A Cowardly Murder

[SWMODave]

Courtesy Waymarking
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Mr. William F. Robinson, a veteran of the Civil War on the union side, told the writer the following account of a dastardly murder in Civil War times. Mr. Robinson said that a coward always did a cowardly act by killing men when they had all the advantage on their side. A brave soldier killed men in accordance with the rules of war. I am going to tell you a story of a murder which was committed in our army and in the presence of a large number of men, I myself being a witness to it.

One day while a body of us were escorting a wagon train loaded with supplies for the troops and while passing over the old wire road between Mudtown and Fayetteville, Arkansas, and ten miles northeast of the last named place we met a man that was walking and leading a horse by the bridle reins. When the man met the advance guard and the front wagon he left the road and walked along near the side of it until he met the hindmost wagon and rear guard. We were cavalry and I belonged to the rear guard and just after we had passed by him I saw him get back into the road to go on his way. Just as he did so one of our men who was a rough character and was more like a Coasack than an American soldier aimed his gun at the man and shot him down without the least provocation. It was simply a cold-blooded murder. The troops were halted at once and the commanding officer ordered the murderer arrested immediately which was promptly done and placed under guard. It turned out in a few minutes that an officer of the escort had urged and persuaded the man to shoot the civilian and this officer was also arrested. In the meantime a great commotion among the soldiers took place for they did not approve of the killing.
story continues

The soldiers mentioned found in Soldiers and Sailors

Moss , Charles or Charles C.
1st Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry Co C
Soldier's Rank In: First Lieutenant
Soldier's Rank Out: Captain

Robinson , William F.
1st Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry

Robinson , Ezekiel J.
1st Regiment, Arkansas Cavalry

Unable to find the names or disposition of those arrested for the murder of the civilian.

(The story is another example of the brutality of the war in the west. I did find it refreshing to see this company of men were disgusted with the murder by one of its own, and the fact this author told the story, makes one believe it was not something he was/got used to.)

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[Patrick H]

(The story is another example of the brutality of the war in the west. I did find it refreshing to see this company of men were disgusted with the murder by one of its own, and the fact this author told the story, makes one believe it was not something he was/got used to.)

I agree completely. It also makes me wonder if the guilty officer and soldier made that terrible assumption: "He's out on the road, he must be a bushwhacker."