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Mrs. Thomas Key, Helena, Arkansas, reports on a raid made on her home by the United States Provost Marshall troops, September 2, 1864
Soon after breakfast this morning the Feds (Negroes and whites) under Carmichael and Woods came. Here they were in the yard before we knew it and I had only time to put my purse in my pocket and hide your miniatures when they came in. They plundered everything, searched everywhere for arms, killed all my chickens again, trampled my garden down, pulled up my flowers out of the boxes and broke the boxes, took away every tin and wooden vessel on the place--even to a small tin dipper, carried off my lard, dried fruit, pickles, and vinegar, broke up all my stone ware. They took all my bedcolthes except one blanket and a few sheets, my wool, mosquite bars, all the nice window curtains, my table mats, all your letters, papers,deeds, all the children's toys, a good many of my nice clothes, and evenJulia's and sister's pictures which they rubbed out and threw away.
The Negro soldiers would not wait for me to open the trunks but jumped on them, kicking them to atoms and then fighting over the contents. They set fire to what wheat I had and the cotton and burned them up.
Chesley (five years old) stood it like a man. He was pale as death but stood by me and never shed a tear. Poor little Julia (seven years old) so weak from her late illness was thrown into a fever. Now to you, my husband, I say do not fear for us. We will not starve. We depend on God. If they should take the last piece from my back I'm not conquered. They may conquer the wood with fire and rend my garments and scatter them to the four winds and all that, but I'm not conquered. God is our help and our shield.
Letter in the diary of Thomas Key, published under the title "Two Soldiers." Wirt A. Cate, Ed. U of N.C. Press, 1938. See pp 156-57.
United States Army Provost Marshal Records MC 416 Roll 23
Sept. 1st 1863
General G. D. Wagner,
Dear Sir, we the undersigned citizens of Grundy County and vicinity of Pelham beg leave to state our grievances as a people to you and hope fully ask that you take steps as you may think the nature of the case and circumstances demands. Since your departure from the neighborhood the company recently organized under Capt. Bricksey have assumed authority to arrest quiet citizens without any charge whatever, have taken private property such as young horses and mules (not in any way wanted for the service) and appropriated them to their own private use, all of this to us seems unwarranted and wrong and hoping that we have some claims to protection from the Federal Government especially against men who have gone further in Rebellion than any of us, joined that army without any compulsion whatever and when their old associates have to quit the country they throw themselves ukpon the mercies of the Federal Goverfnment, join the Loyal Army and are now fortified in their assumption to deal with citizens and their property generally as they were ever to do with the property of hated Union men, as they were pleased to style them while in the Rebel ranks. But we do not allude to the entire company for some men in it have never been identified with the rebellion nor dowe believe they have engaged in the above mentioned practices, but a number have. The proof of which can be established beyond question. Hoping that you will at an early day give the subject the action you think it demands and make some disposition of the said Bricksey's Company which will give relief to the country. We have the honor to be, Very Respectfully Your Obt Servants.
Twenty four names are signed.
The Union army used local "home guard" units to enforce the Provost's orders as a supplement to U. S. Army troops. Often these home guards were merely out for revenge or even loot, as was the case with the unit described above. Clearly, many of this unit were ex-Confederates who easily changed sides and were fully accepted by the Provost. Calvin Bricksey was killed during a raid into his area by Confederate cavalry in late 1864.
Unites States Provost Marshal Records MC 345 Roll 131
Mulberry Lincoln Counth Tenn
July 13 1866
Pursuant to General Orders No. 6 dated HdQrs Dept of the Cumberland January 6th 1864, a tax of thirty thousand dollars was levied upon the people of the neighborhood for the killing of certain parties named herein. The amount actually collected was about sixty-six thousand dollars which the receipts of the Collecting Officers will show.
Two years and a half has elapsed since the killing took place and no evidence has been adduced implicating any one living in this couinty with the killing. I am therefore induced to inquire if that money can not be refunced? If not, cana the excess of what your order called for be refunded? Were you aware that more than twice the amount called for in your order was collected.
An early answer is respectfully solicited.
I am General, Very Respectfully
J. H. Holman
Here is evidence from the official records that Provost troops looted civilians.
Mrs Dollie Battle and her daughter Miss Sallie Battle were exiled from Nashville and sent out of Union lines because they retrieved the body of a Partisan Ranger named Trammel and gave the body a decent burial. This act of burying a soldier was considered "disloyal" by the local Provost Marshal.
Official Records of the War of the Rebellion Series 1, vol. 39, 856
People outside the city limits, far away from officers, had little protection at all. Livestock stolen or slauaghtered, fences trampled and used for firewood, the stench of animal waste--from rotten chickens, turkeys, pieces of beef--left behind by soldiers, plus human waste, all left conditions in Raymond almost unendurable. One Union soldier protected a family that gave him overnight lodgings but even he stole a watch. Illinois troops took fine china, silverware, and other valuables and shipped them north to their homes.
Michael B. Ballard, "Vicksburg: The Campaign That Opened the Mississippi",
UNC Press, 2004. p.285
Many a confederate, with no decernable uniform, who continued the fight behind Union army lines, was treated as a partisan, a bushwhacker or a spy and found an unmarked grave.
The bearer of this was forece by order of Genl Wood from his master--W. C. Smartt of Warren County Tennessee for the purpose of driving some stock from McMinnville to Nashville and has not been home since. he wishes toget a pass to return to his family living near McMinnville. If you can consistently grant him a pass it would not only gratify the boy but confer a favor on his master who has some 25 negroes principally women and children. The boy was taken about the last of August 1862. His wife has come down a few days since to see him and wishes her pass approved.
Respectfully
Samuel W. Ramsey
U. S. Army Provost Marshal Records
MC 416 Roll 41k
Speaks for itself about the Union army bringing liberty and equality.
Feb. 26, 1865
Major Billings,
The following description of property was taken from my house the same day my blacksmith shop was burned.
One broad cloth coat; one pair pants; one handerchief; three pair socks; three pairs jeans pants; ten yards jeans cloth; one pair boots; one cap; one shirt; one razor.
As near as I can ascertain my shop was burned and things taken because I was charged with shoeing horses for men who later were said to be bushwhackers. The men who took my property were Federals.
G. R. Sharp
United States Army Provost Marshal Records
MC416 Roll 52
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