CIVIL WAR MISSOURI, MAY 22, 1865, A BLOODY BAND OF GUERRILLAS
 
 
MAY 22, 1865
A BLOODY BAND OF GUERRILLAS

Report of Brevet Maj. Gen. John B. Sanborn, Commanding District of Southwest Missouri, to Maj. Gen. Grenville Dodge, Commanding Department of the Missouri

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI,
Springfield, Mo., May 22, 1865.

Maj. Gen. G. M. DODGE,
Commanding Department of the Missouri, Saint Louis:

As a general rule the rebels are surrendering rapidly along the Arkansas border.  A large number of men and several officers have taken, or are waiting to take, the oath at Cassville, and fully 300 have surrendered at Cassville and Pea Ridge.  Many of these men are from Parsons' division, of Price�s army.  The band of guerrillas, however, that passed through Laclede County last week was the most bloodthirsty and savage that I have known or heard of during the war.  They have killed all the men who have fallen into their hands, including the sheriff, the enrolling officer, and one other citizen of Laclede County; Lieutenant Johnson, of the Sixteenth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers (Company L); a private soldier of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, who, it seems, had straggled behind a team that was moving from Lebanon to Linn Creek, and eight other Union citizens living along the Little Niangua Creek.  They did not capture the five soldiers that were with Lieutenant Johnson, as I at first reported, they having remained ontside the house and made their escape.  Not less than 300 soldiers and citizens are in pursuit of this band, but up to Thursday night they had failed in every attempt to capture them, since which time I have had no report.  At that time the band was moving toward Duroc.  I have ordered the troops to pursue them to the Missouri River.  Lyon and Krekel are reported to be the leaders of this band.  If this band surrenders, all should be held for trial as murderers.

JOHN B. SANBORN,
Brevet Major-General, Commanding

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 48 (Part II), Page 549.


HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI,
Springfield, Mo., May 23, 1865.

Maj. J. M. MOORE,
Commanding at Cassville:

It is probable that a band of guerrillas, about thirty-five in number, will cross the road going south to-night or to-morrow.  This is a most bloody band and will probably pass between Cassville and this place.  Do all you can to capture and destroy them.  Notify all citizens to be on the lookout.  They have killed all citizens who have fallen into their hands, some twenty in all.

JOHN B. SANBORN,
Brevet Major-General Commanding

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 48 (Part II), Page 571.

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