Battlefield Dispatches No. 218: 'Black Hearted Villains'

As has been mentioned in a recent column, language and word usage have transcended the passage of time. During the Civil War many soldiers of the "Blue" and "Gray" could read and write. This has resulted in the Civil War being the largest uncensored war in American History during which thousands of letters and reports were written. The words used in these letters and reports are very often colorful and clearly convey the opinions or bias of the writer.

The following after action reports are brief, well written and contain a concise description of the "Blue Bellied Billy Yanks" as the "Hounds" pursuing the Confederate Guerrillas as the "Foxes" with limited success. The first report was written by Brigadier General Clinton B. Fisk who was an ardent avowed abolitionist that despised the enemy. After the war he founded "Fisk University" in Nashville, Tennessee that became and still is considered to be one of the leading African American Universities in the United States.

All of the reports are located on Pages 999 - 1001 in Vol. 34, Part I, Reports of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

"Saint Joseph, Mo., June 12, 1864.

A detachment of militia was attacked by a band of guerrillas yesterday at Ridgeley, in Platte County and a desperate little fight ensued. Captain Hoberson (Overson), late of the rebel army, now recruiting under Colonel Calhoun Thornton, C. S. Army and leader of the gang, was killed outright and his Lieutenant, William Felland [Oldham], son of a planter in this county was wounded and taken prisoner. HE WAS SHOT TODAY! His confession will be valuable in securing scores of the BLACK-HEARTED VILLIANS in the country. We captured several fine horses and revolvers. We lost 1 brave boy; only 2 others were wounded. The brigands were the same party that committed the murders at Amoldsville. Eleven of them were on the muster rolls of a militia company in this County and they carried a Federal musket all winter. I am pushing after the villains day & night and my limited force of reliable troops are nearly worn out. I can get help from General Curtis, who has kindly tendered it today, but I dislike to have Kansas troops come over here if it can be possibly avoided. I shall go to Platte County again tomorrow if able to ride. We captured 2 more of our escaped prisoners today. McConly and Briggs; the latter was killed.

CLINTON B. FISK,

Brigadier General.

[To:] Major General Rosecrans

Commanding, Department of the Missouri, St. Louis."

"Ridgeley, Mo., June 12, 1864. 7 a.m.

Dear Sir: We were attacked here yesterday by BUSHWHACKERS, about 20 in number, at 11 o'clock, under the command of Captain Overson and Lieutenant Oldham. Overson is from Kansas formerly. We KILLED OVERSON and wounded Oldham. We will SHOOT him in one hour from this time. I captured some papers of importance and Major Curtis' hat. They killed 1 of our men & wounded 4. We drove them off; captured 3 horses 3 revolvers and $110 in Confederate money. They MURDERED Thomas A. Bailey of my company, who was furloughed, the same day I left the Fort [Leavenworth], about 5 miles from Weston. We are in a bad fix here. Can't get away without assistance. We have no ammunition and can't set it. Send men to relieve us, if possible. I can't go away; we are preparing to defend ourselves the best we can. I could not get anyone to carry a dispatch yesterday.

WM. J. FITZGERALD

Captain, Company E, 16th Kansas Vol. Cavalry.

[To:] Major General Curtis."

"Fort Scott, June 13, 1864.

A party of my command, under Lieut. C. B. Willsey, 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry, ran into 30 BUSHWHACKERS yesterday morning at MONTE VALLO, Mo., 35 miles east of here and scattered them into the brush, KILLED 1 man and captured several horses. A party of 150 rebels went through MONTEVALLO last Wednesday, going north, on the old Boonville road, the usual route. [Supply] train just in from Fort Smith with about 1,000 refugees. No special news.

C. W. BLAIR,

[Lieut. Colonel, Commanding]

[To:] Brigadier General McKean."

"Warrensburg, Mo., June 15, 1864.

Major: I have the honor to report that on the evening of the 12th instant a party of 20 guerrillas made a dash into Calhoun, burnt one church, one tavern, two dwelling houses and robbed two stores. The leader, Dr. Beck, a NOTORIOUS character, was KILLED by Lieutenant Sallee, of the citizens guard; 3 of the guards were wounded.

I am, very truly, your obedient servant,

E. B. BROWN.

[TO:] MAJOR 0. D. Greene, Asst. Adj. Gen., Saint Louis, Mo."

"Hdqrs. Detachment 1st Cavalry, Mo. State Militia,

Holden, Mo., June 11, 1864.

Corporal Parman & 14 men of Company M will proceed to scout the country north of Kingsville and along Crawford Fork and return to camp at 12m. of the 12th of June 1864. Provide your men with one day's rations.

By Order:

JOHNWYCKOFF

Captain, Commanding Detachment.

The following is the report of Corporal Parman:

Hdqrs. Co. M. 1st Cavalry, Mo. State Militia.

Holden, Mo., June 14, 1864.

Captain: I have the honor to report to you, in pursuance of your request, movements of the men belonging to Company M, which I had on the scout under my command on the 11th & 12th inst. I moved with my command from camp on Saturday, the 11th instant, at 9 a.m., and proceeded west on the north side of the railroad, traveling some 15 miles; thence turned in a southeast direction and marched to a point near the railroad some 3 miles west of Kingsville. Most of the distance marched on this day was in the brush and saw but little sign of BUSHWHACKERS, finding only one trail, which I followed some distance until we lost it by the parties separating. We camped for part of the night near a Mrs. Longacre's, about one-half mile north of the railroad.

On the morning of the 12th instant, I moved with my men in a northeast direction from where I had camped and proceeded but a short distance when I discovered a large body of cavalry in my rear some 50 or 75 yards and on the discovery of the enemy I formed my men in line and challenged the advancing party, who only increased their speed and at this instant I ordered my men to fire on the enemy, which was done in a very few seconds. By this time, my little detachment was entirely surrounded, only a small space towards the brush. By this time BULLETS from the enemy's lines were FALLING LIKE HAIL among us and several of my men were KILLED. I remained in front of my line until the enemy had passed me, even some of them between me and my own lines, at which time I moved with all possible speed to the left, engaged one of the enemy, firing at him twice, when he turned and as I was in a helpless condition, my men nearly all killed, I made for camp with all speed possible.

I feel satisfied that the enemy had been informed of my position and strength, as he had me flanked on the right and left before he showed himself in my rear. The attacking party was not less than 40 strong and from the best information I have I think the whole command of the enemy did not fall short of 80 men and probably 100. The ENEMY was DRESSEED IN FULL FEDERAL UNIFORM and had the REGULAR BADGES worn by OUR MEN ON THEIR HATS and CAPS; small part of them were wearing FEDERAL OVERCOATS.

I learn that the party was commanded by Colonel Yeager of the rebel army, assisted by Bill Anderson, who is a Captain of a guerrilla band. Yeager informed the citizens that he asked no quarter and would give none. I lost in this unfortunate affair 12 of my command, only 2 escaping. The men after being KILLED were stripped of all their outer clothing and everything valuable was taken from their persons and the ENEMY SCAPLED 1 man after they had killed and stripped him. The enemy marched from the north during the night, returning toward the Sni Hills after the engagement.

I am very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH V. PARMAN

Corporal, Company M, 1st Cavalry, Missouri State Militia,

[To:] Capt. John Wyckoff,

Co. D, 1st Cavalry, M.S.M, Comdg. Station, Holden, Mo."

Now then, sometimes the "Hounds" killed the "Foxes" and sometimes the "Foxes" killed the "Hounds!" Such was and is the nature of "Guerrilla Warfare" and of course the War Went On!