HANNIBAL,

Audrain County Military Records

Civil War

Abstracts from the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion

[JULY 22, 1864.] Maj. Gen. W. S. ROSECRANS, Comdg. Dept. of the Missouri, Hdqrs. Saint Louis, Mo.:

We, the undersigned, unconditional Union men of Audrain County, Mo., would most respectfully represent that, feeling a deep arid personal interest in the permanent peace and future happiness of our county and State, we have watched the actions of men and the course of events in this section of our State from the outbreak of this most un- fortunate, most unhappy, and causeless rebellion. And from all the evidences presented to our minds for the past few months, and now being crowded upon us in an unmistakable manner, we are thoroughly con- vinced and are now satisfied that there has never been a time since the connuencement of this wicked rebellion when loyal men have felt so little security for their property and persons. There has never been a time when loyal men have been so frequently ali(l so brutally murdered or stripped of all they possessed and threatened with immediate death if they remain in the country, and under this state of suspense and insecurity many are leaving the State, and unless some measures are adopted by which a speedy reaction can be brought about many must and will of necessity leave their homes with what little they can save, and seek safety for their famnilies in some more secure localities. The general operative measures of this county for the past two years or more has made it safer and more profitable to the disloyal than to the truly loyal men of the county. By the actions of guerrillas and their co-workers and sympathizers it has been rendered unsafe for loyal men to engage in the general trade and traffic of the county, while Southern sympathizers and known rebels could travel from one section of our State to another with all their valuables, buy and transport stock and the various products of the county to the Government market without fear or hinderance from their friends and co-laborers—the guerrillas and 1)ushwhackers. The practical workings of their combined policy is growing daily more severe. The guerrillas and marauders make their raids into and through a Union neighborhood, plunder, rob, and brutally abuse and sometimes murder some known prominent Union man, with threats of further and more severe treatment when they again visit that locality. This, in the unprotected condition of the county, produces a feeling of insecurity for property and life. Then follows in their wake the Southern sympathizer, who has grown rich by his traffic with and through the Government, and has now become overburdened with the Government currency, known as greenbacks (and which they and their friends use every means to duplicate), and in an insiunating manner inquire of the much-abused Union man if he wishes to sell his farm or his stock, that they have been so informed. Their conversation and associations being of that character to force it upon the minds of all loyal men that they are in sympathy with the guerrillas, and their inquiries are but another link in the same chain, the object of which is to press out every Union man and finally drive him from the State. We feel persuaded that some speedy and more effectual remedy must be applied or the masses of the loyal men of Northeast Missouri nmnst seek protection and safety for their families in some other and more congenial clime. We present the foregoing facts and ask your due consideration of the same, and that you will, in your judgment, adopt such measures as will in the future guarantee the entire safety of all loyal men.
JOHN P. CLARK, Clerk Circuit Court. J. W. DEAIUNG. [sic] J. W. McROBERTS. W. D. CAMPBELL. [And forty-four others.] List of names was not available

HANNIBAL, Mo., June 29, 1864. Col. J. P. SANDERSON, Provost-Marshal~General:

On the 23d instant a party of rebels, under the command of a man named Purcell, formerly of this county, of Audrain, Mo., variously estimated at from 35 to 75 men, stopped and suppered at the houses of William Mason and Clem. Smith (Southern sympathizers)~ about 2~ miles west of Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.
On the same evening they robbed E. T. Jacobs of saddles, bridles, and all the money he had. They also took a saddle, bridle, and overcoat 1)belonging to his son, who is in the Union army. On Friday 24th instant, they robbed Dr. Smith’s honse of a gold watch and chain, valued at $200, $112 in greenbacks, a revolver, and blankets. They took from J. W. Gamble, on the same date, 5 shotgnns, 2 saddles and bridles, and a number of blankets. Next they went to Mr. Sanders’, who was compelled to leave his family and farm about one month ago, pilfered his house, broke up his furniture, took and destroyed the clothing of his children, and abused his wife. After leaving Sanders’ they called on Captain Swift, whose honse they robbed of every [thing] they needed. While loading the plunder on their horses, the captain of the guerrillas ordered several of his men to “finish the work.” These men tnrned with revolvers in their hands toward Captain Swift, who, believing they were about to kill him, attempted and succeeded in making his escape, but not without receiving two serions wounds, one in the right arm, breaking the larger bone of the arm about the wrist, the other in the fleshy part of the left arm, near the shoulder.

On Saturday they were seen moving toward Black Foot, in the Rocher Perche hills of Boone County. A large body of these men are located near Goodwin’s Mill, in the southeast part of Monroe County, under the command of Colonel Dorsey and Bill Myers. They are reported to be from 150 to 300 strong. Several of the most prominent citizens of Marion are removing their valuables from the county. Among the number is Major Howell, who is removing his family to this place. In the Eighth and Ninth Congressional Districts there cannot be less than 1,500 guerrillas. This may seem strong, but I think that as soon as the oat crop is cut and stacked this estimate will be far below the real number. They will work fast and wickedly when they commence, and leave rapidly, leaving only marks of blood and ashes behind them. Many men who are asking for troops to protect their towns are unwilling to take up arms in defense of their property and that of their Union neighbors.

Mexico affords an illustration of this fact. I think it would cost less blood and treasure to take from 10 to 20 of the lead- ing and wealthy Southern sympathizers of the principal counties of the Eighth and Ninth Congressionial Districts and hold them as hostages for the Plunder of any loyal citizen that may be committed by the guerrillas during the present season. They can stop this rebel recruiting, robbing, and horse stealing, if they will, and they should be made to do it. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, T. J. STAUBER.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouni, OFFICE PROVOST~MARSHAL-GENERAL, Saint Louis, 310., July 5, 1864. Respectfully referred to the general commanding, for his infor- mation. Mr. Stauber is in the employ of this office as a detective. He is thoroughly familiar with every locality and the condition of things in North Missouri. He is an intelligent and reliable man whose views deserves consideration. J. P. SANDERSON, Provosl-3Iar~hal- Gerwrat.

Refer: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Series 1 - Volume 34 (Part IV) Page 588. Spelling errors are from ocr prgram, not yet proofed and corrected

The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Series 1 - Volume 41 (Part II) Page 333