a rebel force; after considerable firing they -retreated. - -The author moved up near the mill and went into camp. The mill was -grinding corn with quite a lot of corn on hand, but the miller left and -retreated with the rebels. The author soon placed a substitute in his -place and the boys had a fine time baking corn cakes. - -After supper, some of the men had just retired to rest, when the rebels -again made a fierce attack; after fighting for twenty or twenty-five -minutes they retreated a short distance and went into camp, the river -dividing the two forces. During the night the two pickets would dare -each other to cross the river. During the night there came a heavy rain -and made the Warm fork of Spring river swimming; there was no way to -cross except on the mill dam. - -The next morning about daylight the author ordered them to take the -millstones and break them up and destroy the machinery so it would be -impossible to grind; dismounted about one hundred men, placed them in -hiding and marched away a short distance, thinking the rebels would -cross over and we would surprise and capture them. But on seeing the -Federals break camp and marching up on the west side of the river, they -broke camp and marched up on the east side of the river. The author -then mounted his men and marched up the Warm fork to where he effected -a crossing, marched about ten miles, went into camp for the purpose of -getting breakfast. Just after breakfast, the author noticed the advance -of a rebel force march out on another road; as soon as they discovered -that the Federals were in camp, they fell back and the author at -once mounted his men. On the other road, as there was a considerable -hill that hid them from sight, he formed his men in two lines in a V; -detailed a strong advance force, ordered them to move onto the rebels -and charge them, and in case they found that they were too strong, to -retreat back between the lines for the purpose of drawing the rebel -forces in between the lines. After a fierce conflict, lasting but a few -minutes, the rebels again retreated, leaving a rebel Major dead upon -the ground. We then marched into Thomasville and had another running -fight with the rebels, went into camp and the next morning marched back -in the direction of the post at Licking, reaching the post about 10 -o'clock that night. The author again took command at the post and the -Fifteenth Veterans returned to Rolla. - - -Ridding the Country of Bushwhackers. - -It soon became very rare to hear of a rebel scout north of the -mountain. Both rebel and Union men who claimed protection by the -Federal authorities began to repair and improve their farms again. -During the time that the author was in command of the post, which -continued up to the time that peace was made, his command had routed -and completely driven from the country all irregular and roving bands -of rebels and bushwhackers and had had numbers of small engagements -in which there had been from eighty to ninety of the most desperate -class of men that ever lived, killed, which was shown in the adjutant -general's report. After they had been driven out of the county, they -located in the counties of Oregon, Shannon and Dent, and at once -commenced pillaging and robbing all classes of citizens, irrespective -of their political adherence. Col. Freeman sent a courier through the -lines with a dispatch, stating the condition of affairs, and asking -that an armistice be entered into between Col, Freeman's scouts and -the scouts which might be sent out from the post, with an understanding -that they were going to aid each other in routing and driving out these -irregular bands. - -While engaged in that work they were not to fire on each other, but to -co-operate. The author was to enter into the agreement if it could be -effected. Col. Freeman sent Capt. Cook into Oregon and Shannon counties -to locate those roving guerrilla bands, and in some way, unknown to -either Col. Freeman or myself, they gained the information, and while -Capt. Cook was in Oregon county locating them, they waylaid him and -killed him. Col. Freeman, realizing the fact that they had come into -possession of the whole scheme, came to the conclusion that we had -better abandon the agreement. He organized scouts and captured and shot -some of the most desperate characters that were leaders, while the -author kept a vigilant watch to keep them from crossing over into Texas -or adjoining counties. At the time peace was made, it was admitted by -the law-abiding people, irrespective of party, that the command of Col. -Monks had completely rid the country of all irregular bands of rebels -and had made it safe, in a short time after he had taken command of the -post, for forage trains and all other classes of citizens to pass on -the wire road from Rolla to Springfield unmolested, and that very often -they passed through without an escort. - - -Battle at Mammoth Spring. - -Col. Wood, commanding the Sixth Missouri cavalry, left Rolla on the -7th day of March, 1862, with about two hundred and fifty men, for the -purpose of making a scout south into the counties of Oregon and Howell -and Fulton county, Arkansas, to ascertain the strength of the rebel -forces in that portion of the country; reached Licking and went into -camp. The next morning he broke camp and marched to Jack's fork, in -Shannon county, and on the morning of the 9th marched to Thomasville; -on the 10th he marched to Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. On reaching -Mammoth Spring they learned that there was a rebel force in camp on -the south fork of Spring river, just below Salem, and on the morning -of the 11th they broke camp and marched upon the rebels. On reaching -the rebel encampment they found they had cut timber and blockaded the -road, so that it was impossible to reach the forces, except on foot. -In coming within a few hundred yards of the rebels, lying concealed -behind the timbers, they opened fire upon the advance of the Federal -forces. The Federal forces had two small pieces of artillery that -they unlimbered and brought into use. The rebels having no artillery, -were soon dislodged from the first line of works, and they stubbornly -fell back about one quarter of a mile, and went in behind the second -fortifications that had been hurriedly erected. After fighting for -an hour and a half or two hours the Federal force being greatly -outnumbered, and the rebels having themselves so obstructed, Col. Woods -saw that it was useless to further continue the fight and retreated. On -the next night he reached Howell Valley just below West Plains and went -into camp and on the morning of the 13th they broke camp and marched -in the direction of Houston, Missouri, reaching Houston sometime after -night. The Federal loss in the battle referred to was seven killed and -wounded. The Confederate loss was said to be twenty-five or thirty -killed and wounded. Colonels Coleman and Woodside were commanding the -Confederates. - -Col. Woods being in command of the post at Houston, learning that there -was considerable of a rebel force, standing at West Plains, Missouri, -under the command of Coleman and others, organized a scout and on the -24th day of February, 1862, broke camp and marched in the direction of -West Plains, for the purpose of attacking the rebel forces stationed at -that place, taking two small mounted howitzers strapped on mules, made -a forced march, and in the early part of the day on the 25th reached -West Plains. West Plains had a frame court house in the center of the -square where the present court house is located. The road at that time -led due north where Washington avenue is located until it struck the -hill; also there was a road which led east where East main street is -now located and on passing what was known as the Thomas Howell farm, -turned directly north in the direction of Gunters Valley. The rebels -had a strong picket thrown out on both roads; a part of the rebel -command was quartered in the court house. Woods being advised of the -condition of the rebels and where they were all quartered, supposing -that they would take advantage of the court house when the attack was -made, selected a high position where the road first struck the hill, -planted his artillery, divided his forces and made a flank movement, -ordered them to strike the lower road and advance on the pickets and -as soon as they were fired upon, to charge them, while he would remain -with the other part of the force in readiness to dislodge them with his -artillery in case they used the court house as a fortification. On the -advance coming in sight of the rebel pickets, they fired and retreated -with the Federal forces pursuing. The rebel forces at once rallied -their forces and took possession of the courthouse. As soon as Col. -Woods saw them file into the house he leveled his cannon and fired a -shell which struck the house near its center and passed clear through; -that was the first artillery that the rebel command ever had heard. -They filed out of the house faster than they went into it; then Col. -Woods moved with his forces directly upon the forces near the court -house when a general engagement ensued. The rebels retreated west on -the road near where West Main street is now located and a running fight -was continued for about one mile, when Woods abandoned the pursuit, -marched back into West Plains, and again returned to Houston. The -losses on both sides were light, several, however, being killed or -wounded. - - -"Uncle Tommy" and His Crutches. - -I will relate an incident which occurred during the fight. Old "Uncle -Tommy" Howell as he was familiarly known, resided just below the town -spring a short distance from the road; he had a sister living with him -who was an old maid, and was known as "Aunt Polly". Howell being one -among the early settlers of Howell Valley, had taken an active part -in organizing Howell county, which took its name from him and he had -been once representative of the county. The author heard him relate -the circumstance in a speech delivered in West Plains after the war -was over. He said when the fight came up that he was sitting on his -front porch: all at once he heard firing commence, and heard horses -feet and saw the rebel pickets coming on full gallop horseback, with -the Federals close onto them with pistols in hand firing on them; he -had been afflicted with rheumatism for years and one of his legs was -drawn crooked and he hadn't attempted to walk without a crutch for -several years; when he saw the men coming and the others shooting at -them, he supposed that every shot was killing a man; he said they came -right by his door and he never became excited while they were passing; -as soon as they got near the court house they then made a stand, where -it appeared to him that there were thousands of shots being exchanged -every minute. They had all passed his house and he was sitting there -unmolested, when his sister, who was known as "Aunt Polly" ran out on -the porch and cried out at the top of her voice "Lord a massy, Uncle -Tommy, run for your life; you have been a public man and they will kill -you, sure." He said it so excited him that he sprang to his feet. All -below his house the valley was covered with hazel brush and snow was -lying on the ground. He first looked toward where the firing was going -on and said "My God! they certainly have got them very near all killed -in this time" for he was under the impression that every shot killed -a man. He started southwest from his house, ran about a quarter of a -mile, jumped over behind a log; he had hardly gotten still when he -imagined he heard the horses feet of the Federals in pursuit of him; he -raised up and looked, could not see any person, so ran about another -quarter, jumped over behind another log and as soon as he got still, -the first thought came into his mind that they were still in pursuit, -for he could hear the horses' feet, but on reflecting a moment he found -that it was his heart beating; he said he could still hear the firing -and he thought they intended to kill them all before they quit. He had -a son-in-law by the name of Hardin Brown living on the Warm fork of -Spring river, about twenty miles distant, and he started on foot and -never stopped traveling until he reached his house. On reaching the -house, his daughter asked him how, in the name of God, he ever got -there without his crutches. He said that was the first time that he had -thought of his crutches. He began to notice his legs and the crooked -leg was just as straight as the well leg. He said that it completely -cured him of his rheumatism and he had the use of that leg just the -same as he ever did the other leg, and never used a crutch afterwards. -After the war he removed to Oregon county and was elected to the -legislature, and died a member of the legislature. - - -Disposing of Union Men. - -In the spring of 1862 there was a man by the name of Mawhinney, living -about six miles below West Plains, in Howell valley, a Union man, but -who had taken no part either way, except to express an opinion. About -fifteen men belonging to a rebel scout went to his house, called for -their dinners, some of them had him shoe their horses, and after they -had their horses shod and got their dinner, they told him that they -wanted him to go with them. His wife said to them "It ain't possible -that after you have been treated as kindly as you have been you are -going to take Mr. Mawhinney prisoner; you men certainly will not hurt -him." They made no reply, carried him about one half mile from his -home, shot him off of his horse, took the horse and went on, leaving -the body on the side of the road. His wife with what other help she -could get brought him in and had him buried. - -About two weeks afterwards, in the spring of 1862, there was a man by -the name of Bacon who lived near West Plains, who has some relatives -living in this county at the present time. He was a Union man but had -taken no part either way, except to express himself openly in favor of -the Union. There came a scout of about twenty men and arrested him, -started west with him in the direction of South Fork, and on reaching -the vicinity where Homeland is located, left the road a short distance, -shot him off of his horse. Went on to a house about one mile distant, -called for their dinner. The woman in preparing dinner fried some -bacon; after they were seated at the table she passed the bacon to -them; several of them remarked that they didn't want any, that they had -had some bacon, but had just disposed of it a short time before they -reached the house. After Bacon had laid where he fell dead for two or -three days he was found and being considerably decomposed a hole was -dug and the body placed into it and covered up, where his dust remains -until the present day. - - -Union Supplies Captured by Rebels. - -In the spring of 1862, the department commander reestablished the -military post at Springfield. All of the commissaries and forage had to -be conveyed from Rolla to Springfield, as the terminus of the railroad -was at Rolla, by wagon trains, a distance of one hundred and twenty -miles. It required a large escort of soldiers to guard the trains to -prevent the rebels from capturing them. All of the country south of the -wire road was in possession of the rebels. There was scarcely a wagon -train that passed on the road without being attacked by the rebels. -They made their attacks generally on the front and rear of the trains, -and before the wagon masters could corral the trains, they would -capture some of the wagons, make the teamsters drive into the woods, -cut the mules loose from the wagons, take sacks of coffee, salt, sugar -and other commissaries, tie them on the backs of the mules, divide -into small bunches and retreat into the hills. Very often the escort -would have to send back to Rolla for reinforcements. The train would -be tied up from twelve to fifteen hours before it could move on. It -became a mystery to the Federal commanders how the Confederates could -concentrate a force of men numbering from fifty to three hundred, and -the first intimation the escort would have, they, the rebels, would -come out of the brush at some secluded spot, yelling, whooping and -shooting, and charge upon the wagon train. They would generally capture -more or less of the loaded wagons with the above results, and it became -a question with the military authorities at Rolla and Springfield how -to capture or rout these bands, and as to how they managed to keep that -number of men near to the wire road and yet the Federals were unable -to discover their hiding places. - -About the 15th day of August, the department commander ordered Capt. -Murphy to take five hundred men and two pieces of artillery and move -south from Rolla; to go as far south as he thought it would be safe, -without placing his men so far inside of the Confederate lines that -they might be captured; and, if possible, to learn the rebel movements -and location of their troops. Capt. Murphy broke camp at Rolla and -moved south about fifteen miles, was fired on by the rebels from the -brush, marched about twenty-five miles, went into camp; on the next -morning resumed the march, hadn't marched more than five miles until -they were fired on from the brush; they were fired on four or five -times that day, and went into camp near Thomasville. The next day he -threw out skirmish lines on each side of his command, and resumed -the march down the Warm fork of Spring river. There was more or less -skirmishing all day. He camped on the Warm fork and the next morning -marched over to the Myatt, where we had quite a skirmish. The rebels -again retreated in the direction of the Spring River mill, where they -were said to have a thousand men. - -Here the command countermarched back to Rolla, having captured fifty or -sixty prisoners; the Federals had a few men wounded. - -In the spring of 1862, the Federal troops advanced on Springfield from -Rolla. The rebels retreated west and the Federals again established -a military post at Springfield. The rebels continued to retreat west -until they reached Prairie Grove, where they concentrated their forces -and the memorable battle of that name was fought, the Federal troops -being victorious. The Confederates retreated from the state. - -The military post at Springfield being over one hundred miles west of -Rolla, the terminus of the South Pacific railroad, three-fourths of -the distance being in possession of the rebels, all the forage and -commissaries had to be conveyed by wagon train. The main rebel forces -having been driven from the state, and all of the country south of the -wire road, with few exceptions, being in possession of the rebels, the -Union men with their families having been driven from their homes. The -leading Confederate officers met and held a council of war and decided -to change their tactics. The first thing was to place two or three -hundred well-armed Confederate soldiers south of and near the wire -road leading from Rolla to Springfield, and so harass the wagon trains -that the government wouldn't be able to get forage and commissaries -through to Springfield, and thus force the Federals to abandon the -post. In furtherance of this move, they ordered their soldiers to be -taken near to the line of the road and divided into squads of from -five to twenty-five men, conceal their arms and claim to be private -citizens, live off the country and be so arranged that when a wagon -train was about to leave Rolla, they could be called together on short -notice; and when they wanted to make a more extensive raid, Confederate -soldiers from as far south as the head of Spring river would march up -and meet them and make a general raid. - -The government had considerable trouble to learn the hiding places of -these men, but they finally got officers who were acquainted with the -country and men who were bona fide citizens, and knew who were citizens -and who were not, and broke up their hiding places and drove them -further south. It was learned that a part of this Confederate force was -composed of men who claimed to be citizens when they were not making -their raids. - - -Bravery of Captain Alsup. - -In the summer of 1863, the Federal authorities established a military -post at Clark's mill, in Douglas county, Missouri, on Bryant's fork -of White river, erected a post and stationed some Illinois troops -under the command of a Colonel, with Capt. Alsup's company, which was -composed entirely of Douglas county citizens, in all about two hundred -and fifty or three hundred men. Gen. Joe Shelby, a Confederate, with -about five hundred troops, made a forced march from Arkansas and during -the night time surrounded the fort, and the next morning had his -artillery in readiness to open fire. He ordered a complete surrender -of the garrison. The captain of the fort asked for a few minutes to -consider the matter; at the expiration of the time, the Colonel in -command agreed to surrender, stack up the guns and side arms in the -fort, march his men outside and make an unconditional surrender. -When the commander of the fort ordered his men and officers to stack -their arms and march out, Capt. Lock Alsup and his company refused, -and being cavalry, ordered his men to arm themselves and be ready to -move whenever he ordered. While the commander of the fort was having -the remainder of the garrison stack their arms, Capt. Alsup and his -company made a bold dash for liberty, came out of the fort shooting -right and left, took the rebels by surprise, broke the rebel line, -went through, being mounted on good horses, retreated up Bryant's fork -with the rebels in pursuit. While going through an old field that had -grown up to burrs about as high as a man's head, Fritz Krause, father -of the assistant postmaster at West Plains, was thrown from his horse, -rolled under the burrs, the rebels passed by and never saw him. He -laid in the burrs until dark, then made his escape and rejoined his -company at Springfield. The rebels pursued them for about two miles, -then returned to their command. Gen. Shelby paroled the prisoners, and -such things as he could not carry with him he destroyed, the fort being -burned. He resumed his march in the direction of Springfield and was -reinforced by about five hundred troops. During this time, Capt. Alsup -and his men had reached Springfield and, strange to say, hadn't lost a -man; had a few slightly wounded. Gen. Brown, who was in command of the -post at Springfield, was said to be a brother-in-law of Gen. Shelby, -and on Shelby's arrival at Springfield he demanded the surrender of -the garrison. The Federal troops held a consultation and concluded to -fight. After a brief engagement, Gen. Shelby drew his troops off and -moved north; there were several killed and wounded on both sides. Gen. -Brown's arm was broken by a piece from a shell. Gen. Shelby continued -his raid towards the Missouri river, had several small engagements and -then retreated from the state. Capt. Alsup and his brave men should -be held in memory by all comrades, especially by the loyal people of -Douglas and Ozark counties, for their heroic action in charging through -the rebel lines and making their escape after the post commander had -attempted to deliver them into the hands of the rebels. - -The fort at Clark's mill was never rebuilt. Capt. Alsup and the loyal -men of Douglas and Ozark counties and part of Wright county built a -temporary fort near the center of Douglas county, and old and young -organized themselves into companies and armed themselves. With the -help of Capt. Alsup's company, they appointed a few of their men as -scouts, while the others worked in their fields. The scouts were out -night and day along the state line and if a rebel scout attempted to -raid the counties, notice was given all along the line and the men -were all up in arms and ready to meet the raiders. It reminds one of -reading the history of the early settlements along the Indian border. -The settlers would build forts and put out sentinels; if the Indians -were seen advancing, word was given and the families would hurry to the -fort and the men arm themselves to drive the invaders back. So this -organization, with some assistance from the post at Springfield, held -Douglas and a part of Ozark and Wright counties during the remainder of -the Civil War, and after the war was over, Douglas county gained the -title of "Old Loyal Douglas County." These old soldiers and comrades -are fast falling and very soon there will be none left to tell of the -heroisms and sacrifices they made for the country they loved. Will -these comrades and their sons and daughters be so ungrateful that they -will let their heroism and sacrifices die with them and be forgotten, -never to be written in history? The answer will be no, a thousand times -no. The history of their heroism and sacrifices shall be written and -go down to their children and their children's children, and may "Old -Glory" ever wave over the country that they love so well and for which -they made so many sacrifices. - - -Bushwhacking in Howell County. - -The writer wants to say that there was not a Union man nor a single -Union family left at home, from Batesville, Ark. to Rolla, Mo., a -distance of two-hundred miles. The writer especially wants to speak for -Howell County, Mo. The rebels took quite a number of Union men from -their homes and shot them, some of them being old men. I will name -a few of them that were shot: Morton R. Langston, the father of T. -J. and S. J. Langston, while he was hauling wood; Jeff Langston, one -of the firm of Langston Bros, was riding on the wood at the time his -father was shot. I asked a leading rebel after the war, why they shot -Langston. His reply was: "He talked too much." Shot Mawhinney, Bacon -and a number of others. Now I want to say right here, notwithstanding -the treatment the Union men received from the rebels, not a single -Confederate was ever taken from his home and shot or otherwise injured -during the whole Civil War and no truthful Confederate will say to the -contrary. There never was but one Confederate hurt after being taken -prisoner in Howell County and he wasn't a citizen of Howell County; -was said to be a north Missouri bushwhacker, charged with being one -of the parties that shot old Mr. Langston, Mawhinney and Bacon. A -Federal scout in the year 1864 captured him below West Plains and the -next morning they hung him to a smokehouse rafter. Notwithstanding a -few of the friends of the bushwackers will tell to strangers that the -writer shot a man in this county, by the name of Hawkins, in the lap -of his family, which is a positive lie; the facts are these; Hawkins -was one of the worst bushwhackers and murderers that ever lived in -Howell County and was commanding a company of bushwackers at the time -he was shot. A short time before he was shot he had captured one of -his cousins, by the name of Washington Hawkins, a Federal soldier, and -taken from him a fine mare with his saddle and rig complete. - -In the spring of 1864, a battalion of the 11th Missouri Cavalry, -commanded by Col. Woods, had been ordered to report to Col. Livingston -at Batesville, Ark. The writer had been ordered to report at Rolla, -Mo., with his command. Col. Woods had camped near West Plains the -previous night, the next morning resumed his march towards Batesville; -after he had passed West Plains a few miles, Hawkins and his -bushwhackers fired on them from the brush and they continued to fire -on them every few miles for sixteen miles. Our force met the force of -Col. Woods at the state line where Col. Woods informed me how they had -been firing upon his men all morning. He had taken a man prisoner by -the name of William Krause, whom he turned over to me. Both forces -resumed the march, he in the direction of Batesville, Ark., and I in -the direction of Rolla, Mo. The prisoner told the writer that he knew -the parties who had been firing on Col. Woods' command; that they had -a camp by a pond in a secluded place, and were commanded by Hawkins -and Yates; that it was about four miles almost west. I told Krause if -he would place me on trail he could then go home. He did so and I then -released him. Krause said there were about fifty rebels in the command. - -We trailed them about two miles and came in sight of a house that -belonged to old Mr. Newberry, a Union man. He and his family had been -run off from home. I saw a horse hitched to the side of the door, and -supposed there were more inside of the house; there was a skirt of -timber that enabled us to get within about sixty yards of the house. -I ordered my men, when we reached a given point, to charge upon -the house, dismount and reach the wall of the house and demand the -surrender of all persons that might be within. We were about fifteen -feet from the door when Hawkins came out and attempted to mount his -horse. The author demanded his surrender, but he drew his pistol to -fire, the author having his pistol already in hand and presented, fired -on him; the author was sitting in his saddle when he fired on him. - -The men examined the house and found he was the only man in it. -The horse he was riding was the one he had taken from his cousin, -Washington Hawkins, a short time previous, with a government rig -complete. Washington Hawkins resided at Bakersfield, Mo., and got his -horse and rig again. We took the trail again, but dark came on us and -we lost it. These are the facts surrounding the whole case, the killing -of Hawkins, one of the worst bandits and guerrillas that ever roamed -through South Missouri and led the worst band of men in the state. I -had previously taken him prisoner and he took the oath of allegiance, -went right back and joined his command and, if possible, he was worse -than before. I must say that there are few men in Howell county that -claim to be Confederates, who tell strangers that Monks shot Hawkins -down in the lap of his family and that he, Hawkins, was a good man. -The writer wants to say that no truthful Confederate will tell any -such a thing; they will tell you that Hawkins was a bad man. Ask such -Confederates as Capt. Howard, Mark Cooper, Judge Dryer, John Ledsinger, -Harvey Kelow, Daniel Galloway, P. N. Gulley and a number of others, if -Hawkins was a good man. - -The writer wants to say that he don't believe all the Confederates -were in favor of killing and driving out the families of Union men, -but the most bitter element got in power and being backed by the order -of Gen. McBride, to force all the Union men to join the Confederate -service, or hang them, those Confederates who were opposed to such -treatment were afraid to open their mouths for fear they would receive -the same treatment. You don't hear these same men, that talked about -Monks shooting Hawkins, say a word about Hawkins and his bushwhackers -shooting Union men all over Howell county. There never were but two -houses burned in Howell county by the Union men during the Civil -war, and houses owned by these men had been previously burned by the -Confederates. The town of West Plains was burned by the Confederates to -keep the Federals from holding a post at West Plains. - -The writer wants to say that on his return after the war, in the -spring of 1866, he met the rebels, both those that had been officers -and soldiers, and never spoke a harsh word to them, asked them if -they thought both parties could now live together; their answer was, -that they thought they could. All that they asked was that they be -protected. The writer assured them that both Federal and Confederates -would be protected by the civil laws and all they would be asked to -do would be to aid in a strict enforcement of civil laws, which they -readily promised to do. The Union men who had returned to their homes -and the late Confederates joined together and went to building and -repairing old church houses and school-houses and soon were found -worshiping together in the same church and sending their children to -the same school-houses and the old ties that had existed before the war -were being re-united. The country appeared to be prosperous and the old -war spirit appeared to be fast dying out among the people. - -I suppose the writer holds more commissions than any other man in the -state, both military and civil and there never was a charge preferred -against the writer of any failure to discharge his duties by the -government or state. While in the military service thousands of dollars -passed through the hands of the writer for forage and commissaries -and ordinance stores and clothing, every dollar was accounted for and -all contraband property was turned over to the government. I never -converted, to my own private use, five cents of any man's property or -money, before or after the war, in the war, nor since the war. - -The writer is now residing within about twenty-five miles of where -his father located in the year 1844 and there are several persons yet -living that have been intimately acquainted with the writer since his -boyhood up to the present time, namely James Kellett, Sr., Marion -Kellett, present county treasury of Howell county, Washington Hawkins -of Bakersfield, Mo., and quite a number of others that have been -acquainted with the writer from forty to fifty years. The writer wants -to say right here that he is not ashamed of anything he did before the -war, in the war, nor since the war, and on his return home to Howell -county on meeting the late rebels; he never spoke a harsh word to one -of them, but received them kindly and said to them that the civil laws -should be strictly enforced against all alike, Confederate and Federal. - -In the year 1861, sometime in the month of September, after the -Federals retreated from Springfield, Mo. and the Confederates had taken -possession of Springfield, there was one Capt. Brixey who was captain -of a company of home guards residing in the edge of Webster County, -Mo.; soon after the Confederates took possession of the post, they -ordered a captain belonging to a Texas regiment to detail one company -and proceed to the residence of Capt. Brixey and arrest him. Capt. -Brixey having no notice of the approach of the scouts, he and one of -his men were sitting in the house; the first they knew they had a line -within thirty yards of his door, hailed them and presented their guns -and demanded their surrender. Capt. Brixey said, "The ---- you say." -Both parties fired on each other about the same time, the man with -Brixey fell dead, Brixey shot and killed the Confederate captain and -wounded one or two other Confederates; he retreated through his house -and into his orchard and made his escape; one of his arms was broken -by the shot from the rebels from which he entirely recovered and lived -many years afterwards, and has a son residing in this county at the -present time. - - -Colonel Freeman's Second Raid. - -Sometime in the Spring of 1862 Col. Freeman, not being satisfied with -his first raid on the Federal troops at Salem, planned the second raid -to attack the troops then stationed at Salem, Missouri; he organized -his scout and compelled one Robert Bolin, who now resides in Howell -County, to pilot him through the lines, as he, Bolin, had lived near -Salem before the war. On reaching Salem, Col. Freeman halted his troops -and planned his attack. - -The Federal troops had no knowledge of the approach of any rebel -forces; they were in squads around Salem. Freeman divided his forces -and gave them a countersign and selected a spot near a deep ditch in -the road and instructed them, if they were defeated and got scattered -to concentrate at that ditch which was beyond the Federal lines a -distance of some miles; on reaching the ditch they were to remain -until they all were collected. After the first ones reached the place, -it being dark, if they saw others approaching they would halt them -and demand the countersign, and if they couldn't give it they were to -fire on them without any further delay, knowing they were enemies. On -reaching the public square they encountered a bunch of the Federal -troops in a building; fired on them, wounded a few, a man by the name -of Jacob Shoffler now residing in Howell County was in the house at -the time, and they cut his clothes in about twenty different places -with bullets and never drew blood; Maj. Santee was commanding, with -one other officer. After they had rallied, all being in disorder, Maj. -Santee ordered a charge on the rebels. Armed with an old pistol he met -Col. Freeman of the Confederate side. Freeman had just shot out; Maj. -Santee ordered his surrender. Col. Freeman started to run, Maj. Santee -in close pursuit, snapped his old pistol, which failed to fire. He then -threw the pistol at Col. Freeman, struck him somewhere between the -shoulders, drew his sabre, and still continued the pursuit. There was -a creek near by and a stone fence had been built along the side of it; -the creek had been frozen over and a skiff of snow on it at the time. -Just as Freeman reached the stone fence Maj. Santee made a thrust at -him with his sabre, inflicting a slight wound; about that time, for -the purpose of escaping, Col. Freeman sprang over the stone fence and -lit into the creek. Maj. Santee, being on horseback, could not pursue -any further. The rebels by this time were scattered in all directions, -started to retreat. It being very dark, the first ones fifty or sixty -in number reached the ditch, halted to wait for the remainder of them -to collect. In a short time about thirty or forty more of them appeared -in sight, retreating with considerable speed; they were halted, the -countersign demanded. They had become so excited in the fight they had -forgotten the countersign and failed to give it. So those who arrived -first opened fire and wounded several of them, scattering them to the -woods. They failed to concentrate until they had retreated south about -30 miles where they learned of the mistake they had made and that -they had fired upon their own men. Maj. Santee being of the opinion -that he had seriously wounded Freeman with his sabre, concluded to -investigate. On reaching the stone fence where he made his leap they -looked over into the creek on the ice and (Col. Freeman being a large -man) it looked like a large ox had been thrown over from the hole that -he made in the ice. They saw that he had crossed the creek and reached -the other side and saw no signs of blood. In the engagement there were -about five or six wounded and killed. - -In the summer of 1863 there was a Federal scout organized at -Springfield, commanded by Col. Holland. It was ordered to move by way -of Douglas county, get reinforcements then stationed at the fort, -and from there march through the county of Ozark. They entered the -county of Fulton, Ark., where they had several small engagements. -After considerable fighting and capturing a number of prisoners, they -returned to Springfield; loss, killed and wounded, very small. - -In the fall of 1863, Col. Tracy, with a force of rebels, made a raid -from Fulton county, marched up through Ozark county, and on reaching -the Union settlement in Douglas county, he shot and killed nearly -every man he captured, robbed houses, took everything in the house -and out of doors, and burned the houses as he went. After raiding and -pillaging a number of houses, he came to a house where a Union man by -the name of Mahan and one by the name of McCarty were working in the -blacksmith shop, with their arms near them. They were members of the -home guard. The rebels demanded the surrender of the two men, and as -it was generally believed that if a man surrendered to those irregular -forces that it was sure death, they refused to surrender. When the -forces of Col. Tracy commenced firing through the cracks of the shop, -the men returned the fire. Mahan killed one rebel, and they wounded two -or three others. The rebels shot McCarty down, shooting him eight or -ten times after he fell, knocked the door down and rushed upon Mahan, -disarmed him, took him prisoner and then continued their retreat. After -reaching Fulton county, near the bayou, they took Mahan into the woods, -stripped him naked and shot him, leaving his body lying on the ground -unburied. Strange to say, in regard to McCarty, after he had been shot -eight or ten times and left for dead, he recovered from the wounds and -became hearty and stout. - -Some time in the early part of the spring of 1864, a man by the name -of Mahan deserted from the 11th Missouri cavalry, stationed at -Batesville, and on reaching Howell county, about two miles from where -Valley Star school house is now located, a bunch of bushwhackers -commanded by B. F. Hawkins and Thomas Yates captured him, took him into -the woods a short distance, stripped him naked and shot him, leaving -his body lying on the ground, unburied. After he had lain there nearly -a week, a man now residing in Howell county took a hoe and shovel and -raked up some rocks and pitched them upon the decomposed body and threw -a few shovels of dirt on him. As it was but a short distance from the -road, the stench from the decomposing body was offensive to persons who -traveled by. - - -Col. Monks Enforces the Civil Law. - -In the month of July, 1865, the author was ordered to declare the civil -law in force in the counties of Texas, Dent, Shannon, Oregon, Howell, -Ozark and Douglas and report to his regiment again at Springfield for -the purpose of being discharged. The long-looked-for and final result -of the war had come with victory couched upon every man who had borne -his flag to the breeze of his country, and to those who had lain -themselves on the altar of their country and died that it might live. - -There was general rejoicing among the loyal people, that there was -not a foot of territory on American soil but where the stars and -stripes once more floated unmolested, either by foreign or domestic -enemies, and while the Confederates had fought manfully for what they -conceived to be right, and had laid many of their sons on the altar and -sacrificed them to a cause that they believed to be right, yet a large -majority of them rejoiced when they learned that the cruel war was -over. Although their cause was forever lost, yet the country that they -had loved so well and the flag still floated and invited them back as -erring sons. - -The 16th regiment, with a large number of other regiments, was -discharged at Springfield. Then a scene ensued that Americans had never -witnessed before; the blue and the grey began to meet and greet each -other as friends and seemed to forget that just a few months previous -they had been meeting each other armed, for the purpose of slaying one -another. A general amnesty proclamation had been granted by Gen. Grant -to all the rebels who had surrendered. Their officers and commanders -should discharge them and they should be allowed to retain their side -arms for their own protection and return home for the purpose of again -building up and establishing their homes; again meet their wives, their -children, fathers and mothers, neighbors and friends, and once more -be united in all the ties of love; to again reinstate churches, and -instead of studying and practicing the art of war, they should beat -their swords into pruning hooks and aid in establishing and building up -society and good government. - -But, lo! one of the most sad and heartrending scenes confronted many -Confederates and Federals on returning to the places where they had -once had happy homes and sweet families, they were not found. During -the terrible war, many of the loved ones that they had left behind -had been called from time to eternity. The home had disappeared and -nothing was left but the soil; all of the improvements being entirely -destroyed. But they, with the courage of heroes, gathered the fragments -of their families, went to work improving and building houses, -refencing their farms, reerecting church houses and school houses, and -in a short time the men who had lately been enemies and borne arms -against each other, were again neighbors and friends, associating -together, sending their children to the same school, becoming members -of the same church; all experienced the difference between a civil war -and peace and fraternity. Many of them expressed themselves that they -had read of civil wars, but never realized the effect of civil war -until after they had passed through the present one: but they could not -understand why they called it "civil" war, for if there was anything -civil about the war they never experienced that part of it. - -The author's family had been residing at Rolla during most of the -time of the war. He commenced making preparations to return to his -home in Howell county in the fall of 1865. He began to organize an -immigration party of men who wanted to locate in Howell county and a -number of men who had left their homes in that county. Just a short -time before the parties were ready to leave Rolla for Howell county, -he was met by several men who asked: "Why, Monks, ain't you afraid to -go back to Howell county? You have fought the rebels so bitterly and -contested every inch of ground during the whole war, and some of them -hate you so badly, that I would be afraid that they would kill me." -The author replied that he felt like Gen. Putnam, when the British -attempted to bribe him and said that the colonies never could succeed -in gaining their independence, and that he had better return and renew -his allegiance to the Crown. The General's reply was, "D--n a man that -is not for his country." Now, my reply to you is, that I have forfeited -almost all of my means and shattered the happiness of my family in -contending and fighting for the preservation of the government; -besides, myself and family have been exiled and banished from our home, -and if the rebels had succeeded, all would have been gone. But now the -government has been victorious in crushing the rebellion, liberty and -protection have been once more guaranteed to every citizen, high or -low, rich or poor, and, in the language of Gen. Putnam, I say, "D--n a -man that is afraid to go back and enjoy the fruits of his victory." - -Within a few days about twenty-five families left Rolla for West -Plains, and on arriving at West Plains, went into camp. There was -not a single building left in West Plains, as the Confederates had -burned the whole town in time of the war, with the exception of -one store building, which was burned by the Federal troops. The -Confederates' object in burning the town was to prevent the Federals -from establishing a post. The author procured some clapboards, built an -addition to an old stable about two hundred yards south of where James' -livery stable is now located. - -Soon after we had reached West Plains and gone into camp, Capt. Howard, -Capt. Nicks and a number of other rebels who were residing in the -county, came in, met the author and said to him: "Captain. I am proud -to meet you." The author replied, "I am proud to meet you. What do -think now in regard to the two parties living together?" They said that -they were satisfied that both parties could live together, that all -they wanted was protection. The author remarked that the rebels had -been in control of the country for several years, but the loyal men -were going to take charge of it and run it now, and as the loyal men -had been contending for the enforcement of the law and claimed that -every American citizen was entitled to the protection of the law, the -author could promise them that, if they would fall into line and help -enforce the law, they should receive equal protection with any other -class of citizens; to which they replied that they were willing to do -so, but there were roving bands of rebels and guerrillas which had not -been subject to the control of the Confederate authorities, and still -refused to lay down their arms, and might yet cause some trouble. - -The author was appointed sheriff of Howell county, W. Z. Buck circuit -and county clerk and Peter Lemons, Judge Alsup and ---- were appointed -county judges. There had been an old school house about a quarter of -a mile east of West Plains that was still standing. They met at that -school house, organized and set the civil government of the county -in working order. Soon after, Governor Fletcher ordered an election -and the author was elected to the state legislature, tendered his -resignation as sheriff, which was accepted and W. D. Mustion was -appointed to the vacancy. In a few weeks the author went to Jefferson -City, tendered his credentials and was sworn in and became a member of -the legislature. - -Everything, so far as Howell county was concerned, appeared to move off -quietly, while the counties of Oregon and Shannon, with a few of the -border counties, were entirely controlled by irregular bands of late -rebels, who openly declared that the civil law should not be enforced -in those counties; that the Confederacy was whipped, but they were not -and they intended to live off the government; they were armed to the -teeth. - -During the winter of 1865 and the year 1866, Howell county settled up -faster than ever it had at any period before the war; the men who had -homes in it and had been forced away on account of the war, mostly -returned and commenced to improve their farms. Their houses, outhouses -and improvements, generally, having been destroyed, the soil was the -only thing left. The town also built up rapidly and in the year 1866 -the inhabitants had increased to six or eight hundred. - -In the fall of 1866 at the general election the author was re-elected -to the legislature and Capt. Alley, who had been a Confederate all -through the war, was elected to the legislature from Oregon county. -The author again qualified and was present in the legislature during -the whole time, when the great question was brought up before the -legislature, as to what disposition the State would make of the first -liens held by the state on the different railroads for aid that had -been given to the railroad corporations in the way of state bonds -in 1850. In 1855 the state issued her bonds, delivered them to the -companies and they went east and put them upon the market in New York -and Boston to procure money to construct roads, and the bonds with all -the accruing interest, were due the state. - -Then for the first time the author learned that many of the men who -had been selected to represent the people's interest in the State -Legislature, failed to discharge the duties that their constituents -had imposed upon them, betrayed their trust, and, through money, were -entirely controlled in the interest of the railroad corporations. The -author believing that it was one among the greatest duties that were -imposed upon men of a representative government, to strictly contend -and do all in his power to enact legislation in the interest of the -people, therefore took a strong stand in favor of closing out all -of the state liens against the different roads, held by the state. -During the session of the winter of 1866 what was then known as the -South Missouri Pacific, which terminated at Rolla, Missouri, was -ordered to be closed out and the road declared forfeited. A resolution -passed through both houses of the legislature ordering the Governor -to seize it, and that said road be run by the state. In the meantime -the Governor was to advertise and sell it. The Governor by authority -of law advertised it and sold it for $550,000. Sometime in April the -legislature adjourned, to meet in an adjourned session in December, -1867. The author returned home. - -The immigration into the country rapidly increasing, prosperity -appeared to be on every side; people had plenty of money, good crops, -wheat was worth $1 to $1.50 per bushel, stock of all kinds brought -first-class prices, peace so far as Howell county was concerned, -prosperity and the bettering of the condition of society were moving -hand in hand, and the author felt thankful that the war was over. - - -Outlaw Rule in Oregon and Shannon. - -In the fall of 1867, the counties of Oregon and Shannon, were still -controlled by those roving bands of outlaws who ruled the counties with -an iron hand. A despotism, unequalled at any stage of the war, existed -there. There was a public gathering in the fall of 1867 in Thomasville. -Col. Jamison, one of the leaders of these outlawed bands rode into town -at the head of about fifty men, well armed, shot two men's brains out, -paraded the streets and swore that any man that attempted to enforce -the civil law against them, would fare the same; rode out unmolested -and there was not a single attempt made by the civil authorities to -arrest one of them. In a few days Jamison with some of his men rode -into town and a man by the name of Philip Arbogast, the father-in-law -of Mr. Hill, one of the firm of Hill-Whitmire Mercantile Co., now -doing business in West Plains, who had been a Confederate all through -the war, remarked in the hearing of Jamison, that the war was over, -and he believed that the civil law ought to be enforced. Jamison at -once dismounted, cocked his pistol, approached Arbogast and commenced -punching him with the muzzle of it until he inflicted some wounds -remarking to him that if he ever heard of him uttering a word again in -favor of the civil law being enforced that he would hunt him up and -shoot his brains out. - -Some time previous to that occurrence, two men who had been discharged -from the Federal army and had once resided in Oregon county, came into -the county to look at their old homes. Col. Jamison, with about forty -men, arrested them, took them to the house of the sheriff, informed -the sheriff that no "Feds" could ever reside in Oregon county, and no -damn Black Republicans could ever cast a vote at any election that was -held in the county; that they were going to make an example of the men, -that others might take warning; that they were going to take them out -far enough away that their stench would not annoy good Confederates. -Accordingly, they started from the house, took them about one-half -mile, stripped them naked, shot them to pieces, returned to the -sheriff's house with the clothing, which was the uniform they had worn -in the service, horse and mule and saddles which they had been riding; -gave the mule to the sheriff, took the horse with them, published what -they had done, and said that those men shouldn't be buried and that if -any Confederate buried them, they would share the same fate. - -Capt. Alley, who had been a Confederate all through the war, but was -an honest man and wanted to see the law enforced, informed Governor -Fletcher of the condition of the county. Governor Fletcher at once -appointed him an enrolling officer, ordering him to enroll and organize -the county into militia companies, to form a posse-comitatus to aid the -sheriff in enforcing the law. As soon as he received his commission, he -rode into the different townships, put up his notices requesting the -people to meet him for the purpose of enrolling. Jamison, with about -forty men, rode into the township where his first meeting was to be, -posted another written notice on the same tree, the purport of which -was that if Capt. Alley, the old, white-headed scoundrel, appeared -on the day to carry out the orders of the Governor, he would meet -him and shoot his old head off his shoulders. Alley, being satisfied -that he would carry out his threat, went to the place before daylight -and concealed himself nearby. About 10 o'clock on the day appointed, -Jamison and about forty followers came charging in on their horses, -revolvers in hand, cursing and declaring that they would like to see -the old white-headed scoundrel put in an appearance so they could make -an example of him; that they didn't intend to let any man enforce the -law against them. As soon as they retired Alley returned home and wrote -to the Governor again, stating the acts, conduct and threats that -Jamison had openly made, and that troops would have to be sent into the -counties to aid him and others in organizing, so the civil law could be -enforced. He asked the Governor to appoint Capt. Monks to command the -troops which he might send. - -The author received a letter from the Governor informing him of the -condition; also stated in the letter that while Howell county was -peaceable and law abiding, that her citizens were not safe, by any -means, while such a desperate band of outlaws were right at their very -door, bidding defiance to the civil law, committing all manner of -crimes from murder down and begging the author to consent to his being -appointed Major of State troops; that he would make an order for the -author to organize the men in the county of Howell and include Howell -county in his order, declaring them to be under martial law especially -when it had been requested by Capt. Alley, who had been a life-long -Confederate. The author took the matter under advisement, and as -Jamison, with his band of men, had threatened time and again to raid -Howell county and kill the author with other Union men, he decided to -give his consent to the Governor, wrote him while he reluctantly would -consent to accept the appointment he had thought that he had discharged -his duty in the late war and would not be required to take part in any -further military operation. - - -Colonel Monks Commissioned by the Governor. - -The governor at once appointed and commissioned the author Major of -state troops and ordered him to at once proceed and organize a company -of militia, and at the same time sent one hundred Springfield rifles -and one hundred rounds of amunition for each gun. And soon as it was -organized, he was to proceed to Oregon county, for the purpose of -aiding and supporting Captain Alley who had been appointed enrolling -officer of Oregon county, to enroll and form companies for the purpose -of aiding the sheriff in enforcing the civil law. He was to pursue, -arrest and drive out those roving bands of murderers from the counties -of Oregon, Shannon and Dent. The author at once organized a company -in Howell county, composed of men who had been in the Confederate and -Federal service. On Jamison and others in Oregon county learning that -the author had been appointed Major and that he was organizing, and the -state was arming the men with orders to enter the counties of Oregon, -Shannon and Dent to drive out the murdering bands and aid Captain Alley -in organizing a posse comitatus to aid the sheriff in enforcing the -civil law, they publicly declared that "old Monks might get into Oregon -county but that he would never get out alive." - -At that time there was a secret order in the counties of Oregon and -Shannon known as the Sons of Liberty. The author was informed that on a -certain night they would hold a meeting on Warm fork of Spring river. -The author made a forced march and, on reaching the place where they -had assembled, surrounded the house and took all the inmates prisoners, -among them being the sheriff of the county and a few other prominent -men. The next morning Capt. Alley met the author, put up his notices -ordering every man to come in and enroll his name. The author remained -over the next day near the place, got in possession of their papers, -with a secret oath placed upon them, and the aims and objects, binding -themselves together to prevent the enforcement of the civil law, and -further binding themselves to capture or take property from any man who -had been in the Federal army, and, when it became necessary to enforce -it, to shoot men down. They claimed to have lawyers connected with it, -so that if they should be arrested they were to make a pretense of a -trial and allow no man to go onto the jury except those who belonged to -the order. - -Capt. Greer, who had been a Captain in the Confederate service all -through the war, and afterwards was elected to the state legislature, -remarked that, "I can soon tell whether those grips, obligations and -oaths were in the organization known as the Sons of Liberty;" said -that "Old Uncle Dickey" Boles, a short time previous, came to him and -informed him that the Sons of Liberty were going to hold a meeting in a -big sink on the mountain and they wanted him to come and join it; that -he was looked upon as a business man and he didn't know anything about -what was going on right at his door; that if he would come and join it, -in a few years he would be a rich man. Capt. Greer said he replied to -him, "Uncle Dickey, I have always been an honest man and have worked -hard, and if a man can get rich in two or three years by joining that -order, there must be something dishonest in it." Old Uncle Dickey -replied: "You won't be in a bit of danger in joining it, for we are so -organized that the civil law can't reach us." Capt. Greer said he had -a son-in-law who was requested, at the same time he was, to attend the -meeting, and that after the meeting he saw him and asked him what kind -of an organization it was. He said his brother-in-law told him, "I dare -not tell you; I took the bitterest oath that I have ever taken in my -life not to reveal the workings of the order on penalty of death. But -I will tell you enough; Captain, I know that you are an honest man and -that that organization is a damn jay-hawking institution, and you want -nothing to do with it." Captain Greer at once sent for his brother-in -law; he came, and the signs, grips and by-laws that were captured at -the place of the meeting were submitted to him and he said he believed -they were word for word the same, and contained the very same oath that -they swore him to on the night that he went to their meeting. - -The author was informed that Jamison was then lying in wait on the road -that led from Warm Fork to Frederick Fork township, the next place -where Alley had notified them to meet, waiting for the author to pass -with his men, so that he might fire on them from the brush. Then the -hardest task confronted the author that he ever had had to meet, to -study out a plan to prevent Jamison firing on his men from the brush -as he marched by. He held four men as prisoners, whom he knew were -Jamison's right-hand bowers; he had just been informed that Jamison -had a spy then on the ground to learn the time the author would break -camp and move in the direction of Fredericks Fork. He ordered a wagon -brought up with three spring seats, took the four prisoners and set -them in the two front seats, tied a small rope around their bodies -and around each seat, with two guards in the back seat; then arrested -Jamison's spy, informed him what his business was, which he admitted -and said that Jamison was lying in wait to learn what time I would move -out, and that he intended to fire on me as soon as I came within reach. -I took him to the wagon and asked him if he was acquainted with the -prisoners. He said that he was. "Well," said I, "I am going to release -you and I want you to go and tell Jamison that, just as certain as -he fires from the brush and kills one of my men, I will retaliate by -killing these four men, whom I know are his right-hand bowers." The -author also wrote a letter containing the same statement, and sent -another man, who was a Confederate, with Jamison's spy, to see that the -message was delivered. - -On reaching Jamison, they delivered the message and informed him of -what I had said, and told him that there was no possible chance for -these men to escape, for there was a rope tied around each man's body -and fastened to the spring seat, and they were also under a strong -guard. The man who went to carry the dispatch said that after Jamison -read it, he appeared to be in trouble and remarked: "Well, we will have -to desist and not fire, for just as certain as we fire on him and kill -some of his men, he is sure to kill our men." One of the prisoners, -after he was placed in the wagon and heard the message sent to Jamison, -remarked to the other prisoners: "We are dead men, for Jamison is sure -to fire on them." We soon broke camp, and on reaching the place where -Jamison had been waiting, saw the camp fire and where their horses had -been tied and fed, but there was not a man to be seen, neither was -there a gun fired. - -[Illustration: COL. AND MRS. MONKS AT CLOSE OF WAR.] - -On reaching Fredericks Fork township, Capt. Alley made a speech to the -people and said, among other things, that the counties of Oregon and -Shannon had been controlled by one of the most desperate class of men -that ever lived. That they had ridden through the country on horseback, -heavily armed, defying the enforcement of the civil law, intimidating -the people, both Federal and Confederate alike, and committing all -manner of crimes, robbing and murdering the people and boasting openly -that the damn Confederacy was whipped, but that they were not and -intended to live off the damn "Feds." Now the war is over and all good -citizens, be they Federal or Confederate, should be in favor of the -enforcement of the civil law. "I am ordered by the governor of the -state to enroll all able-bodied men in the county to form a posse to -aid the sheriff in enforcing the law in Oregon county; I am to organize -companies to enforce the civil law. These bushwhackers and thieves have -terrorized this county long enough. The governor has sent Capt. Monks, -a man who is not afraid of bushwhackers and thieves, into this county -to arrest these bushwhackers, thieves and murderers and bring them to -justice. If the people of this county want the civil law enforced, -they should aid Capt. Monks and his men to hunt these fellows down and -either arrest them or drive them from the county. Our people have been -present and saw these men commit all manner of crimes, from murder down -to the smallest crime known to the criminal code. They have done this -openly and the people were afraid to open their mouths or say a word -against it, on penalty of death. I wrote the governor, stating the -condition of affairs in this county, that neither person nor property -were safe, and to send Capt. Monks to this county. And he has sent him -and we have got the right man in the right place." - -One of the prominent men of Oregon county went to Jefferson City to -see the governor to procure the removal of the writer and have Col. -A. J. Sea appointed in his place. He said to the governor that Capt. -Monks was arresting some of the best men in Oregon county and had -them prisoners. The governor showed him some of Capt. Alley's letters -that he had written to the governor. The letters stated among other -things that persons and property were at the mercy of these desperadoes -and the county was being terrorized by James Jamison and his men; -that they were robbing whom they pleased openly; that a day or two -before he, Alley, wrote the letter, that Jamison shot a man's brains -out in Thomasville, and dared any man to say he was in favor of the -enforcement of the civil law, that he would serve him the same way. The -governor asked him if those things were true, and he replied that they -were; the governor said to him: "You are a leading man in that county -and a citizen of Thomasville and never a word have you written to me -that such terror and lawlessness existed in your county." He replied -"Governor, I was afraid to." The governor replied to him, "when I send -a man down there that is not afraid to handle those men without gloves, -then here you come with a howl. Now I expected when I sent Capt. Monks -down there, if he did his duty, that there would be a howl raised; I -am satisfied that he is doing his duty. I am responsible for his acts -and you men want to get rid of him; go home and tell your people to -organize companies under Captain Alley and aid Captain Monks and his -men in arresting and driving those bushwhackers and bandits out of your -country and whenever Captain Monks reports to me that the person and -property of your citizens are secure and that the civil law is being -enforced, he will be removed, and not before." - -They then employed Colonel A. J. Sea as an attorney. Some time during -the night, while we were encamped on Fredericks Fork, some of the -soldiers took the sheriff out and put a rope around his neck to make -him tell where the bones of two soldiers were, who were murdered by -Jamison and his men. He admitted that he knew where the bones of the -two Federal soldiers were; that after they shot them Jamison gave him -the mule and saddle that one man was riding; that he was afraid not -to take them and promised as soon as the command reached Thomasville -to go and show the bones. On the next morning after our arrival at -Thomasville I procured a big box and placed it in a wagon and brought -the sheriff from the guard house and set him on a box under a strong -guard. About that time Colonel A. J. Sea came up and asked what we were -going to do with that man. I told him "That is my business; when you -was in the military service did you inform the civilians of your object -and aims? You are a civilian now and I will give you five minutes to -get outside of the lines or you will go into the guard house." He took -me at my word and left at once. - -[Illustration: COLLECTING BONES OF TWO FEDERAL SOLDIERS SHOT BY COL. -JAMISON AND MEN IN OREGON COUNTY.] - -The sheriff piloted the scout to the bones of the men that had been -murdered, and the sheriff, aided by the scout, picked up the bones and -placed them in the box. On examination it was found that three bullets -had passed through one of the skulls, and the other skull appeared to -have been shot all to pieces. I brought the bones in and caused them to -be buried in a cemetery, about one mile west of Thomasville. - -Captain Alley had completed the organization of two companies, one -commanded by Captain Lasley and the other by Captain Bledsaw. The -companies were mostly composed of men who had been late Confederates, -as there were very few Union men in the county. They immediately fell -in with my soldiers and a vigorous search was at once made for Jamison -and his men. Being aided by men who were thoroughly acquainted with the -county and knew just where to look for Jamison and his cut-throats, -they agreed to keep on Jamison's track and arrest him and his men if -possible, in Oregon county. I moved my troops up into Shannon county to -prevent Jamison and his men from crossing over into Shannon and scouted -that county to keep them from hiding there. The Oregon county companies -shot and killed some of them and arrested others. Jameson and the -others left the county and never have returned to it since. - -But they left some of their sympathizers in the county, and the -only weapons left them were their tongues; having no conscience or -principle, and instigated by the wicked one, they began lying and -preferring all manner of charges against the writer and his men who -went into the county and, by the aid of the law-abiding citizens, drove -out and arrested one of the worst set of men that ever lived, the -savage not excepted, and restored the civil law, so that every citizen -was secure in person and property. - -The writer informed the governor that a large majority of the -citizens, both Confederate and Federal, had nobly responded to his -call, had organized two companies of militia to aid the sheriff in the -enforcement of the civil law; Jamison and his bushwhackers had either -been arrested, killed or driven from the county, and the strong arm of -the military law was not needed any longer. - -On December 25, 1867, the writer was ordered by the governor to -withdraw his forces from the counties that had been placed under -martial law and declare the civil law to be in full force and effect. I -accordingly returned to Howell county and disbanded my soldiers. - -During my march and stay in the counties of Oregon and Shannon, it was -admitted by all honorable Confederates that I had enforced a strict -discipline over my men and protected all classes of citizens in person -and property, had paid the people for all forage and commissaries that -were required for the soldiers, and had driven out the worst set of -bushwhackers, thieves and murderers that ever lived. - - - - -REMINISCENCES. - - -In the spring of 1866 the loyal men had mostly returned to their homes; -among them, Benjamin Alsup, who had been taken prisoner by the rebels -in 1861 and confined in the penitentiary at Little Rock, Ark. He was -released in 1865, when peace was made. There was but one house left in -West Plains, an old school house about one-quarter of a mile east of -the town spring, which was used for a court house. Judge Van Wormer, -who resided at Rolla, was judge of the circuit court and Mr. Perry -was circuit attorney. A short time after the return of Mr. Alsup, a -public meeting of the loyal men was called, signed by several loyal -men. At the date set the writer was present. The meeting was called to -order and Mr. Alsup was elected chairman. He stated the object of the -meeting, and among other things said: "The rebels have hung, murdered, -imprisoned and driven all the Union men from their homes, and _by the -living_, they didn't intend that a single rebel should live inside the -limits of Howell county." He was in favor of giving them ten days' -notice to leave the county, and if they were not gone by that time, -to shoot them down wherever found. Someone introduced a resolution -that the rebels be notified to leave with their families inside of ten -days or they would force them to leave. The resolution was seconded, -I got the floor and spoke as follows: "If that course is pursued, it -will ruin the county; peace has been made and Gen. Grant has ordered -the rebels to return home and become good citizens. Admitting that -everything Mr. Alsup has said is true and we were to turn around and -do the same that they did, we would be just as guilty as they were, and -it would be a question of might and not of right; and I want to say -here now, if any man injures a late rebel, except in self-defense or in -defense of his family or property, I will prosecute him to the bitter -end of the law." Mr. Alsup called another man to the chair and replied -to what I had said, saying: "_By the living_, I am surprised at Captain -Monks, a man who has been treated by the rebels as he has, who now gets -up here and says he will defend the rebels; _by the living_, I want -Capt. Monks to understand right here, now, that if any loyal man kills -a rebel and has to leave the country, and has no horse to ride, I will -furnish him a good horse to ride off on; and _by the living_, let him -prosecute me; he will have a sweet time of it." The next man that took -the floor was a Mr. Hall, who resided about eight miles south of West -Plains. He said: "I am just like Uncle Ben; if any loyal man kills a -rebel and has to leave the country, I will furnish him a good horse to -ride off on, and let Captain Monks prosecute me if he wants to; I don't -think it would be healthy for him to prosecute me for killing a rebel -or helping a man who did kill one." The resolution was put to a vote -and lost by a good majority. - -Later in the spring, there was a man by the name of Finley living -seven or eight miles south of West Plains; the family was composed -of husband and wife, both of them about sixty-five years of age, a -daughter of twenty-two years and a son of about eleven. They had been -rebels, but were very quiet and peaceable citizens; they were residing -on government land, had good improvements and a good orchard. There -was a man by the name of Frederick Baker who had homesteaded the land -Mr. Finley was living on. Baker notified Finley to leave in ten days; -if not out in that time, they would be killed. Mr. Finley wanted pay -for his improvements before giving possession. At the expiration of ten -days, very early in the morning Mrs. Finley went into the lot to milk -the cows; Baker slipped up to the lot and with a Colt's revolver shot -the old lady dead. The daughter saw her mother fall, ran to her, and he -shot her; she fell by the side of her mother. The old man ran to the -door, reached up to get his gun out of the rack, when Baker placed his -pistol against his body and shot him dead. The pistol was so close to -Finley when discharged that the powder set his clothes on fire. The boy -was the only one of the family left; he ran to the nearest neighbor for -help and when they got back to the house they found the old man and his -wife dead and the daughter shot through the breast, maimed for life. -The old man's clothes were still on fire when the neighbors arrived. - -Hall made his words good for he furnished Baker with a first-class -horse, saddle and bridle, to leave the country on and aided Baker in -making his escape. As soon as the writer learned of the murder he -caused an affidavit to be made and procured a warrant for the arrest -of Baker and had it put into the hands of the sheriff and did all in -his power to cause Baker's arrest, but by the aid given him by Hall -and others he made his escape. The writer reported the murder to the -Governor and the Governor offered a reward of three hundred dollars for -Baker's body, dead or alive. Baker never was arrested. - -The writer was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney by Mr. Perry, -who was Circuit Attorney at that time. After I qualified I caused -an affidavit to be made against Mr. Hall charging him with being an -accessory to the murder before the fact and caused his arrest. I was at -once notified that if I attempted to prosecute Hall I would meet the -same fate as the Finley family. Hall was arrested, and the day set for -his preliminary trial at the school-house east of town. On the day -set for trial there were quite a number of persons present; the writer -appeared, armed with a good pistol, laid it by his side during the -progress of the trial; it was proven by the state that he, Hall, was -guilty as charged. The justice held him over to wait the action of the -grand jury and ordered him to enter into a recognizance of two thousand -dollars for his appearance at the next term of the Howell county -circuit court, which he readily filled and was released. Soon after his -release he took the fever and died. Baker never was captured. It was -one among the dirtiest murders that ever was committed in Howell county. - -Gen. McBride, before the war, resided in Texas county, on a farm, and -was circuit judge of the 18th judicial circuit, which included Howell -county. He enlisted in the Confederate army and was placed in command -of the Confederate troops at West Plains. The Union men well remember -his famous order, given in the spring of 1861, that all Union men join -the Confederate service, and if they didn't join the Confederate army -he would hang them as high as Haman. After his term of service expired, -he moved his family to near Batesville, Ark., where he resided up to -near the close of the war. He was taken sick and died in the spring of -1866. Some of the friends of the widow in Texas county sent after her -and her family to bring them back to her farm. Reaching West Plains on -their return, they were out of money and provisions. They asked the -people to help them and a donation was taken up for her in West Plains; -I donated five dollars to help her back to her home in Texas county. - -After the loyal men had returned to their homes and the civil law had -been fully restored I brought suits by attachment against the following -persons, to-wit: William Nicks, N. Barnett, for aiding the parties in -arresting and taking me from my home and abusing me while a prisoner. -I attached their real estate which was well improved and valuable; -procured a judgement of $8,000.00 against said real estate, procured -an execution and ordered the sale of said real estate. Before the time -for the sale Barnett and William Nicks came to me and admitted that -Barnett was 1st Lieutenant and Nicks 2nd Lieutenant of Capt. Forshee's -Confederate company, while I was held prisoner by said company and that -I was shamefully and cruelly treated while a prisoner, but they were -sorry for what they had done and hoped I would forgive them. Nicks -further said to me, that he had saved my life; that while I was a -prisoner, he overheard some of the Confederate soldiers agree that on -the next night while I was asleep they would slip up and shoot me in -the head, and he got his blankets and came and slept with me. I knew -that Nicks brought his blanket and slept with me one night, but did not -know why he did it. - -Nicks and Barnett further said, "Captain you have us completely at -your mercy; we believe you are a good man and we were friends before -the war. You have a judgement against our homes and if you sell them -you will turn us and our families out of doors and leave us destitute -without any homes for our wives and children." I said, "I know it is -hard, for my wife and children were driven from their homes because -they were loyal to their government; but children shouldn't be held -responsible for the acts of their parents and I will say to you now -that I won't sell your homes, I will give them to your wives and -children; we are commanded in the best book of all books to do good for -evil; you men can each one pay me a small sum for expenses and I will -satisfy judgement." Barnett paid me $150. Nicks made a deed to some tax -lands and I entered satisfaction on the judgements. They both said to -me that they ever would be grateful for what I had done for them. - -The country began to settle up and the people, irrespective of past -associations, formed new ones, especially the sons and daughters of -those who wore the blue and the gray, and seemed to forget that they -had ever been enemies. As time sped on these attachments ripened into -love. I had but two daughters living. Nancy E. Monks, the oldest, -married V. P. Renfrow, the son of a Confederate; they have two -children, a son, Charles, and a daughter, Mattie M., now grown. Mary M. -Monks, who married H. D. Green, whose father, a Confederate colonel, -died in the service. They have five children living and one dead, one -girl and four boys. Their children are Mattie E., now Mattie E. Bugg; -Will H. D., Frank, Russell and Dick. Adeline Turner, whom I had raised, -married Jacob Schoffler, a Union soldier, and has ten children, four -boys and six girls. Abraham Roach, a boy who had made his home with me -since infancy, married Mattie Hunt, a daughter of Jesse Hunt, a Union -soldier, has three children living, two girls and one boy, Maggie, -Frank and Bernice. I don't believe that there is any person that loves -their children better than I do, and I don't see any difference between -my grandchildren and my own children. I love my sons-in-law as well -as my own children; I love the girl and boy that I raised, and their -families feel as near to me as my own. They are flesh of our flesh and -bone of our bone, and our highest duty to God and them is to teach them -patriotism and loyalty to their government and that their first duty is -to God and their second duty to their country. - -[Illustration: FRANK GREEN AND CHARLES RENFROW.] - -God forbid that we ever have any more civil war. War is the enemy of -good society, degrades the morals of the people, causes rapine and -murder, destroys thousands of lives, brings misery and trouble upon the -whole people, creates a government debt that our children will not see -paid, makes friends enemies. God forbid that any more sectional strife -ever may grow up among the people; may there be no North, no South, no -East, no West, but let it be a government of the whole people, for the -people and by the people. May the time speedily come when the civilized -nations of the earth will know war no more; when the civilized nations -meet in an international congress, pass an international law that all -differences between nations shall be settled by arbitration. May this -nation in truth and in deed become a Christian nation and every man -speak the truth to his neighbor and adopt the Golden Rule, "Do unto -others as you would have them do unto you." - -I take pleasure in giving the names of some of the loyal men who -resided in Howell county in 1861, at the commencement of the Civil war, -who stood for the Union in the dark hour when patriotism and loyalty to -country were tested: John McDaniel, sr., John McDaniel, jr., Jonathan -Youngblood, George Youngblood, David Nicholass, Thomas Wallace, -Martin Keel, Thomas Nicholass, Newton Bond, William Hardcastle, Siras -Newberry, William Newberry, David Henson, John Black, sr., Daniel -Black, Peter Lamons, John Lamons, Solomon Lamons, Thomas Lamons, Thomas -Brisco, Morton Langston, Stephen Woodward, Seth P. Woodward, Dr. D. D. -Emmons, Alfred Mustion, W. D. Mustion, John Mustion, Wesley Cordell, -Hugh Cordell, William Maroney, Henry Maroney, Collins Coffey, John -Coffey, William Coffey, John Chapin, Silas Chapin, Benjamin Alsup, -Andrew Smith, Andrew V. Tabor, Josiah Carrico, Josephus Carrico, John -Dent, Esau Fox, Thomas O. Brown, Jacob Shoffler, Thomas Rice, sr., -Thomas Rice, jr., John W. Rice, Nathaniel Briggs, Captain Lyle, ---- -Rhodes, Jesse Hunt, Joseph Spears, James West, Jesse West, Dent West, -Thomas Kelley. - -I will give the names of a few of the men of Douglas county who -remained loyal to their country in 1861: Joseph Wheat, John Wheat, -Ervin King, John Coats, Locke Alsup, William Alsup, Thomas Alsup, Jack -Alsup, Shelt Alsup, Aaron Collins, William Collins, Toodie Collins, Doc -Huffman, Jariah Huffman, Madison Huffman, William Huffman. - -I will give the names of a few of the men who resided in Ozark county, -at the commencement of the war, who remained loyal to their country in -the dark days when it tried men's souls to be loyal: James Kellet, sr., -Marion Kellett, Washington Hawkins. Jesse James, William James, ---- -Brown, R. R. Gilliland, Nace Turley, Washington Webster, Dick Webster, -Macajar Foster, Jacob Foster, Henry Saunders, Stephen Saunders, Allan -Saunders, Alexander Huffman, James Hall, Bennett James. - -I would love to have space to tell of the patriotism, heroism and -devotion to their country, besides their good citizenship, of the men -of Howell, Douglas and Ozark counties, but suffice it to say that there -never was the same number of men, at any time, who made more sacrifices -for the preservation of their country than did these men in its darkest -hour. These patriots are growing old and will soon be gone and their -lips closed in death, and there will not be one left to tell of their -sacrifices and the services they rendered to their country in its -extreme need. History only will tell of the hardships, privations and -service that they rendered to the government. Will there be no history -left to tell of the heroism and devotion to their country in its -darkest hour? The answer will come from ten thousand tongues that their -history shall be written and go down to our children's children, that -they may learn of the heroism, privation and sacrifice that was made -by those brave men and women, that their country might live and not a -star be dropped from its banner. While history is being written and -monuments being erected to the Confederate soldiers for heroism, shall -we be so ungrateful to the loyal men and women, after they are dead and -gone, and not tell the rising generation of the heroism and sacrifice -they have made, that their country might live? The answer will come -from every loyal heart: No; a thousand times no; it shall be written -and perpetuated for generations not yet born. - - -Has Known Col. Monks Thirty Years. - -I have known William Monks for thirty years or more. I have been in -court with him and a more kind and obliging man I never knew or had -dealings with. He is very considerate in regard to the feelings of -others, always willing to help those who need help. In later life he -joined the church and preached; since he began the Christian life, -I have never heard of any conduct that was not in conformity to his -profession of Christianity. Had he had the school advantages that -others have had, he would have been a power in the community where he -lived. - -The writer of this was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April -first, 1824. His father immigrated west and landed in Pittsburg in -1837. Then the writer of this migrated southwest and finally landed -in Tennessee. At Springfield he met Catherine Ebbert, or Abbott, as -they now call it, and married her March 20, 1856. She was born in -Reeseville, Kentucky, and is still living, aged 76 years last January. - - J. B. WINGER, - - West Plains, Mo. - -[Illustration: MR. AND MRS. J. B. WINGER.] - - -Dr. Dixon's Long Acquaintance. - -I will state that I came to Howell county in the year 1866 and settled -on Hutton Valley near where the town of Willow Springs now is. The -present townsite was then a small field without a fence and one small -log cabin. I followed the practice of medicine up to the present date. -I was 83 years old the 20th of August, 1906, and the picture I send you -was taken when I was 81 years old. I was born in McMinn county, East -Tennessee, and remained there until I was eleven years old when I left -there and have gone through many changes and experiences since then. -I served in the Mexican war. I married near Louisville, Ky., in 1849. -My wife is still living and is nearly eighty-five years of age and in -pretty fair health. - -I will state that I have known Col. Wm. Monks and wife for over forty -years and know them to be good and true people. I will further state -that there were said to be but seventy-eight families in the entire -county of Howell, and four families in the town of West Plains in May, -1866 and Col. Wm. Monks was one of the four. Now I believe there is -a population in West Plains of over 4,000 and there is room for many -more. This is an educational town, fine colleges and high schools -besides quite a number of ward schools houses, almost entirely built of -brick. Schools last about nine months in the year. - - Respectfully yours, - - DR. J. C. B. DIXON, - - West Plains, Mo. - -[Illustration: DR. J. C. B. DIXON.] - - -Union Woman Leaves Arkansas for Missouri. - -Mrs. Giddens, a widow, before the war resided in Conway county, -Arkansas. She had two sons, Brad and John, who were about grown at -the commencement of the war. This was a Union family and these two -boys, with others, kept themselves hid until the Confederates issued -a general order to hunt down all Union men and either force them to -join the Confederate army or hang them. The boys at once saw that they -would be arrested and forced into the Confederate service. They held a -consultation with their mother and decided to try to reach the Federal -lines near Rolla. - -Their mother took a couple of wagons with a large yoke of oxen to each -wagon, and loaded them with her household goods, wearing apparel and -provisions to last them through. In the spring of 1864 they started -for Rolla. The boys traveled at night until they reached Missouri, and -on reaching Taney county they met some Federal troops and made their -way to Rolla, where they enlisted and joined the 16th U. S. Cavalry -Volunteers, and were attached to company K, commanded by Capt. Monks, -and served until peace was made and they were honorably discharged at -Springfield. Both of them are still living and are active ministers of -the church of Christ. - -[Illustration: S. B. GIDDENS AND WIFE, MARY DEWETT AND STILLEN -STELLMAN.] - -Their mother aimed to reach Rolla by way of West Plains, and on -reaching Howell county, near what is known as the Newt Bond farm, the -bushwhackers stopped her wagons and robbed her, and ordered her to -exchange her large cattle for smaller ones and her large wagon for a -small, light wagon, so that the small cattle could pull it. Finally, -after being stopped several times by the Confederate authorities, she -reached Rolla and found that her sons had enlisted in the Federal army. -She saw the stars and stripes unfurled and it appeared like a complete -change of country. Here she located and remained until her sons were -discharged from the United States service. - - SAMUEL B. GIDDENS. - - Summerville, Mo. - - * * * * * - -All Union families were forced to leave Texas county. The illustration -contains the pictures of S. B. Giddens and wife, who were driven out; -also Mrs. Mary Dewett, now over seventy years of age, who was forced to -leave all she had and flee for her life; Mrs. Stillen Stellman, whose -father went to Rolla and got the Federal soldiers to guard him while he -removed his family. - - -Union Men Killed in Izard County, Ark. - - Moody, Mo., September 26, 1906. - -Prior to and when the war of the rebellion broke out the writer of -this article was a citizen of Izard county, Arkansas; the few loyal -people that lived in North Arkansas, had a hope that war would be -averted and when Ft. Sumter was fired upon they realized the awful -condition and consequences of war at their very doors; those who -favored a dissolution of the states had given notice in no uncertain -way. And when the news was flashed over the country that there had -been a clash of arms, the persecution of the loyal people began in -the South and Central states by those that favored secession. They -organized themselves into companies and went from house to house -notifying all those that seemed not to take sides either way, that the -time had come when the sheep and goats had to be separated. The Union -element was arrested and many were sent to the penitentiary at Little -Rock, Arkansas, from the counties of Izard, Fulton and Independence. -Those people were robbed and plundered as long as there was anything -worth taking and some of them, after they had got all the Union people -had, commenced arresting and hanging the Union men. They arrested a -young man and placed a halter around his neck to hang him; he broke -loose from them and he was run one mile before he was caught; then he -was taken to a stooping ash tree and hung. The writer was creditably -informed that a man who was a prominent member of the Baptist church, -scratched the dirt from under his toes in order that he might hang -clear of the ground. I have seen the tree he was hanged on many times. - -Another brutal murder was perpetrated upon the person of Rube Hudson, -a Union man who had been run from home and returned home in the winter -of 1865; from an exposure, he took sick with pneumonia; his wife had -secreted him under the floor near the chimney and fire place; the news -got out that he was at home, the rebels raided his house; every thing -in the way of beds and what little they had left was turned upside -down and they gave up the hunt and started away; a spell of coughing -came on him, for he was very ill and he was heard coughing by them and -they came back and tore up the floor and found him; they dragged him -out and took him about one hundred yards from the house; there he was -beaten and hung to make him tell of others who might have come with -him; finally he was hung and shot to death, where the family could hear -him pleading for his life; he made a special appeal to one of his near -neighbors calling his name and asking him to intercede for him and save -him. The only consolation he got was "you are a goner, Rube; you are a -goner, Rube," he was left hanging for the family to cut down and bury. -He met his death for no other cause than that of being a staunch Union -man. - -Another bloodcurdling murder was perpetrated upon the person of Minor -White, for no other cause than that of being loyal to his country. -He was honest and upright in his dealings with his fellowmen, but he -was arrested, taken to the county seat of Izard county, tried and was -released. Before he started home a friend told him not to go the road -for they would follow him and kill him, he said: "I have always been -free to speak my sentiments; I have done nothing that I have to slip -back home through the woods. I am going to take the public highway, if -I am killed." He was overtaken about a mile out by the mob that took -him there; he was shot and otherwise mutilated and left hanging to a -tree. - -I could mention many things that were done to the Union men and women -in Northern Arkansas that make me shudder to think of, and if I were to -undertake to relate all that came under my own observation, and many -incidents that took place in the counties mentioned that were related -to me by others who are entitled to credit for honor and truth. There -was not a Union family left at home in the counties above referred to. - -I am opposed to war on general principles: first, it never settles the -issue; second, it is always a poor man's fight and a rich man's fuss; -third, if the poor soldier is fortunate enough to get back alive, the -debt is his to pay. - - J. M. DIXON. - -[Illustration: ADMINISTERING KUKLUX OATH.] - - - - -THE KUKLUX - - -The lawless bands that had been roving through the counties of Howell, -Oregon, Shannon and Dent had been captured, killed or driven out of -these counties by the officers of the law, aided by the militia forces -of the state. All classes of persons and men of every political faith -were secure in their person and property. The civil law was enforced -to the letter and the people generally looked to the bright future of -Missouri. - -In the fall of 1868, in the month of September during a political -campaign that was being made in Howell county, while a political -speaking was going on at Black's store in Benton township in the -southwest part of the county, a courier came with a dispatch stating -that Captain Simpson Mason, registering officer of Fulton county, -Arkansas, had been shot and killed from ambush, near the state line -adjoining Howell county, by men who styled themselves Kuklux, and had -ordered all Union men, and especially the officers of the law, to keep -inside of their doors and to tender their resignations as such officers -or they would fare the same as Mason had. It was stated that the -law-abiding citizens were without arms and that the Kuklux were raiding -the whole country; the whole country was being terrorized by said men -and in God's name asked us to come and bring men and arms to aid the -civil officers to enforce the law. The writer advised the people to be -cool; that if there was an organization in the state of Arkansas to -overturn the state government and the loyal people of said state were -helpless, since the rebels at the commencement of the Civil war had had -no regard for state lines I thought that we would have the same right -to go down and help our loyal brethern to enforce the civil law. - -A committee of twelve men was selected to say what action we would -take; among the committee were Benjamin Alsup, Rev. Adam Wright, Rev. -John Collins, David Nicholass. Old men were placed on the committee. -The committee retired to deliberate upon the matter, and in a short -time returned and made the following report: "That we, the loyal -people of Howell county, go at once with all available men and arms." -The writer had in his possession at that time one hundred Springfield -rifles, with one thousand rounds of cartridges for each gun. During the -night and the next day about seventy-five men were organized into a -temporary company and were placed under the command of Uncle Benjamin -Alsup. On the night following we made a forced march reaching the -Widow Pickrum's farm, situated on Bennet's river, in Fulton county, -Arkansas, the next morning. We found Captain Richardson, with one -company of state guards, fortified in a barn. On our arrival we offered -our services to Captain Richardson, which were readily accepted. They -were looking for an attack to be made by the Kuklux at any moment, as -Colonel Tracy was said to be at Jackson Port with three hundred and -fifty well armed Kuklux. - -While waiting for further orders from Governor Clayton a vigorous -search was commenced for the murderers of Captain Mason. We soon -learned that on the day previous to the murder of Mason he was -registering the voters on the Big North Fork, at what was known as -the Calhoun mill, and on the next day he was to meet the people at -the Harbor Precinct for registration. And on the previous night the -Kuklux, according to a general move that was to be made throughout the -state, met at Colonel Tracy's, at the Widow Pickrum farm. Among them -were Colonel Tracy, Dow Bryant, U. R. Bush, and about forty others; -they selected about twenty men to do the shooting and divided them into -three bunches and erected three blinds, as they did not know which road -Captain Mason might travel. They placed about seven well armed men in -each blind, who had been sworn by the Kuklux and after they had been -placed in their blinds one of the men who did the shooting said, "Let -him come; I am sure to get him for I can hit an old gobbler's neck that -distance." The blind was erected where the road made a short curve with -very thick brush on the left side of the road. When Captain Mason and -posse had approached within about thirty yards of the blind they fired -a volley, five of the shots taking effect in Mason's body. Captain -Mason fell from his horse and expired in a few moments. The assassins -fled through a thick bottom growth. Bryant, Bush, and two or three -others were arrested, charged with being a part of the men who did the -shooting. They were arrested by the state guards, as the civil officers -were afraid to issue a single warrant on account of the threats of the -Kuklux. On an investigation it was proven that Tracy, Bryant, Bush and -about forty others were present the night before Mason's murder. And -that Bush was the man who remarked after he had gone into the blind -"Let him come. I can get him. I can hit an old gobbler's neck that far." - -In the meantime, the governor had gotten a dispatch through to -Capt. Richardson that the Kuklux in large numbers were organizing -and threatening to attack the state officers; that he and the state -officers were barricaded in the state house and that he was organizing -the state guards as fast as possible. Capt. Richardson was ordered to -recruit every available man and protect the civil officers as far as -possible; that he had made arrangements to send arms and ammunition -up White river on a boat. I suggested to Benjamin Alsup and others -who had come down from Missouri that the only way we could make our -acts legal would be to join the state guards and be mustered into the -state service, to which proposition my old friend Alsup objected and -remarked: "That's the way with Monks; he is afraid he will hurt some -rebel, contrary to law. Now, by the living, I came down here to hang -some of these old rebels and murderers to the first limb we come to, -and if we have to join the state guards and wait on the civil and -military law to punish them, they never will be punished. I am going -back to Missouri." About two-thirds of the men who came down enlisted -in the state service; Alsup and others returned to Missouri. - -As soon as Governor Clayton learned that the writer had come into the -state with men and arms, he sent another dispatch stating that he -and all the law-abiding people of the state would ever be grateful -to him for furnishing men and arms at a time when they were entirely -helpless and at the mercy of a secret and bloodthirsty enemy, bent on -overthrowing the state government; that if I would remain in the state -with my men and arms he would make me lieutenant-colonel of the seventh -regiment of state guards. - -We were watching the movements of the Kuklux, and in about eight -or ten days after the murder of Capt. Mason, late one evening, the -deputy sheriff of the county came to headquarters and informed Capt. -Richardson that there were three hundred and fifty Kuklux, well armed, -in camp at Salem, the county seat of Fulton county, and intended to -attack Capt. Richardson before day, the next morning; they had ordered -him, the deputy sheriff, under penalty of death, to bring Bush and -turn him over to them. A brief consultation was held by the officers, -and being satisfied that they were not able to meet the force of Kuklux -then marching upon them, it was agreed that the writer should take the -men from Missouri and recruit men for the service and get all the arms -and ammunition that were left at home and return with all possible -speed. In the meantime, they would retreat to some secluded place and -watch the movements of the Kuklux. They turned Bush over to the deputy -sheriff and he started in the direction of Salem, and Capt. Richardson -broke camp and retreated. The deputy sheriff had not traveled more than -two miles when a posse of armed men met him and demanded Bush, and he, -supposing that they were a part of the Kuklux command, turned him over. -They took him about two hundred yards and shot him to death. The next -morning, before daylight, Col. Tracy charged upon the late camp of -Capt. Richardson, but found it had been vacated. - -The Kuklux began a regular, organized system of raiding the Union men's -houses, especially the officers of the civil law, posting written -notices, ordering their resignations at once, and if they attempted the -arrest of any Kuklux, death would be the penalty. They posted a picture -of a coffin with the notice, at the same time ordering all influential -Union men to leave the state at once, under the penalty of death. In -about two weeks the governor ordered a part of the seventh regiment of -state guards to Fulton county, to be stationed on Bennett's river, and -to complete the organization of the regiment with all possible speed; -Col. Dail was placed in command. - -After my return home, I organized three companies, commanded by Capt. -F. M. Monks, Capt. Nicolas and Capt. Rice. About three days after the -regiment reached Fulton county, the writer rejoined his regiment with -three companies, one hundred Springfield rifles and one thousand -rounds of cartridges for each gun, and soon completed the organization -of the regiment; he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. - -The governor had sent arms and ammunition up White river, but the -Kuklux captured and sunk the boat with all the arms and ammunition. The -governor said that my arrival saved the north part of the state from -the control of the Kuklux, as he would not have been able to procure -arms for months. The regiment began an active campaign at once, by -which they came into possession of the intentions, aims, secrets and -oaths of the order; found that the order extended up into Missouri, -along the state line. It was a complete military organization. The -intention was to overturn the state government by intimidating the -civil officers of the state, and with this purpose in view they -procured a human skull and two thigh bones, and while the member was -looking on these bones the following oath was administered by the grand -cyclops: - -"We (or I, as the case might be) do solemnly swear before Almighty God -and these witnesses, and looking upon these human bones, that I will -obey and carry into effect every order made by any cyclops or assistant -cyclops, and if I fail to strictly conform and execute every order -made as above required of me, unless I am prevented from some cause -which shall be no fault of mine, or if I shall give any information to -any person or persons except members of this order, that the doom of -all traitors shall be meted out to me, and that my bones may become -as naked and dry as the bones I am looking upon. And I take this oath -voluntarily, without any mental reservation or evasion whatever, for -the causes set out in said order, so help me God." - -After the oath had been taken the persons taking said oath were -ready for duty. The intentions and aims of this organization were to -intimidate the civil officers and, if necessary to the accomplishment -of their aims, to kill and murder all officers of the state by -assassination or drive them from the state. All civil officers of -the state were at once notified to tender their resignations and to -cease to discharge their official duties as peace officers, and if -they failed to comply with said order, death would be the penalty The -governor and all the state officers received the same order; all Union -men that were influential in the state were ordered to keep themselves -in doors or be driven from the state, or be murdered by assassination. -The following words, with pictures of coffins, were attached to said -notices: - -"If you fail to comply with this notice, this coffin will be your final -resting place." - -The Kuklux organization, having but one object and aim, to turn the -state government over to the control of the late rebels or Democratic -party of the state, was a complete secret military organization with -the most desperate means to-wit: Murder, by assassination whenever -ordered by a cyclops or assistant cyclops. - -A grand cyclops took the place of a colonel. An assistant cyclops -lieutenant-colonel. An order from one of these officers to shoot any -man was final, from which there was no appeal; and men were selected to -execute said order by the most desperate oath known to man or history. -This kind of warfare, being inaugurated throughout the whole state, -with a thorough understanding that their organization would revolt -against the civil authorities of the state government, and had the day -set throughout the whole state. - -On the same day that Captain Simson Mason was assassinated in Fulton -county, Ku-Klux attempted to assassinate Governor Clayton in Little -Rock. They were seen in considerable numbers near the state capitol, -after night, all wearing masks. They notified the governor, that they -intended to capture and take possession of the state capitol by a -force, if he did not resign his office as governor; the danger became -so great that he barricaded the state house, as he had but few state -troops. The whole state was invaded by the Kuklux at the same time -and they commenced raiding the state in bands of from twenty-five to -two hundred and fifty men; all wore masks and large rubber pouches -concealed by a cover. They visited the Union men and colored men's -houses and raided the whole country generally, proclaiming that they -were dead rebels who had been shot on the different battlefields during -the civil war and that they had come back to rid the state of black -republicans and carpet-baggers. - -They would claim that they were very thirsty, that they never had a -drink of water since they had been killed at the battles of Gettysburg, -Corinth, Vicksburg, and other big battles. They would call on the -colored people to bring them a bucketful and one of their number would -pour the whole bucketful into his pouch and called for more water, -making the colored people believe that they drank the water; then -they would give the colored people orders not to be caught off their -plantations, and if so caught, the penalty of death would be inflicted; -many of the influential colored people were shot down. The author saw a -number of fresh graves of the colored people that had been shot by the -Kuklux; saw holes in windows in houses in towns and villages that had -been shot through after night, while men were reading, who had been -notified to resign their offices or stop using their influence in favor -of the enforcement of the civil law. - -The author remembers passing some colored people on the side of the -road; one old colored woman cried out at the top of her voice "Lawd, -massa, massa are you men hunting dem dar Kuklux? Wi, da told us dat -bullets wouldn't kill them. I fought we could fight live men but -when it come to fightin dead men, don't know what to tink about it. -Wi dey come to our house, rode up to de fence called for water; said -they hadn't any water since the battle of Shiloh. Wi, one man drank a -bucketful, and den call for mo. I thought to my soul that they would -never get enuf water." The author replied, "Auntie, when these rebels -are killed, they never get back here; the bad man keeps them to build -fires for him. These Kuklux are the men that ran away from the battle -of Shiloh and have just crawled out of their dens. That's why they are -masked." The old woman said, "Dat what I thought bout it." While the -Kuklux were raiding the country they visited an old darkie's house and -gave him three day's notice to leave the country; and if he failed to -leave they would visit him again and death would be his penalty. In -about three or four day, twenty-five or thirty Kuklux rode up to his -cabin in the night and called for him; he was armed with an old U. S. -musket; he fired into the crowd and killed one of the band and then ran -and made his escape. - -Part of the regiment received orders to report to General Upham, -who was stationed at Cottonplant, on White river, leaving Captain -Richardson in charge of the forces in Fulton county and Captain Toney -in charge of the troops in Izard and Sharp counties. The regiment broke -camp and marched by way of Jacksonport and on their arrival went into -camp on the Wadel farm, two miles below Jacksonport. The Kuklux had -declared that we should not march through Jacksonport. A brother-in-law -of Mr. Wadel from North Missouri invited the writer to supper; the -writer believing that a trap had been fixed to decoy him outside of the -lines took one lieutenant and a posse of men and went to his house; on -our arrival, we found a bountiful supper; had every thing that a hungry -man could wish; had eggnog served in silver cups with silver spoons. -The residence was about forty-two by twenty feet; two large rooms with -a ten-foot hall between, with kitchen on west side, fine portico, with -about ten or twelve negro cabins, about sixty to one hundred feet from -the dwelling-house. Just before supper I noticed eight or ten men -come in on foot dressed in gray clothing. I at once ordered my men -to be ready at any moment and to not let them get the drop on them. -Just about the time that most of my men were through eating supper, -I noticed that some of the men that came in to the supper table had -arms on their persons and noticed that the negroes were excited. I -stepped out at a back door and just as I entered the hall door I saw -the landlord approaching the room where my men were seated at the table -with a navy pistol cocked in his right hand, holding it behind his -back. Just as he attempted to open the door where my men were seated at -the supper table, I sprang forward and grabbed his pistol and wrenched -it out of his hand, and said to him, "Don't you dare to attempt to -shoot one of my men." He turned around facing me and said "I went all -through the Civil war and you are the first men that ever disarmed -me." In a moment my men had pistols in hand ready for action, and I -noticed some of the men that came dressed in gray had pistols in their -pockets. I remarked to them, "I came here on an invitation; I am here -as a guest, I wish to treat all persons as gentlemen, especially the -landlord and his family; but this hostile move made upon the part of -the landlord and the presence of these armed men shows me that there is -something wrong." I ordered my men to fall in line and return to the -camp. His wife appeared to be a perfect lady and her husband appeared -to be under the influence of whiskey. He agreed that if I would release -him, he would go into his room and stay there until my men had all -returned to the camp. After he had gone into his room, I gave his -revolver to his wife on her promising not to give it to him until the -next morning. - -I learned from Mr. Wadel's brother-in-law that he came from northern -Missouri at the commencement of the war and at about the close of the -war he married his sister; that he was a cyclops and came to Fulton -county in the Kuklux raid, and that the men who came that evening were -all Kuklux, that if I had gone alone to his supper, I would have been -killed. - -The next morning we broke camp and resumed our march. On the regiment -arriving at Cottonplant, Col. Dail reported to Gen. Upham and we were -ordered into camp. As soon as the citizens of the city learned of my -arrival, they requested Gen. Upham that I be invited to deliver a -speech in the city hall; that they had heard and read of Col. Monks -and they wanted him to deliver an address to the people at early -candle-light on the present condition of the state. There were about -seven or eight hundred men stationed at the post. After supper, the -adjutant sent an order by an orderly to detail about fifty men for a -patrol guard; that the soldiers had broken into the warehouse and were -taking out whiskey and other articles. I ordered the detail to be made -and report at headquarters for further orders. Our headquarters were -not more than forty yards from the warehouse. I spoke in an audible -voice, "Now, we claim that our mission as soldiers is to protect -persons and property. I want you to see that your guns and pistols -are well loaded, and go direct to the warehouse first and arrest all -soldiers that you find in or about the warehouse and take them to the -guardhouse and there keep them safe until further orders, and patrol -the city closely. Order all soldiers and officers who have not passes -to be inside of their quarters in thirty minutes, and if you find any -soldiers on the street after thirty minutes, arrest them and take them -to the guardhouse; if they resist you, shoot them; and if you have to -shoot, shoot to kill." About that time some man near the warehouse -called out: "Who in hell are you? This whiskey is Kuklux whiskey, -and we will take what we please." I replied, "If we cannot enforce -discipline over the soldiers, we will go back home and send others; you -will find out who I am if you wait until the patrol gets there." - -I ordered the officer to sound the reveille. Inside of thirty minutes -every soldier was inside of his quarters. The citizens said that such -a thing had not occurred since the post had been established. Capt. -Sharp was reckless when drinking; he had mutinied and the men that were -disposed to be wild had terrorized the people of the city. Gen. Upham -had failed to enforce discipline over Capt. Sharp and his company. -Capt. Sharp had ridden up and down the streets before the regiment had -arrived and proclaimed, "when Colonel Monks arrives we will clean all -the Kuklux up." The citizens were considerably frightened on my arrival -in August, but after they saw how completely I enforced discipline -everything became quiet, they appeared to be perfectly secure in person -and property. - -On the next night, at early candle light, the large hall was filled. -After being introduced by Gen. Upham, I spoke in part as follows: - -"Gentlemen and fellow citizens of Arkansas: I am from your sister -state, Missouri, and I am very sorry to find you people in the state -of war. War is not very pleasant; it has its effects upon society; -demoralizes the morals of the people, besides the great sacrifice -of life and property. Besides this, it alienates those who should -be brethern and makes them bitter enemies. Your people may ask the -question, what right have you Missourians to come down into our state? -My first answer will be, Captain Simpson Mason was but recently -assassinated in Fulton county, near the state line, while in the -discharge of his official duty. At the commencement of the civil war -he was a citizen of Fulton county, Arkansas, and I was a citizen of -Howell county, Missouri. Both of us were unconditional Union men. -Both of us were driven from our homes and posses of men from your -state, regardless of the state lines, scouted our county, murdering -and driving out Union men, women and children and hung and shot down -loyal men. Captain Mason and I met in the early part of the war of -the rebellion and soon become fast friends. Served together during -the war. When peace was made we determined to go back home. Men would -meet us and say "If you men go back among the old rebels who hate you -so badly they will kill you." Our reply would be, "Damn a man that is -afraid to go back and enjoy the fruits of his victory." We met and -pledged our sacred honor to each other that if, after our return to our -old homes, either one of us was killed by the late rebels, the other -would do all in his power to bring the guilty parties to justice. A -better and truer man never lived than Captain Simpson Mason. Each of -us came back with the olive leaf in his mouth. Now I don't say that -all rebels are Kuklux, but I will say all Kuklux have been late rebels -and have organized a secret organization, the objects and aims of -which are to overturn the civil government of your state by murder and -intimidations, through the most vile and desperate means known to man, -the savage not excepted. Besides your organization extends into the -border counties of Missouri and as the rebels thought right to cross -the state line during the Civil war, we think it right to cross it -now to help our loyal brethern, and these are the causes that brought -us to your state. We don't want booty. We want to see the civil law -enforced, and we ask your cooperation, and promise you, that all law -abiding citizens, be they Union or rebel, shall be protected in person -and property during our stay in your state and we intend to enforce the -very strictest discipline among our troops. I hope by the cooperation -of the people of your state this unholy war will soon cease." At the -conclusion of the speech they gave three cheers for Missouri troops. - -[Illustration: MAKING A PLEDGE--Col. Wm. Monks and Capt. Simpson -Mason.] - -On the third day after our arrival at Cottonplant, Captain J. B. -Nicholas' and Captain Sharp's companies were ordered to be detached -from the regiment and placed under the command of the author and -ordered to march at once and report at Marion, the county seat of -Crittenden county for further orders. On our arrival at Marion we were -ordered to proceed directly to Osceola, the county seat of Mississippi -county, Arkansas and to erect a military post and issue an order -ordering all the persons that were armed to come in and take the oath. -On our arrival at that place to report the same to the Governor of the -state. I issued the following general order: - -"To the people of the state of Arkansas, especially the citizens -of Mississippi county; greeting; whereas a part of the people, -disregarding their duties as good law-abiding citizens, have by -and through a secret organization known as Kuklux revolted against -the civil government of the state of Arkansas and are now armed -and attempting by murder and intimidations to overthrow the civil -government of the state, now therefore, by the authority in me vested -and as commander of said post, do order all persons who may be in -armed hostility to the present government and those who may be by act -or deed aiding or encouraging those who are in arms against the legal -constituted laws of the state to return to their allegiance and aid in -enforcing the civil law. And any person who may be found from and after -this date armed or aiding or abetting those who are in arms against the -civil law of the state will be promptly arrested and punished to the -extent of the law. - -WM. MONKS, commanding the post." - -When I arrived there was not a single civil officer in this county. -They had either resigned or had kept themselves indoors. I at once -commenced a vigorous campaign and soon learned that there were two men -charged with being cyclops; one of them resided about thirty miles -down the river on an island; he was charged with killing eight or ten -colored people. I made a detail of about fifty men and placed them in -charge of Captain Sharp and ordered him to go down and arrest both and -bring them up to headquarters. The second day after the scouts started -they returned by steamboat with both men, as well as several other -prisoners. After the boat arrived Captain Sharp came to headquarters -and suggested the release of one of the men as he didn't think he was -guilty. I ordered the prisoners brought to headquarters at once. There -was a man by the name of Edington who resided in Osceola, one of the -wealthiest men in the county; he was well acquainted with one of the -men, as he had been sheriff of the county in which he resided and -a colonel in the Confederate army. He asked me to parole him to the -limits of the city and he would go on his bond for one thousand dollars -until said charges could be investigated. In a few days after he was -paroled Mr. Edington came into the office and informed me that after -his arrest and while on the boat coming up the river Cap. Sharp came -to him in the presence of the captain of the steamboat and remarked. -"Well, colonel, you have got a hard man holt of you now; if you will -pay me one hundred and fifty dollars I can use my influence with Col. -Monks and have you released." The colonel said to Captain Sharp that -he didn't have the money with him. The captain of the steamboat said -to the colonel, "I have the money, I will loan it to you." The colonel -paid Captain Sharp one hundred and fifty dollars. Captain Sharp agreed -to have him released and let him go back on the boat. Mr. Edington said -he had watched all my proceedings since I took command of the post and -had become satisfied that my highest aim was to protect every person in -his person and property. - -I ordered the orderly to arrest the colonel and bring him to -headquarters. I told him that I had been informed that after his arrest -and while in custody of Captain Sharp on the steamboat he paid Captain -Sharp one hundred and fifty dollars and Captain Sharp was to release -him and let him return home on the boat. He admitted that he paid the -money and made a full statement of all the facts that caused him to -pay the money. I notified Captain Sharp to appear at headquarters at -once. Informed him of what I had just learned, that while he had the -colonel prisoner, coming up on the steamboat, that he, the prisoner, -paid him one hundred and fifty dollars to procure his release. Captain -Sharp admitted that it was true; I asked the captain if he had the -money. He said he had. I asked the colonel if he had a friend that he -could pay the money to; that I could not pay the money to him, that he -might bribe another one of my officers. He said that I could pay the -money to Mr. Edington. Captain Sharp paid the money to Mr. Edington by -the order of the colonel. I ordered the colonel to the guardhouse for -bribing my officers. I ordered Captain Sharp to report at headquarters -the next day at ten o'clock. The Captain promptly appeared at the -hour set. We went into the back room of my office alone. The captain -and myself took seats. I said to the captain, "I am very sorry that -this thing occurred; that you have allowed one of your prisoners to -bribe you and you have betrayed that confidence imposed in you by -the state. It become my painful duty to place you under arrest and -of all crimes known to the criminal calender the worst is that one -of treason. We claim that we are hunting violaters of the law and if -we become violaters of the law then it will devolve on the state to -place a new set of men in the service so that all violaters of the law -can be arrested and brought to justice. Now I have been informed that -while you composed a part of the command stationed at Cottonplant under -General Upham you was arrested for disorderly conduct and you caused -your company to mutinize. Now I want to say to you that I am going to -put you under arrest and disarm you and I will parole you to the limits -of the city and your first lieutenant will be placed in command of the -company and if you cause your men to mutinize I will arrest the whole -company and send them to Little Rock." - -I ordered the whole company to appear at headquarters and informed -them of what I had done. I then sent the orderly and brought out the -colonel and paroled him to the limits of the city under one thousand -dollar bond. I never had a more obedient set of soldiers in all my -service than Captain Sharp's company and they were as true and as brave -men as ever lived. Captain Sharp said he was sorry for what he had -done and I had done my duty and in about one week I returned his arms -and placed him in command of his company. And during the remainder -of service Captain Sharp discharged every duty with honor to himself -and his state. While I was in command of the post I made a vigorous -campaign. Arrested or drove out all the armed Kuklux and had the civil -law fully put in force and the ministers of the gospel reorganized -their churches and business of all kinds was resumed. Intimidations -of the people, of the civil officers, and of the county by the Kuklux -was a thing of the past. I received orders from the adjutant general -at Little Rock to declare the civil law enforced in Mississippi county -and to report with my command to the commander of the post at Marion, -Crittendon county, Arkansas, for further orders. My command was -conveyed by steamboat to Hopefield and from Hopefield we marched to -Marion. - -And in obedience to said orders I issued the following order: "To all -whom it may concern, especially to the citizens of Mississippi county, -Arkansas, I send greeting. It affords me great pleasure to say to the -people of Mississippi county that the Kuklux organization is completely -broken up and there is no armed opposition to the enforcement of the -civil law. Therefore, by the power in me vested I declare the civil law -from this date in full force and effect in said county. And I invite -all good citizens to aid in the enforcement of the civil law. - -WM. MONKS, Commander of the post." - -And when the people of the city learned that my command had been -ordered to leave the city they at once presented the writer with a -new suit of clothes. And on the arrival of the boat and while we were -loading our camp equipage, arms and amunition, about three or four -hundred persons composed of men, women, and children assembled on -the bank of the river to bid us good-bye. And as the boat moved out -they waved their handkerchiefs and hats and gave three cheers for the -soldier boys and their commanders. - -On our arrival at Marion we turned over our guns, amunition and camp -equipage and were ordered by the adjutant general to proceed to -Jacksonport for further orders and on our arrival at Jacksonport the -writer was ordered to leave his command at Jacksonport and to report -in person to the governor at Little Rock. On my arrival at Little -Rock I was informed by the adjutant general that the governor was -dangerously sick and confined to his room. The legislature of the state -being in session I was invited by both houses to deliver an address to -the legislature. Both bodies met in the lower house. The writer was -introduced by the speaker. Spoke as follows: - -"Mr. President of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, -it affords me great pleasure to have the honor of addressing this -august body of men assembled in this hall. Men who have been elected -by the people of the whole state. Men who have the interest of the -people at heart. Men who have the confidence of the people. Men who -are intelligent and know what kind of laws the people need. Men who -are determined to do your whole duty; men who have the courage, -patriotism and love of country at heart, who have stood by your post -while one of the most secret organizations, known as Kuklux, bound by -one of the most desperate oaths to overturn your state government by -intimidation and murder of all the civil officers of the state and -to kill and murder the loyal citizens of your state. The intention -of said organization was to overturn the legally constituted laws of -the state, but through the untiring effort of your governor and his -subordinate officers and the loyal people of your state and the valor -and patriotism of your soldiers, this organization has been completely -routed and broken up and the civil law is again declared to be enforced -in your state. Now may your wisdom as legislators guide you and your -successors in all duties that you may be called upon to perform in -the legislative capacity. And may you always have the interest of the -whole people at heart. And may all the laws that may be enacted by this -legislature or your successors be in the interest of the whole people. -And may patriotism and the love of both state and nation grow in the -hearts of your people and may they become so united that nothing can -sever that cord of love for their state and nation. May God's blessing -guide and direct every one of your public acts, and go with you to your -homes and families and now that your state is once more at peace and -the civil law is being enforced, and your people are secure both in -person and property, I therefore will return to Missouri to the bosom -of my family. I bid you all good bye." - -The whole house rose to its feet and gave three cheers and pressed -forward to give the writer a good, parting handshake. - -The governor continued to grow worse. The doctors would not admit any -person to his sick room. The adjutant general informed me that the -governor wanted to see me in person. That I had come to the rescue of -the people with men and arms, when the loyal people were completely -overpowered and saved the northern part of the state from the control -of the Kuklux. He said the governor was well pleased with my services -while in the State; that even the rebels spoke in the highest terms -in regard to the discipline that I enforced over my men; that I had -protected the person and property of both Union and rebel, and that -I had given general satisfaction to all classes of persons that were -favorable to the enforcement of the civil law and that it was the -desire of the governor to promote me to a brigadier-general for the -valuable services that I had rendered in the state, and place me in -command of the northern district. I said "You can tell the governor -when he gets well that I was very sorry to find him sick, that it -would have been a pleasure to me to have met him in person. And the -offer that he has made to me to promote me to brigadier-general for -the meritorious services that I have rendered to the state places me -under many obligations to his honor for the high esteem and confidence -he imposes in me, as touching my military service, and as a private -citizen while in this state. And while I thank him for his offer to -promote me to the rank of brigadier-general and place me in command of -the northern district of Arkansas, I must decline the offer and return -to Missouri for I love the people of my state, I love my home and my -desire is to become a private citizen. The only thing that impelled me -to come into your state was to aid the state in enforcing the civil law -and protect your people from assassination and murder and to do all in -my power to aid in bringing violaters of law to justice. This being -accomplished and civil law again being enforced in every part of the -state, my services as a soldier and an officer not being needed any -longer I will ask you again to give my respects to the governor and -will ever hold his memory sacred, and may God's blessing rest upon -the people of your state and your chief executive. So I will bid you -good-bye." - -I returned to Jacksonport and rejoined my command and marched directly -to West Plains. There my men bid each other good-bye and returned to -their homes, hoping that this thing of war would be over forever. - -On my arrival home I found, to my great surprise, a new political -organization, composed of men who styled themselves Liberal -Republicans, and democrats and rebels; and through some of the most -vicious and unprincipled rebels, they charged me with being a thief -and a murderer. My friends came to me and requested that I at once -institute suits of slander against them, for they knew that it was -false from beginning to end. During the intervening time they had -called an indignation meeting and publicly denounced me as a thief and -murderer. I instituted a civil suit for slander against all persons who -took part in said indignation meeting. I also instituted suit against -one other man on the same charge. The county of Howell at that time, -especially the judicial circuit, was presided over by a judge, who was -an extreme democrat. The defence made application to the judge for -a change of venue from this judicial circuit; he ordered the change -sent to Laclede county, to the city of Lebanon, before Judge Fian. -The defence then set about taking depositions. I was notified to -meet them in Sharp county at Evening Shade for the purpose of taking -depositions. When we met at Evening Shade they commenced hunting around -for witnesses to prove their charges, but failed to find a single -one. But every person they interviewed touching the charges declared -that they were false and that Colonel Monks enforced discipline over -his men while he was in their state and protected every one in -person and property and that all classes of persons regarded him as -being perfectly honest and a good military officer; they failed to -procure a single witness at that place. I next was notified to meet -them in Oregon county, at the court house, for the purpose of taking -depositions. I accordingly armed myself with two good navy revolvers -and went to Alton, the county seat of Oregon county; the circuit court -being in session at that time, on my arrival I put up at a boarding -house conducted by Alfred Harris, who still resides in that county. -Circuit court being in session I went into the court room and remained -until recess. Just after recess the judge came and told me that he had -been informed that a mob then had the court house surrounded and was -going to mob me whenever I entered the square, and to remain in the -court room for a few minutes and he would try and have the mob removed; -in eight or ten minutes the deputy sheriff returned and informed me -that the mob had been removed, and that I could go down and go to my -hotel. As I passed down I saw about fifty or sixty men in front of the -saloons, swearing at the top of their voices "He fought us during the -civil war and he shall not be allowed to come into this county and -live." After reaching the hotel, Mr. Harris with several other friends -urged me not to meet the parties, who were going to take depositions in -one of the rooms of the court house, for they believed the mob would -kill me. I laughed and told them that I reckoned not and that I thought -the war was over and that they couldn't play that game on me, to notify -me to meet them to take the depositions and then prepare a mob to -prevent me from appearing, so that they would be able to manufacture -evidence in the case. And I would either be present at one o'clock, -the time I was notified to meet them, or I would die in the attempt. -So I appeared promptly at one o'clock, the time set, but not one of -the opposite party, either attorney or client put in an appearance. -I remained there until four o'clock and still no appearance had been -entered by the defendants or their attorneys, and I again returned to -my hotel, after circuit court had adjourned for the day. - -While we were seated at the table eating supper, a man rapped at the -hotel door and called to Mr. Harris, the landlord, that he wanted to -see him privately for a few moments. Mr. Harris soon returned and -remarked to the writer that he had been ordered to deliver a message; -that he had just been informed that a mob of about one hundred men then -had the hotel surrounded and they would give me ten minutes to get out -of town or I would be shot to death. I replied to Mr. Harris, "In the -first place, I am too old to run; and in the second place, if these -bushwhackers have not shed enough innocent blood, they will have the -best opportunity now that they will ever get; tell them that I don't -intend to leave or run." Mr. Harris said that he would deliver the -message to the bearer. - -There were two Confederates seated at the table, eating. They said, -"What does this mean? We thought the war was over." They got up and -left the table. After the writer finished his supper, he retired to -the sitting room, which adjoined Mr. Harris' library. Mr. Harris -immediately came in and offered to barricade the doors and windows. -I objected. He then remarked that the mob would shoot in through the -windows, that he would blind the windows. I consented to his putting -blinds on the windows, but that the doors shouldn't be interfered -with. There was but one door entering the sitting room except the door -that came through the library. I took my seat on a bench where I could -reach the knob of the door with my left hand and hold my revolver in -my right hand. Mr. Harris proposed to blow out the lights, to which -I objected. I told him that if the mob came I wanted the light so -that I could see how to shoot. He then took his seat and entered into -conversation. In a few moments some person took hold of the knob of -the door. I rose to my feet with my revolver cocked, in my right hand -and let the door open just so that one man could enter at a time. Mr. -Maxey, of Howell county, an attorney-at-law, had come in to get a -book out of the library, not knowing that there was any trouble up. -As he came inside of the room I had my pistol cocked and presented on -his left breast. When I recognized Mr. Maxey I lowered my pistol and -remarked to him, "Your face has saved your life." Mr. Maxey became very -much excited, walked across the floor once or twice, and inquired what -was up. I informed him of the notice of the mob and the time that I had -been given to leave the hotel and that the time had then expired, and -that when I heard him take hold of the door, I supposed the mob was -coming. Mr. Maxey remarked that "This thing will never do, I'm going -to see if it can't be stopped." I requested him to say to every person -that might be disposed to come into the house to make themselves known -outside of the door before entering the house. - -In a short time the circuit judge and deputy sheriff, with two or -three others, came to the door and made themselves known and came in. -The circuit judge said: "Colonel, I have been informed that you have -been notified by a mob to leave the town in ten minutes or you would -be shot to death, and I have come to see if you wanted a guard." I -replied that I didn't. "If these God damn bushwhackers haven't shed -enough innocent blood and are still bloodthirsty, they will never have -a better opportunity; so just let them come." The judge and sheriff and -those who came with them left the room. I remained in the room until -the usual bedtime. I heard them cursing outside and declare that they -would take me out before daylight. I thought of my horse that was in -the stable, a few yards away. I remarked to Mr. Harris that I was going -to the stable to look at my horse. He begged me not to go out, that I -would be shot down. I said to him that it was a game that two or more -could work at. - -[Illustration: LOYAL WOMEN OF HOWELL COUNTY.] - -On reaching the stable, I heard the men quarreling on the public -square. A man by the name of Jones, who had been a Confederate and -then was prosecuting attorney of the county, and another citizen, who -appeared to be leading the mob, were having an altercation. Jones -remarked to the other man that he had never met Col. Monks until to-day -and that he appeared to be a perfect gentleman, that the war was over, -and that he had the same right to come here and transact business as -any other man; to which the other declared, with an oath, that a man -who had fought them through the war shouldn't come there, and they -intended to take him out and shoot him before daylight; and further -charged that Jones was not a good Confederate. Jones then gave him -the lie. The two appeared to be about to come together, but others -interfered to keep them separated. I returned to the hotel and said to -Mr. Harris that the seat of war had moved up onto the square. - -Mr. Maxey informed me that just outside of the door of the hotel he met -the mob, and they declared that they intended to take Monks out and -shoot him before daylight. He replied to them that they might do it, -but they had better take their stretchers along, for some other persons -would have to bring some of them out; that he had just been in the -house and in a moment he was confronted by Col. Monks with a revolver -presented at his left breast and the very devil was in his eye, and if -they entered the room he would shoot as long as he could move a finger. - -When bedtime came, I was placed in an upper room and locked the door, -expecting that if they located my room they would shoot through the -windows. I could still hear them cursing and threatening to take me out -until late in the night. The next morning everything was quiet. I went -to the stable and took my horse down to the spring to water; a number -of men were standing at the side of the street, and one said: "Where do -you suppose the captain and his men are?" I remarked to them that they -were just like a pack of wolves; they were in the brush this morning, -waiting for night to again renew their howling. There was one, Capt. -Wagoner, who resided in town, who remarked to me the next morning that -he never was as proud of anything in his life; that if they could have -scared me and I had attempted to leave town in the night, they intended -to murder me. - -After circuit court convened, I went into court, and at noon of that -day the court adjourned. And I, with a number of others, went to -Thomasville, put up at the hotel, had my horse fed and took supper. -While on the road, the man that led the mob passed me on his way to -Thomasville, where he resided. The defendants and their attorneys -failed to produce a single witness to testify in the case. I returned -home to West Plains. - -I was notified to meet them at other places in the country, to take -depositions in said cause. The political feeling was strong then -between the parties, and they sent the suits to a county over a hundred -miles distant from where the suits were instituted; this county, at -that time, was completely controlled by the democratic party. - -When the suits came up to be tried, over half of the jury had been late -rebels, yet they failed to introduce a single witness to support their -charges, and I recovered a verdict in each case. Judge Fian, who tried -the case, said that he was never so surprised in his life; that he -opened up the floodgates and let them bring in all their evidence from -the beginning of the war up to the time of the trial. Judge Fian had -been a colonel on the Federal side in the Civil war. - -On the account of failure to get any proof the juries were compelled to -give a verdict in both cases for Col. Monks, although it was against -the will and feeling of them. It cost the defendants between five and -seven hundred dollars. After the trials, all parties returned to Howell -county. The defendants, after they had procured a change of venue to -Laclede county, boasted openly before trials, that they were going -to beat both cases, that they had got them into a democratic county. -The defendants being beaten at all points, returned, but not being -satisfied, and being backed by the late bushwhackers and Kuklux (the -most desperate set of men that ever lived,) at the next term of the -Howell county circuit court they procured the appointment of a special -prosecution attorney, who had been a late rebel and selected a jury of -men composed of liberal Republicans and so-called democrats, with the -express purpose of indicting the writer for killing one of the most -desperate bushwhackers and rebel desperadoes that ever was in South -Missouri. The men who composed the jury knew well that he was killed -in an open hand to hand fight during the Civil war. The writer soon -found out that they were trying to get a bill of indictment against the -writer, so the writer watched the proceedings of the grand jury. On -Saturday the grand jury came into court and turned in their indictments -and reported to the court that they had no more business. The court -discharged them. - -At the same moment the writer asked the court if there was any bill -of indictment preferred against him. He ran over the indictments and -informed the writer that there was an indictment against him, for -murder in the first degree. The Judge said that he was sorry that I -had called it out for he wanted to go home until Monday. I told him -"Just adjourn your court and go home. The sheriff is here." I remarked -to the jury that they needn't have put the county to any cost hunting -witnesses; if they had come to me, I could have told them that I killed -him and the only thing that I was sorry for, was that I hadn't killed -a lot more of the bushwhackers. I would love to ask this jury if they -have indicted any of the bushwhackers and rebels who have hung and -murdered Union men all over Howell county, irrespective of age; the -most of those men were killed at their homes or taken from their homes -and afterwards killed. A part of the men who did these things are still -living in Howell county and that jury knows it. - -The sheriff and the judge stepped out of the court house and in a few -minutes returned, and the judge remarked "I will turn you over to the -sheriff." He then ordered the sheriff to adjourn the court until the -next Monday. The sheriff remarked to the writer "You can go where you -please and report to the court at ten o'clock next Monday." The writer -remarked, in the presence of the judge and sheriff, "I did not know -that a man indicted for murder in the first degree could be paroled." -The sheriff adjourned the court and he and the judge left the court -house together. When I met a number of my friends (as there was a -political meeting going on that day) and informed them that I had been -indicted and paroled until next Monday, I couldn't make some of them -believe it. - -[Illustration: CAPT. WILL H. D. GREEN, GRANDSON. - - LIEUT. MARK SPRINGER, CO. K.] - -I appeared at ten o'clock the next Monday morning and before court -was convened, Edward Seay, an attorney-at-law, one among the ablest -lawyers at the bar, a strong rebel sympathizer, came to the writer and -said, "It is a shame that you have been indicted. It has been done for -political purpose and I want your consent to file a motion to quash the -indictment." I remarked to him that I would rather have it tried before -a jury of my country so that I could show the intention and aims of -those who caused said indictments to be procured. He still plead with -me to let him file a motion to quash it, that it would not cost me one -cent. I at last told him to use his own pleasure in regard to it, so -he filed a motion to quash it, and submitted the motion to the court -without any argument, and the court sustained the motion and quashed -the indictment. So ended that charge of murder against the writer. They -saw they were beaten again and their schemes were again exposed to the -whole people and they fell back sullen and became desperate. - -In a short time the writer was informed that they were threatening to -assassinate him and to be continually on the watch. I put men on their -trails. Several attempts were made to decoy the writer into their nets, -but they failed. They then employed one Dr. Beldon, who made an attempt -to shoot the author in his own dooryard, but the writer saw him in time -to prevent his shooting, and he left the county at once. Shortly after, -the author was again warned to be on the watch, that they were still -making threats. - -There was a man by the name of W. H. McCowen, who had been a -Confederate colonel, living in West Plains. He was known to be a very -dangerous man when drinking and was an uncompromising rebel. The writer -then resided in the house south of the town spring, known as the West -Plains House, and the street ran within a few feet of the gate, which -opened into a hall between the house and kitchen. There was a saloon -about forty yards west of the house, on the same street, run by a man -by the name of Jackson, another uncompromising rebel. This saloon -appeared to be headquarters for these would-be assassins. I had just -brought my horse from the stable and tied him by the gate, with the -intention of going to my farm. Mrs. Lasater, who still resides in West -Plains, had just come over to my house and was there at the time of the -shooting. Mrs. McCowen, the wife of Col. McCowen, came to my house that -morning, came in the back way, and appeared to be very much excited, -and informed me that certain men were going to assassinate me that -morning; that to her knowledge they had been plotting for three days. -They had been using every inducement, making her husband drunk and -trying to work him into it. She had shut him up and locked the doors -to keep them away from her husband, but they would raise the windows -and come in. She had done all she could to keep her husband out of it, -and she thought it was her duty to come and let me know that they had -agreed to shoot me that morning. I thanked her for the information and -said to her that I would ever be grateful to her. I further said to her -that I did not want to hurt the colonel or any other person, but they -must not come to my house on that kind of business if they didn't want -to get hurt. In a few moments she returned home, going around the back -way. - -I at once sent to S. P. Woodworth, a merchant who resided in West -Plains and a strong Union man, for his double-barrelled shotgun. I had -two good navy pistols. He sent me his gun and said it was well loaded -with buckshot and was sure to fire. I advised the women, if they came, -to keep cool and go into the back room so they would be out of danger. -I raised the two front windows of the sitting-room about two or three -inches, so I could shoot under them, keeping a close watch on the -saloon. In about thirty minutes after Mrs. McCowen left, I saw two of -the men leave the saloon and come in the direction of my house. They -came to the gate, opened it and stepped onto the porch. My wife went to -the door and begged them to leave. One of the men said that he wanted -to see the colonel. He was armed with two first-class pistols, one of -the pistols belonging to Col. McCowen. I cocked both barrels of my -shotgun and stepped out on the porch with my gun presented and ordered -him to turn around and leave my premises in one minute. Just at that -moment my youngest daughter, now the wife of Mr. Green, sprang forward -and caught my gun. I said to her; "For God's sake keep away from me." -But she stood by my side. During this time he had passed outside of the -gate and had gotten behind a tree; had his pistol cocked and presented -at me and in a moment I had him covered with my shotgun. He would -attempt to get sight on me and would dodge his head back behind the -tree. Not knowing where the other man was, I watched his head and when -he attempted to take sight I fired at his head; at the crack of the gun -he fell. Then six or seven men commenced jumping out at the door of the -saloon. The first thing I thought of was, "They will pretend to arrest -me and give the mob a chance to shoot me after I am disarmed." I sprang -on my horse and rode east and in a few moments five or six men came to -my door and asked my wife who shot first. She ordered them to leave the -house. They soon found that one of the would-be assassins was shot. On -an examination it was found that one of the shot had struck him in the -right side of the forehead, the right side of the brim of his hat was -torn into fragments and the tree had caught a part of the load. The -tree is still standing in the yard. Immediately afterward I sent them -word that they had again opened the ball and I was ready to fight it -out. I never saw men begin to plead for peace as hard in my life. The -sheriff and others would come to me and say: "Colonel, why didn't you -shoot some of those fellows long ago? That is just what they needed." I -asked them why they hadn't arrested some of the assassins long ago. - -When the Union men learned that an attempt had been made by these -would-be assassins to assassinate me about two hundred and fifty of -them headed by such men as J. F. Reiley, Esau Fox, Andrew V. Tabor, -David B. Nicholass, John B. Nicholass, Josiah Carico, Chas. Long, J. -Youngblood, and Geo. Youngblood rode into town well armed and publicly -notified these assassins and those who were aiding and abetting them, -that if another attempt was made to assassinate Colonel Monks, or if -they did assassinate him it would take ten of their leaders to pay -the debt and they knew just who they were. On an investigation, it -was proven that on the night before they attempted the assassination -about ten or twelve of these would-be assassins met together in the -town of West Plains, and one of their leaders set out among other -causes why Colonel Monks would have to be killed; that they had tried -to scare him away from the country but found they couldn't scare him -and the only way to keep the republican party from going into power -again in this county was to kill Colonel Monks. Some of the men that -were present were hired to do the shooting next morning and paid the -money. They drank a health to each other on the death of Colonel Monks -next morning. The man who advised and instructed them and paid them a -part of the money is still living in Howell county. This failure in -their attempt to assassinate me and the action taken by the loyal men -appeared to put a quietus on their idea of assassination; if they ever -made any further effort the writer never learned about it. They had -been defeated in every attempt made either to slander or murder me. - -I want to say here that I shall ever hold sacred the memory of Mrs. -McCowen, for I owe to her the preservation of my life, and may God's -blessing ever follow her and rest upon her. - -The bushwhackers and the Kuklux element were not yet satisfied and had -but one way to vent their spleen against me. That was to get right down -to hard lying. Having failed to prove a single one of their charges -against me in the courts they were bent on injuring me and damaging my -character. With no regard for the truth they would go around secretly -and tell strangers who knew nothing about me that I was a murderer -and a thief. The better element among those who had been Confederates -declared openly that these statements were false from beginning to end. -Many of them have said that I was an honest man, and that if any one -wished to employ an honest lawyer Monks was the man to go to, for no -one could buy him. - -Sometimes I would be informed that a late Confederate would say: "I -believe Col. Monks was a good man and an honest one. But I dislike him -because he fought us so hard during the war." I would reply: "Tell him -that I couldn't please them in any way at the commencement of the war; -I didn't want to take up arms. I was an unconditional Union man, and -they, the rebels, came to my home and arrested me, took me into their -command and swore that I should fight; that they would make me fight -and attempted to force me into the Confederate lines, and when I found -that nothing else would do them but to fight, and I went to fighting, -then they turn about and curse me for fighting." - -Again I would be informed that some of those persons, who had no regard -for the truth, would secretly charge me with being a murderer. In -reply I would inform them that every part of the country where I had -performed military service was now in the control of the Democratic -party and there was no limitation to the crime of murder. - - -Henry Dixon Green. - -Henry Dixon Green was born in Henderson county Ky., in the year 1851. -His father, H. D. Green, was a colonel in the Confederate army, and -died while in the service. In 1876, the younger Green left his native -state, taking Horace Greeley's advice, and went west to grow up with -the country. He located at West Plains, Mo., and soon began reading law -in the office of Hon. A. H. Livingston. He was admitted to the bar, and -formed a co-partnership with Mr. Livingston in the practice of law, -which continued for several years. Afterwards he formed a partnership -with Judge B. F. Olden. This firm was for years the local legal -representative for the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad -Company, now part of the Frisco System. Mr. Green acted as claim agent -for this railroad, and afterwards had charge of the claim department -of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company for the territory of Kansas, -Nebraska, Colorado and Indian Territory, but resigned to resume the -general practice of law at West Plains, Mo. He has served as Probate -Judge of Howell county. - -[Illustration: RUSSELL GREEN AND DIXON GREEN.] - -Mr. Green was married in 1878 at West Plains to Miss Mary M. Monks, -daughter of Col. Wm. Monks. Mrs. Green is a strong republican while Mr. -Green is a strong supporter of the principles of the democratic party; -but their home life is perfectly peaceful and happy. Five children -have brightened this home, a daughter, now Mrs. Arch Bugg, and four -sons, Will H. D., Frank, Russell and Dixon. The children all take their -politics from their mother. The oldest son, Will, has been admitted to -the Howell county bar and is now practicing law with his father. He is -also Captain of Company K, the local military company of West Plains. -The second and third sons are also members of the company. Frank works -and studies at present in his father's law office, and the other boys -are in school. - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical -errors. - -Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - -Changed a few instances of Ku-Klux (excepting the title page) -to Kuklux as the author clearly preferred the latter spelling. - -Changed lop-eard, lopeard, and lop-eared to lopeared as that -spelling was somewhat dominant. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HISTORY OF SOUTHERN MISSOURI AND -NORTHERN ARKANSAS*** - - -******* This file should be named 51118.txt or 51118.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/1/1/1/51118 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - |