O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVIII/2 [S# 102]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STATES AND TERRITORIES,(*) FROM APRIL 1, 1865, TO JUNE 30, 1865.--#24
MACON, May 24, 1865.
Col. A. F. DENNY,
Huntsville:
General Dodge commands that Harry Truman report to Col. J. H. Baker, provost-marshal-general, at Saint Louis, forthwith. Send a messenger to his party at once with this dispatch and have Captain Meredith march his command to this station without delay. Let this be done promptly and without fail. Come to Macon to-morrow.
By order of General Fisk:
W. T. CLARKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVIII/2 [S# 102]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STATES AND TERRITORIES,(*) FROM APRIL 1, 1865, TO JUNE 30, 1865.--#31
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Fort Leavenworth, Kans., June 4, 1865.
Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Comdg. Military Division of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo.:
GENERAL: I have the honor to report, in compliance with your indorsement of May 25, ultimo, on letter of Hon. William Hall, relative to one Harry Truman, that so far as Mr. Hall pretends to state facts he is to a very great extent incorrect. Harry Truman was tried in November, 1864, by military commission convened by General Rosecrans, for offenses alleged to have been committed by him in North Missouri in June, 1864, and was sentenced to be hung. General Rosecrans disapproved the proceedings of the commission (see General Orders, No. 211, series 1864, Department of the Missouri), but ordered him (Truman) confined in Alton Military Prison until further orders. The record in the case was forwarded to the Secretary of War before I assumed command of this department. The Secretary of War ordered Truman released from confinement some time in March last, and on his release he was ordered to Washington, D.C., or some place East, by Colonel Baker, U.S. detective at Washington, and we heard nothing further of him until a few days prior to my departure from Saint Louis to this place, when I was telegraphed from Macon, Mo., that Truman was up there and had met Holtzclaw, Anderson, and other guerrilla leaders, who proposed to surrender, and an escort was asked to enable him to accomplish it. After consultation with my provost-marshal-general (Colonel Baker) I gave orders to the commanding officer at Macon to furnish him an escort, under charge of a most reliable officer, with instructions to allow no outrages to be committed, and for them to confine themselves to the simple purpose of securing the surrender of the guerrillas. After my arrival here I was informed that my instructions were being disregarded, and that Truman was acting badly, and I promptly telegraphed Colonel Denny, at Glasgow, to arrest him, which was done, and he is now in Saint Louis in the custody of Colonel Baker, provost-marshal-general. I inclose herewith Colonel Denny's (*) dispatch from Colonel Baker, and my dispatch (+) directing that an escort be furnished Truman. As Judge Hall has gone out of his way to reflect on me in this matter, I desire that he shall see this.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. M. DODGE,
Major-General.
[Inclosure.]
SAINT LOUIS, Mo., May 19, 1865.
Lieutenant HARDING, Aide-de-Camp,
Macon:
Send good officer in charge of twenty men to accompany Truman in obtaining the surrender of the bushwhacking gangs. The officer must be careful and allow no outrages committed. Answer.
G. M. DODGE,
Major-General.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXIV/4 [S# 64]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STATES AND TERRITORIES, FROM MAY 23, 1864, TO JUNE 30, 1864.--#15
SAINT JOSEPH, MO., June 14, 1864.
Col. O. D. GREENE,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
The scout and detective that left Macon on the 2d instant was under orders from the major-general commanding and Colonel Sanderson, provost-marshal-general. I had previously ordered him to report in person to the provost-marshal-general and obtain orders for future action, as I had become thoroughly satisfied that his conduct was bringing upon me more trouble than all the bushwhackers of North Missouri combined. H. Truman, instead of obeying my order to proceed to Saint Louis, opened communication with the general commanding and the provost-marshal-general by telegraph and obtained from them an order to make another campaign, and was in the field with his party before I could respectfully remonstrate. On the 8th instant I telegraphed you of his continual bad conduct, and earnestly requested that he be withdrawn from my district forthwith. The general commanding immediately authorized me to take him in hand and send him to Saint Louis, or keep him, as I might think best. I found him as expeditiously as possible, and on the 12th instant he reached Brookfield, on the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad, with 40 contraband horses, 75 negroes, and a large amount of the plunder in his train.
I immediately ordered him to report to me in person at my headquarters without delay, and directed Colonel Williams, at Macon, to send a good officer with 25 men to Brookfield, to take charge of the plunder and the men who had been operating under H. Truman. In the mean time I have been overwhelmed with letters and personal visitations complaining of the outrageously shameful conduct of H. Truman and party. Hangings, shootings, and plunderings have been the order of the day. He has doubtless killed men who deserved death, but at the same time he has stirred up trouble that will cause the death of many good Union men in spite of all I can do. I have finally succeeded in bringing him to my headquarters, and I have this day directed him to proceed to Saint Louis and report to department headquarters for further orders. I will forward letters from our best citizens setting forth his acts in the field. I will thank you to immediately order him to Saint Louis, as I discover that he considers himself as entirely outside of my jurisdiction. I have directed that the property brought in by him be safely kept at Brookfield, until we can ascertain to whom it rightfully belongs. I fear a reign of terror in Chariton County as the results of H. Truman's campaigning.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
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BROOKFIELD, Mo., June 14, 1864.
General FISK:
Am I to understand from your order that I am to take the side-arms from H. T.'s citizen soldiers? They say they were presented to them by friends.
A. W. BILLINGS,
Lieutenant.
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HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI,
Saint Joseph, Mo., June 14, 1864.
Capt. E. J. CRANDALL,
Brookfield, Mo.:
What do you think of the campaign of H. T.? I fear it has been a grand raid for plunder. Letters are pouring in upon me from the best men in North Missouri, complaining of infamous wrongs committed by this chief of scouts. Give me all the information you can. See that all the property is kept close at Brookfield until we can determine what shall be done with it.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
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[PRIVATE.] BROOKFIELD, MO., June 14, 1864.
General FISK:
I think H. T. and his party should be taken out of the country at once, as I am sure their manner of traveling through the country is doing us untold injury. I will write you full particulars.
E. J. CRANDALL],
Captain.
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BROOKFIELD, MO., June 14, 1864.
General FISK:
I have made a good deal of inquiry and find that the taking of horses, arms, and other property by H. Truman has been indiscriminate, from any and all who did not approve his peculiar way of traveling. I met one of H. Truman's lieutenants on the train yesterday. He was on his way to Quincy with a young lady, as prisoner, whom he was banishing from the State. I asked by what authority. He says their own. He came up to Macon on the train to-day, and had an old man prisoner he had arrested near Palmyra. He requested me to take charge of him to Brookfield. I told him I should turn the old man over to the provost-marshal at
Macon, and he kept him, saying they did not turn over prisoners. I have had application from one or two men for saddles, bridles, and a wagon, who are Union men. Said property was taken by H. Truman. I had conversation with a couple of volunteer aides of H. Truman this p.m., who say they do not know what they will do if H. Truman is taken out of the service, as they cannot make anything in the militia.
The provost-marshal got, I think, 2 recruits from the negro brigade brought in by H. Truman. The balance have left. I have sent a guard to look after the property at Bucklin, and shall have it moved to this place in the morning. I will send a scout to Keytesville, to inquire into affairs there, in the morning. The cause of the trouble has been from acts of citizens who have gone with H. Truman and done all kinds of devilment to men who are considered sympathizers, and also to men who have been Union men from the start, but they have been reported as copperheads because some neighbor was mad at them. All seems to have been conducted with perfect looseness and, in all cases, a total disregard of the rights of anybody.
If we go in for depopulation and devastation, his course is right; for it is driving every man who has been suspected of secession proclivities to the brush, and many who have [not] been engaged, good men, have come in for protection. I tell them to go home; that no more plundering will be permitted in this county by any party, and in all cases when men are known to commit depredations they must be reported forthwith, and that rebels and sympathizers in each district will be held responsible for all depredations committed by bushwhackers, and they must watch out for them; that they (the rebels) have the peace of the country in their own hands, and if they do not want to be annoyed by soldiers they must assist in putting down all acts of lawlessness on the part of friends and be ready at all times to report any breach in their districts.
E. J. CRANDALL,
Captain, Commanding.
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HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI,
Saint Joseph, Mo., June 14, 1864.
Capt. E. J. CRANDALL,
Brookfield, Mo.:
Your views of H. Truman are sound. I have never indorsed his actions. He has never been under my orders, but acted under orders from the provost-marshal-general. I have finally got him in my own hands, and you may assure all the people that there will be no more of that sort of warfare. Circulate this information as widely as possible in the disturbed district. Give the people, both rebels and sympathizers, to understand that they are to be held responsible for the presence of bushwhackers in their county. They can rout them if they will. Be careful and not lose track of any of the property. Keep it in your possession until further orders. Did you send me the yellow horse? I [will] buy him from the owner if he is a good one.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
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BROOKFIELD, MO., June 14, 1864.
General FISK:
I have a sergeant and 8 men at Bucklin. They will bring that property all to Brookfield in the morning. The yellow horse goes west on way freight in the morning. I have a car and contraband all ready. I will keep all the property and horses safe. H. Truman has one horse which he claims. Shall I deliver that one to H. Truman if he demands him? I hear of quite a number of horses left at different places which I understand are private property of H. Truman and his lieutenants. Shall I take in those when found?
E. J. CRANDALL].
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXIV/4 [S# 64]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI STATES AND TERRITORIES, FROM MAY 23, 1864, TO JUNE 30, 1864.--#16
SAINT JOSEPH, June 14, 1864.
Col. J. F. WILLIAMS,
Macon:
Go immediately to Chariton County yourself and see to getting out the militia in sufficient force to drive out and exterminate the bushwhackers. Judge Salisbury telegraphs me from Allen to-day that 4 of his Union neighbors were murdered last night. Communicate with him if you can. Move with determination and extermination. I fear the murders may be in retaliation for killing done by H. Truman.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
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SALISBURY, VIA ALLEN, June 14, 1864.
Brig. Gen. CLINTON B. FISK:
SIR: On the 12th instant, I wrote you in detail relative to the bad acts of men pretending to be Federal soldiers in Chariron County. The bushwhackers, in retaliation, last night murdered at least 4 of our good Union citizens; all were my near neighbors. Will you authorize our citizens of all political parties to organize to capture or kill bushwhackers if found with arms? The radicals and conservatives are anxious to do so to save our country from destruction. Can we get arms and ammunition? We will clean the country of bushwhackers if we are authorized by you to do so. If you send Federals to the county I hope and believe you will instruct them to act according to the laws of war, and not allow hanging and shooting of unarmed men without a trial. Direct answer care Planter's House, Saint Louis.
Respectfully,
LUCIUS SALISBURY.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI,
Saint Joseph, Mo., June 14, 1864.
Lucius SALISBURY,
On N. Mo. Train, or Planter's House, Saint Louis, Mo.:
Your telegram is received. I will do all in my power to aid the citizens of your section, regardless of party, to drive out the bushwhackers. It will be best to call out the organized militia rather than have irregular organizations. I have directed Colonel Williams to go to your section in person at once, and promptly call out and arm the militia. Individuals not attached to militia companies can attach themselves to some good company. We will thus avoid confusion of regular and irregular organizations. If you go to Saint Louis, please call upon General Rosecrans and explain in person what you know of the conduct of the party of whom you wrote me. He was sent up from Saint Louis.
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
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HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI,
Saint Joseph, Mo., June 14, 1864.
Capt. CLAYTON TIFFIN,
Richmond, Ray County, Mo.:
CAPTAIN: You have been ordered with your command to Greenville, Clay County, where there is much to be done in exterminating the bushwhackers, restoring peace and order, &c. Take hold of the difficult duty with vigor and energy. Report on arrival there to Captain White, at Liberty, from whom at present you will receive orders.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CLINTON B. FISK,
Brigadier-General.
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There is more on Truman in the O.R.s
M. E. Wolf
Forum Host
Bringing the