Dangerous and bad men

During the Civil War, the Union forces in Eastern Kansas stationed along the Missouri border and throughout the state of Missouri were constantly on missions identified as "patrols" or "scouts" in search of Confederate guerrillas or "bushwhackers."

Very often these patrols were not successful because "no" bushwhackers were found. A guerrilla war is often a war of chasing shadows and an elusive enemy who is adept at disappearing in broad daylight. In the beginning of the war in, 1861 and 1862, captured Confederate guerrillas were often paroled if they said that they would return home and take the "Oath of Allegiance" to the United States. Of course not many of the guerrillas took the "Oath", but returned to the "fight." Later, the Union forces would issue orders indicating that "guerrillas" or "bushwhackers" were not to be taken prisoner, but were to be killed on the spot. The following after action report describes a successful early Union patrol in 1862 during which Confederate guerrillas are both paroled and killed. It is located on Pages 164-166 in Vol. 13 of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Camp Schofield, Mo. July 25, 1862.

Major: I have the honor of reporting to you the results of a scout commanded by me in the southern parts of Polk and Dallas Counties.

By order of brigadier General E. B. Brown I took command of a detachment of 50 men from companies B, C, E, and H of the 14th Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia and about 5 o'clock on the evening of the 19th instant marched in the direction of Buffalo. About 10 o'clock at night we reached Pomme de Terre, 17 miles north of Springfield. Here, we were overtaken by a shower of rain. Sheltering ourselves as well as we could beneath the thick foliage of the trees, we waited the close of the shower. After waiting about an hour the rain ceased. I then divided my command into three parties. The first (consisting of 15 men) I placed under the command of Sergeant Pleasant Smith, of Company C and sent into the Highfield neighborhood. The second party (consisting of 13 men) I placed under the command of Sergeant John H. Baxter, of Company H and sent into the Mayfield neighborhood. In command of the 3rd party I marched to Pleasant Hope, in Polk County. As I supposed the rain would drive the bushwhacking rebels into their houses, I gave orders to surround the houses silently and then seize such rebels as might be found in them. This plan succeeded well, some being taken at almost every house.

After traveling all night, meeting with some exciting, some amusing adventures and running a good deal of risk, the three parties met according to agreement at Mose Bennett's, eight miles south of Buffalo. My party had taken 17 prisoners, Sergeant Smith's 15 and Sergeant Baxter's five, one a rebel lieutenant. After examining the prisoners I released 17 upon their parole of honor that they would within 10 days report themselves to some officer authorized to administer the "Oath of Allegiance" to the United States. The remaining 20 I had guarded till the morning of the 21st, when I sent them to Springfield, in charge of Sergeant Smith, with a detachment of 16 men.

After sending out a few scouts I marched with the rest of my command to Buffalo, where we rested until the morning of the 22nd. My scouts brought in a number of prisoners, all of whom I released upon their taking the "Oath of Allegiance" except five, whom I sent to Springfield in charge of three privates. I then sent out Sergeant Baxter with a small party to try and capture Capt. Thomas Lofton and his gang. With the rest of my command I marched in as public a manner as possible toward Springfield, intending however, to turn back in the night and scour the country again in small parties. This I did, but with only partial success, few of the rebels escaped us on the first night having returned.

By agreement we met on the morning of the 23rd to rest and feed about a mile below Ben Botter's on the Pomme de Terre, where we found great quantities of corn concealed. All the parties having come in except that commanded by Sergeant Baxter, I marched for camp, where I arrived at sunset bringing one more prisoner, having released several where we stopped to feed.

No casualty occurred to any of my command, with the exception of Joseph C. Powell, private in company H, who accidentally shot himself through the left hand, inflicting a dangerous wound.

Sergeant Baxter sent a message to me to let me know that he had discovered Lofton and his gang and wished more men, Lofton's force being superior to his own. The messenger did not reach me until I had arrived in camp and given up my command. I therefore sent an order for him to come in immediately. He obeyed promptly, traveling all night. He reports a skirmish with some notorious bushwackers, with whom I am well acquainted and whom he found in arms. He killed one by the name of Arnold; another by the name of Greene was taken prisoner, but broke away and made his escape, badly wounded, it is thought, as he was seen to fall forward at three different shots. Greene's escape is quite unfortunate, as he is a notorious horse thief as well as a rebel and has broken from prison twice and made his escape. One other prisoner (Isham Case) made his escape. Two others were brought in and I have just sent them to the provost-marshal. These make 28 that we have brought to Springfield. Some of these are "Dangerous and Bad Men" and would be no discredit to the Alton prison (Union Prison at Alton, Illinois).

This expedition occupied four days, during which time some portions of the command traveled 150 miles, sometimes over bad roads; sometimes without any road at all. We suffered some hunger, but no one was heard to complain. The men showed an alacrity that would do credit to veteran soldiers. After two days and a night of toil without sleep, not a man objected to standing guard when required to do so. With such men under my command I always consider success certain.

The indefatigable enterprise of Sergeant Baxter deserves special praise. He merits a better position than he now occupies.

Sergeants Gammon and smith also showed themselves to be able officers and brave men. They will make their mark yet in the world.

In regard to the rebels inhabiting the portions of the country that I visited, they seem quite sanguine in the hope that the great rebel army of the South will drive General Curtis back and overrun this country. I did not succeed in discovering any secret organization, yet I believe such do exist & that companies are prepared to rise up, as by magic, in one night, whenever a suitable opportunity presents itself. I observed some local nuisances, but these I have reported to the provost -marshal.

These, major are the principal facts that I have to communicate; therefore I will close by subscribing myself, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

John R. Kelso

First Lieut., Co, H, 14th Cav. Regt., Mo. State Militia.

Paroling "bushwhackers" did not last very long and by the fall of 1862 orders had been issued that they were "shot on the spot" and not taken prisoner. Any "civilized aspect of the Civil War in Kansas and Missouri ended, if it ever existed at all, and the barbaric brutality of the war had arrived and it intensified as the war went on!