CIVIL WAR MISSOURI APRIL, 1862, CONDITIONS IN BARRY COUNTY
 
 
APRIL, 1862
CONDITIONS IN BARRY COUNTY

Article in the New York Times

FROM SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
 
The Advance of the Army under Gen. Oster-
haus at Rock House Creek, &c.

Rock House Creek, Mo., Sunday April 6

Correspondence of the St. Louis Democrat says the advance guard of our army, under GEN. OSTERHAUS, encamped at this point last evening having marched 20 miles from their old camp at Cross Timbers. The people in this vicinity are mostly Union, there being but three Secessionists here on this road from Cassville to Fort Creek. I stopped with a good Union man last night, and found several of his neighbors present, all anxious to be informed whether our army was going to leave them to the tender mercies of the Secessionists. They said no money could hire them to endure the constant annoyance submitted to last Summer. They were obliged to leave their families and crops suffering, and sheltered themselves for weeks, to get out of the reach of the rebels.

Bands of outlaws frequently came down from Cassville, and would rob Union men of everything in the house, blankets, bacon, etc. If they caught the owner he would be taken to Cassville under a strong guard. In consequence of the uncertainties of the future, and the unsettled state of the country, there are but few making any preparations to put in crops. Farms are laid waste, and fences burned up along the road, and Union men are discouraged. The Secessionists have mostly gone south with their negroes. Some Union men have not only abandoned the idea of making crops, but are getting their wagons out intending to forsake all, and emigrate to a place of safety.

The wounded are doing well at Oaksville.

The Court-house and all the prominent stores are being used as hospitals, it being a fortunate circumstance for them that the owners of the principal buildings had stampeded the town.

On the 30th ult., an expedition, consisting of cavalry and two mountain howitzers, reconnoitered the country above Huntsville. At the latter place it was found that a force of rebel cavalry, whom we intended to bag, had made good their retreat.

The flag planted by GEN. CURTIS at Kitesville was ruthlessly torn down, but was recently brought in, and when last seen was floating over the Provost-Marshal's office at Cassville.

SOURCE:  New York Times, April 14, 1862.  Scott Carson brought this item to my attention.

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