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Tale University Library

In Memory of
William White Gleason
Yale 1903
From the Fund Established
By his Wife
Elsie Smith Gleason
1944

HISTORICAL SKETCH

OF

THE "SIXTIES"

IN

CHARITON COUNTY, MISSOURI

BY

CAPTAIN LOUIS BENECKE

BRUNSWICK, MO.
1909

^2&**^y ^J!rf~T*^&-^i<»^^JLYL^r '*•

LOUIS BENECKE
1909.

CHAPTER I.

The publication of the subjoined historical sketch of matters
which came under my personal observation and in the events of which
I took an active part, has been delayed from time to time for various
causes. But the subject has lost nOne of its value by the delay; in fact
some of the events may prove of special interest to many who have only
a remote idea of the stirring times that were had in the Sixties.
Prejudice and political animosities have substantially given way
to the better and cooler judgment of the older, and a study of the facts
by the younger element will add much in reaching a just conclusion
and in giving credit where credit should be given.
In the spirit of the greatest of all Presidents, I subscribe on this
flyleaf of my sketch the immortal sentiment
"With malice towards none,
With charity for all."
When the Legislature of our State found it advisable to re
organize our State Militia, and at a time when Governor Sterling
Price was making a canvass for election as a member of the Consti
tutional Convention, called by act approved January 21st, 1861, Gov
ernor Price was a strong advocate of the Union, while his opponent,
Thos. H. Price, was a fire-eating Southern secessionist. Governor
Sterling Price was successful, and when the Convention convened was
made its presiding officer, February 28th, 1861, and after the Con
vention had declined to' pass a secession ordinance on 27th March, 1861,
adjourned subject to the call of its Executive Committee.
It was during that period that two companies of State Militia
were organized at Brunswick. One was composed of the then followers
of the "Union," with Governor Price, and the other was composed of
such as were known as in favor of secession. The Union Company was
under the captaincy of E. W. Price, and the Secession Company was
under the control of T. H.. Price. I joined the Union Company, and
found that Hardy's Tactics were substantially the same as I had been
taught while a student at Blankenburg College, Germany, and hence
was placed in charge of a number of recruits as drillmaster, which
for a boy of only seventeen years was appreciated by me.
The rapid shifting of the grand scenes upon the public stage in
those days will ever remain a marvelous historic epoch.
When the two companies had been uniformed and armed an order

came for us to embark on a steamboat, to go into some camp for regi
mental drill. The steamboat came, a hasty goodbye to our parents
and sweethearts (if we had any), and the boat was off, going down
the river to some point unknown to us at the time.
We met another boat a little below Glasgow, and new orders were
delivered from' some higher authority, resulting' in our facing about
and going up the river to Lexington, Mo.
We disembarked, and so did the other soldiers, and camped on
the college ground, which afterwards became historical by Major Mul
ligan's defence.
The next day after our arrival the Stars and Stripes of our Com
pany were taken down and a new strange flag substituted in its stead,
and this was followed by an order requiring all to take a new oath
which left out the clause "to support the Constitution of the United
States": I declined to take that oath, and in this I was joined by Fred
Partenheimer, John Abrigg and one or two others.
Threats of personal injury had no greater effect upon me than
coaxing and offer of promotion. I then ¦called in person on Governor
Sterling Price, informed him of our attitude, and asked to be re
lieved, as I did not propose to fight against the Union..
Governor Price treated us with great consideration, and issued an
order promulgated at dress parade, granting a discharge to all who
declined to take the new oath, requiring each to step four paces to the
front. Four of us stepped to the front, and more would have followed
if the hooting which we received for our action had not deterred
them. Next we were marched back to our quarters, and then and there
¦stripped of our uniform and left without any clothing other than our
drawers and shirts.
My finances were limited, but a friend and fellow-soldier (Ed.
"Sheppard) kindly volunteered to go to town and buy something to
cover our nakedness. It was a very cheap pair of trousers and a straw
liat, but after donning them we bid adieu to our personal friends with
tears in our eyes, and started on foot back to Brunswick.
We dodged various squads of recruits, slept in an old abandoned
shed that night, and next day, weary, tired and foot-sore, arrived^
Tiome, where my appearance must have been picturesque, as my faith
ful dog, Leo, did not at first recognize me.

CHAPTER II.

The conversion of Gen'l Sterling Price to the cause of secession
influenced a great many to follow him, and those who had been original
secessionists became more boisterous than ever — talked openly in favor
of organizing vigilance committees to drive away from the cgunty every
person who favored the Union.
On the other hand, the Union element prepared for defending
themselves in event it became necessary, and secret meetings were held
and available arms were procured; and old files were converted into
bowie knives by our blacksmith. The secessionists formed new com
panies and openly drilled every day,, while the small Union element
concentrated their efforts to recruit squads, or companies for the Union
army, without however making any display of their efforts. One
Orlando B. Douglas, a young druggist, and I went across the Missouri
river into Saline county and recruited a number of young men for the
18th Regiment Missouri Volunteers, which Col. Morgan was organiz
ing at Brookfield. ' We were careful not to make our mission known
to any one not previously indorsed by a Union man, and in our move
ments we were guided from place to place by Union sympathizers,
avoiding as much as possible the public road, as there were hundreds
of men going to General Price, whose acquaintance we did not then
care to make.
We returned to Brunswick in time to celebrate the Fourth of July
at Mr. Martin Filzer's farm, where about one hundred men and women
gathered, hoisted "Old Glory," and were addressed in the German
language by several of our young patriots; and, according to German
custom, drank enough lager beer to become less fearless and more than
ordinarily patriotic. When the supply of beer gave put a squad was
sent to town for more. One of the boys took a Union flag, and in the
lead, with a brisk trot, started towards the city brewery; when this
squad came in sight a part of the secessionist company, who were drill
ing (without arms) on Broadway, imagined that the St- Louis Dutch
had arrived, and at once broke ranks, and at a double-quick went up the
Seminary hill into the woods.
This was the first capture of Brunswick without arms and without a
fight, The second capture came on the sixth day of July, when a steam
boat loaded with St. Louis Dutch (as they were called), under com
mand of Major White, landed, disembarked and marched to the rear
of the City Hall, where a large "Douglas Pole" has been erected, and
there raised the Stars and Stripes, and the. Mayor, Mr. A. Kennedy,
-was told to see. that the flag was not molested. When the soldiers
¦were marched bac"k to the boat, Messrs. Witmer and Strub had planted

a battery of beer kegs at the steamboat landing and as the boys in blue
filed by were treated with glasses of the beverage, which they enjoyed
as much as it pleased the ladies who assisted in serving it.
The boat left on its way to Lexington, but before nine o'clock
that evening it was discovered that some one had taken the Stars and
Stripes down and tore it to pieces, trampled it, so to speak, in the
dust. As soon as this was ascertained by us, Mr. Moritz Schnapp and a
companion rode up towards Miami, overtook the boat where it had tied
up for the night, informed Major: White what had taken place, and as '
a result the steamboat returned, and the Major corralled as many of
the citizens as had not fled, made them a speech in which he told them
that another flag would be placed on the pole, and if it were again
taken down he would come back and bombard the town, with his bat
tery of howitzers. He also dictated a statement to be signed in dupli
cate, of which the following is a true and complete copy, as preserved
among the city records :
We, the undersigned citizens of the city of Brunswick, pledge our sacred
honor to maintain and defend- the Stars and Stripes which now float on what is
known as the Douglas Pole, and to maintain the same in its present position,
and that we will not suffer any traitorous hand to lower or disturb the same;
and, if by accident or otherwise, the same shall be destroyed, to erect another
in its stead. We further pledge ourselves to protect and hold sacred the rights-
of both person and property of all Union men in our midst, and further guar
antee that their social and political opinions shall be held inviolate. All the
foregoing we solemnly pledge our honor to Lieutenant Colonel Robert White,
shall be carried out in good faith. (Signed) A. Kennedy, Mayor..
Jas D. Plunkett,
Frederick Sasse,
Councilmen.
The above instrument of writing was executed in the official capacity of the
Mayor and City Council of the city of Brunswick, Missouri, on the 7th day
of July, 1861.
• Attest: — P. R. Dolman, Clerk.
The flag was still floating to the breeze when, a few weeks later, I
went to Brookfleld, where I, on September 11, 1861, was duly mus
tered in the service of Uncle Sam as private in Company H, 18th
Regiment Missouri Volunteers. .
As it is my intention to confine myself to historic events in Chari
ton county and vicinity, I make no mention of my promotion to Ser
geant, and my experience and observation on our campaign south to
Island No. 10, then to the battle of Shiloh, where our regiment occu
pied the so-called "Hornets' .Nest," and after a terribly hard fought,
bloody battle, with more than ten thousand dead and wounded on the
first day, were surrounded at 5 :30 p.m. and made prisoners of war,.
and held in various Southern military prisons for seven terrible long-
months, which was the saddest part of my military service, resulting
in disabilities, on account of which I was honorably discharged after
we were exchanged at Aikin's Landing, near Richmond, Va.

LOUIS BENECKE, Sergeant, Co. H, 18th Mo. Inf. Vol.
1861.

LOUIS BENECKE, Sergeant, Co. H.„ 18th Regt. Mo. Vok.
1862.

—11—

CHAPTER III.

After my discharge from enlistment for three years, I returned
to my parents' home in Brunswick, Mo.,- where under the excellent
care and attention given me by my mother, I soon recovered suf
ficiently for further military service. Considerable change had taken
place at Brunswick during my absence in the South. A whole regi
ment of Missouri Enrolled Militia was organized and stationed at
Brunswick, under command. of Col. Win. E. Moberly, but if ever any
fight or even spirited skirmish with the bushwhackers or Rebel forces
were had, I did not hear of it. It was reported that several of the
Companies of the 35th Regt. E. M..M. stationed at Brunswick, were.
disloyal, and could not be relied upon in case of a combat with rebel
forces* In compliance with a standing order of the commanding
officer of this district, I enrolled myself and was assigned to Co. E,
35th E. M. M. I was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of the Company.
On June 17, 1864, I received an order from Captain Stanley, who
had been selected to organize an active Company of "loyal militia," of
which the following is a true copy :
HEADQUARTERS. CO. B., 35th REG'T. E. -M. M.:
Brunswick, Mo., June 17th, 1864'.
Special Order,
No. 1. -
Lieut". Louis Benecke, Co. E, 35th Reg't, E. M. M. :
In compliance with Special Order- No. 56, (Headquarters North Depart
ment of Missouri,) ordering me on active duty with one hundred .men. of the
E. M. M. of this county, and authorizing me to select First and Second Lieu
tenants of the. 3'5th Regiment, E, M. M., for active service in my Company, I do
hereby appoint and select you as First Lieutenant in said Company, and order
you to report to me immediately for active duty. Joseph Stanley,
Captain Co.B, 35th Regiment, E. M. M,
Lieut. Seth McCurry was 2nd Lieutenant.
The Company was recruited to its full quota, was mounted, armed
and placed on active duty, with headquarters at Keytesville, and en
tered upon extensive scouting in this and adjoining counties.
One day Capt. Stanley went to his home on a farm in the north
ern part of the county, without taking a squad along for protection.
The following day he was surprised by bushwhackers, taken prisoner
and carried off into their hiding place in the woods. His life was saved
by volunteering to take a parol not to continue active service for the

— 12—
Union, and, in addition, he was, to exert his -power and keep the volun
teer militia company in camp so as- to allow the bushwhackers free hand
and recruit for the Confederate service without molestation.
The Captain- was released and came into our camp after ^explain-
ing the cause of his absence and the pledge exacted of him. He then
went away, leaving me in command of the Company. General Fisk
instructed me to make my reports direct to him, and to be as active in
scouting as possible.
One night, August 7, 1864, I obtained information that a Com
pany under Captain Holtzclau with a large number of recruits for
Gen'l Price's army had intended to cross the Missouri river at Frank
fort. With a squad of 40 men, I started for the place where I had rea^
son to believe we would find them. The night was dark, and it took
us a little longer to reach the spot, but we arrived there just as they
were getting ready for breakfast, and, without giving them a chance
to form in line, we dashed on to them and had them routed over the
fields of Mr. Butler's farm to heavy timber and thick underbrush, into
which they disappeared. We captured a number of horses, wagorifead
of home-made ammunition and two prisoners who failed to -get 'away..
in time and had hid under a wagon box.
The two prisoners expected to be killed when discovered, and
begged for their lives. They told me that they had been conscripted
and that their home was in Howard county.
As it was more than likely that we would get into another fight,
when I could not vouch for the safety of the prisoners, I accepted their
solemn promise that if paroled they would leave* Missouri anfct never
again aid rebellion.
I accepted their word, paroled them, and directed them to get
away as quickly as possible, which they did. I forgot their names, as
I should like to have their statements. One of them met me in 1866 at
a radical Republican meeting addressed by Judge R. A. Debolt. He
then told me that he had kept his promise. After bidding goodbye to
his mother he went to Illinois, where he had remained until after the
close of the war, and, what was more, had changed his politics and
was now a staunch Republican.
A few years ago I made an effort to find either one of these men.
I advertised in the Glasgow papers for them and had Mr. Cason write
to Capt. Holtzclau, believing that he might know their names and
whereabouts, but the Captain replied that the men had been spies and
had only joined his command for the purpose of betraying them.
I wish to say here that Capt. Holtzclau is mistaken. If these men
had been spies they would have confessed it at a time when their lives
were in danger.
I learned afterwards that Capt. Holtzclau lost eight men, seriously
wounded, and that a number of his recruits "skipped out." '
The roll-call of the squad had 108 men as present on the previous
day. Only three of my men were wounded, several of our horses
were shot, my left stirrup leather cover had a ball hole — if a half inch
higher would have crippled my foot.

CAPT. LOUIS BENECKE, Independent Co. Scouts.
Taken day after skirmish at Paris, Monroe Co., Oct. 26, 1864.

— 1-1-
I failed to get into another scrap on that or the next day, and after
destroying the captured ammunition, we returned to our camp at
Keytesville. I learned that I had violated the treaty of peace between the
Colonel of the militia and the bushwhackers, but since I was under the
direct command of Gen'l Fisk, whose instruction was to fight the
enemy whenever I could find them, I felt safe in frequently violating
the treaty of peace between the militia officer and the bushwhackers.
However, I thought I would feel better if my Company entered the
United States service instead of remaining in the Missouri Enrolled
Militia. My men agreed with me, and when not actively engaged in
scouting I began to prepare enlistment papers for them, with a view
of becoming a part of the 42nd Regiment Infantry Missouri Volun
teers (mounted while in Missouri).
The following copies of the original in my possession explain the
facts more fully: HEADQUARTERS POST,
Macon, Mo., Nov. 11th, 1864.
To ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS MAY CONCERN:
Being personally acquainted with Capt. L. Benecke, who recruited and
organized a Company for this Regiment, I take pleasure in recommending him
to Federal Officers as a Gentleman and Soldier in every respect. We regret
the circumstance — of the Regiment being filled, which prevented his acceptance
into it, and hope a position will be secured where he can serve the country as
he desires and distinguish himself as he merits.
His experience in scouting service has been extensive and successful, he
Tiaving accomplished more than any one officer in the district to secure the peace
and exterminate bushwhackers in North Missouri. (Signed) Wm. Forbes,
Colonel 42 Mo., Commanding Post.
Official: Jno. M. London, A. A. A. G.
I had been on an extended scout under command of Col. Forbes,
with the 42nd Missouri Infantry, part of the 9th M. S. M., the 62d
E. M. M. and we were on our return to quarters at Macon City when
Col Forbes gave me the following order :
COPY OF COL. WM. FORBES' FIELD ORDER PLACING CAPT. L. BENECKE ON SPECIAL DUTY.
HEADQUARTERS OF 42nd MO., IN FIELD, |,
Glasgow, Mo., Oct. 31st, 1864.
Capt. L. Benecke:
You will move at once to Brunswick, and scoure the country well. You
will move, from there to Keytesville and establish Headquarters and place the
Senior Officer of the 62nd E. M. M. in command of the Post, and make such
other arrangements as the case may require. Wm. Forbes,
Colonel Commanding U. S. F.
Leaving Glasgow with my own Company and three Companies
of the 62d E. M. M. and one Company of the 35th E. M. M. I was
fortunate in surprising a squad of the enemy while in the forks of
Chariton; they fired a few volleys and disappeared in the woods. A
2nd Lieutenant of the 62d E. M. M. was so visibly affected by this
very light skirmish that I was compelled to place him under arrest for
cowardice.

—15-

We reached Brunswick, where we rested for a day or two and
then, in compliance with -my orders, I moved to Keytesville and es
tablished a. Post with a Major of the militia in command of the Post.
Our departure from Brunswick was highly deplored by the citi
zens of that place, and .they prepared and sent a petition to General
Fisk, who afterwards gave it to me and I still hold the original, of
•which the following is a true and complete copy :
Chariton County, Mo., Nov. 7th, 1864.
<General :
The undersigned, unconditional Union citizens of Chariton county, would
respectfully lay before you the fallowing statements for your consideration :
When the- City -of Brunswick was evacuated' by Col. Moberly on the 9th of
last month, all the Union men of that place left and went to the railroad. Upon
learning that the 'federal forces, under Capt. Benecke, had reoccupied that place,
these citizens all returned. Yesterday the place was again evacuated and we
were all again compelled to tome to Keytesville, leaving our wives and children
at home unprotected, and at the mercy of any two or three or more scoundrels
that may choose to go there. This places us in a very distressing condition, as
the rhajority of us are poor men, and our families are not provided with the
necessary comforts for winter.
We would also lay before you the fact that Capt. Bucksath's Company of
12. M. M. are residents of our neighborhood, and entered the service with the
"understanding that they were to be stationed in their own neighborhood. When
the Bushwhackers became so numerous in this county as to render their position
unsafe, they were ordered to Brunswick, where they remained until the evacua-
-tion of that place. Tliese men have necessarily been kept' away from their
homes for about two months. In the meantime their families have all been
robbed by the Bushwhackers, and are now in a destitute condition.
In view of these facts we ask you to make the following permanent disposi
tion of troops in this county, wliich we think amply sufficient for our protection :
We desire a Company stationed at Brunswick; Capt. Bucksath and his Company
stationed at their camp in the. Bowling Green Prairie, and a sufficient force
stationed at Keytesville, say one full Company or two medium Companies, for
the protection of that place. We would like to have the matter so ar
ranged as to place Capt. Benecke in command of the entire county. He
has proven himself a very efficient officer, and one that can be safely
-trusted with such a command.
Our- county is in a deplorable condition, and unless something permanent
is done very soon, the remaining loyal people must suffer untold hardships.
iQuite a number of rebel symathizers have been killed in the county, and the
fear of retaliation will become a dreadful reality if we do not have protection.
We know you will do all in your power for us when acquainted with the facts
in our case, and we do not think our request unreasonable.

Chas. A. Winslow
¦George Difani
L. VonArb
Louis Grotjan
R. C. Hancock
Jacob Ament
John Manse
F. Feaker
¥m. Case
Robert A. Scott
J. Hinton
H. Meyer
Herman Brand
Tt. W. Rucker
Jacob Schmitt
jj. O. Pattersen

Respectfully yours,
Adam Homan
Conrad Schlapp
Ike Anderson
J. W. Kelley
Jacob Heiman
A. C. Lampkin
D. Harlow
Tames Colsten
¦William P. Young
John Keeton
Charles A. Cole
George D. Cole
Jos. Bittiker
George Ellis
Geo. Underwood
J. Burnsides

E. Gibson
James Willson
Garet Sleyster
Henry Munson
John Mason
Christopher Noll
Wilhelm Schoetker
Jefferson Shaw
Samuel Heiman
Jo. Raaf
W. Stroemer
Henry Bucksath
Bazel Hall
John J. Rjckman
John D. Dodge
J. D. Moore

-16—

Jas. Mitchell
George Elson
A. Burnsides
John Henning
Al Grotjan
A. Kapel
Joseph Bittiker
Richard Young
C. S. Keer
J. B. Norman
John Beck
Jacob Coulson
A. Lyfford
Henry Sasse
Henry Stineman
Robert White
Theo. Newbold
Henry Motimire
Henry F. Grotjan
Mart Filsor
J. M. Long
J. J. Andrews
Win. D: Roe
E. Bowman

J. C. Rogers
Albert- Wulf'ert
I. M. Reager
Charles Sasse
James P. Quick
W. S. G. Ross
F. Henneberg
F. B. Wrockloff
N. A. Grubbs
August Grotjan
John H. Oneal
Wilhelm Sasse
John Heiman
Perry Epperson
John Hartman
Thomas McCaleb
W. H. Reese
John Lehker
Anthony Meyer
G. M. Heyman
Fred Reese
Wm. Denis
R. Fisher

John Smith
Louis Augsburger
Felix Kneedler
Joseph Rease
George Inspruchner
W. Henry Shrader
John Morton
Andrew Willibaugh
Charles Brandt
Robert M. Fleming
Jos. Stahl
Albert Paschon
Louis Elson
William Godsey
Wm. B. Mullins
M. C. Allen
Jos. L. McWilliams
Thomas Elson
John T. Doxey
John Cox
J. Rolf
A. Noll
Fred Streicher

From Keytesville I went with my Company to McGee College,
and from there to Macon City.
About the first part of November Col. D. P. Dyer came to me
,- and informed me that his Regiment, the 49th Missouri Infantry Vol-
:* unteers, lacked one Company to complete the organization, and de
sired my Company to join his Regiment. I submitted the question
to-, my men and they agreed to abide by whatever I thought best to do
in the premises.
As my men were nearly all mounted upon their individual horses,
and we had special side arms, besides the Government guns, I agreed
to join the 49th Missouri after I had been given the assurance that
we should remain mounted and remain stationed in Missouri.
About this time a "special" or "secret service man" came with
proper credentials from General Rosencranz, and instructed me in all
the secret work, signs and pass words of the "Knights of the Golden
Circle," also the "Sons of Liberty," which proved of great service to
me. He also ascertained, by being with bushwhackers in this county
where their principal gathering places were, and, what proved of great
value to me, where the Confederate post offices were kept, and who
generally served as Confederate mail messengers in this locality.
General Fisk concluded to send me to Chariton county, and placed
me in command of that sub-district. I was aware of the many diffi
culties which had to be solved in Chariton county, as there was not
only the bushwhackers, the Confederate sympathizers, but also a lawless
element clustering around the militia as refugees and camp followers.
A reasonably fair description of the conditions as I found them in
Chariton county in November, 1864, are described in an editorial pub
lished in the Missouri Republican which I preserved and of which the
following is a complete copy :

— IT-
BUSHWHACKING IN CHARITON — SIX UNION MEN KILLED.
[Form Missouri Republican, Dec, 1864.]
We learn that 'on Christmas Eve, the noted bushwhacker, Jim Jackson, and
his men killed six men in Chariton county, a part of whom resided in Muscle
Fork and the others on Bee Branch. Three of them, old man Lowe and son
and a Mr. Jackson, were killed at home, and our informant supposed the others,
whose names are not given, were also. The murdered men were all Radical
Unionists. We are -told -that this Jackson and his band of fiends, roam almost
at pleasure over the counties of Chariton, Howard and that region of country.
The above is clipped from the Jefferson City Times, and furnishes an addi
tional chapter in the wretched and bloody drama being enacted in the unfor
tunate county of Chariton. In this instance, as we are informed, the atrocities
have been committed by a lawless band of bushwhackers, armed marauders, not
recognized as soldiers by either of the parties to the calamitous civil war how
desolating large tracts of our common country, and therefore properly de
nounced by all as enemies of mankind. It would be some relief in contemplat
ing the frequent acts of murder and arson perpetrated in Chariton, in the past
six or seven months, could the mind be satisfied that all the long list of outrage
and crime enacted in that county was the work of these little less than demons.
Unfortunately, that has not been the. case.
The first instance of assassination — and all the killing done in Chariton
¦county deserves the name of assassination — was the killing of Mr. .Phillips,, a
Union man, by a bushwhacker. In this instance the killing was mutual, Mr. P.
having fired his weapon simultaneously with his assailant, and both were killed.
This affair occurred- sometime in May last.
Shortly after the killing of Mr. Phillips, the atrocious wretch, Trueman,
•entered the county under pretended authority from Gen. Rosecrans, command
ing the Department of Missouri, and Gen. Fisk, then and since in command of
the District in which Chariton county is included. He signalized the commence
ment of his actrocities by hanging Walker, Veal and Stark, and shooting Fox,
Jennings and Brevier. None of these men had been convicted of committing
any offence against the Government, whilst Brevier was well known as a Union-
loving and law-abiding citizen. Trueman, and the gang under him, stole large
quantities of private property, including clothing, money and jewelry, all of
which was taken without any legal warrant, and only a part of which was
turned over to the Federal authorities by Trueman when arrested. This out
law further signalized his atrocities in Chariton, by burning the house of Mr.
Anseim Johnson, a farmer residing a few miles from Keytesville, and destroy
ing the valuable contents, except so much as was carried off by this band of
plunderers. Trueman,, as our readers may remember, was tried by a military
commission and sentenced to be hung, an end which he richly merited, and
from which he was saved by General Rosecrans commuting his punishment to
imprisonment during the war.
The outrages of Trueman were followed by the killing of an equal number
of men by bushwhackers, as was said, in retaliation for the murders committed
by this outlaw. The victims of this lawless retaliation were peaceable Ger
mans. Those killed were named Mamm, Coleman, Partenheimer, Stenstra, and
Charles Jensin. Another named Joseph Bittinger, was shot in the head and
left for dead, by his would-be assassin, but recovered from his injury, and is
said to be still living.
Todd, and his band of bushwhackers, captured twenty-five men of the En
rolled Militia stationed at Keytesville, sometime in September. In violation of
the pledge for their safety given before the surrender, Mr. Carmen, the Sheriff,
and Mr. Young, both Union men, were taken a short distance from town and
killed. Todd also burned the court house at Keytesville.
Shortly before the raid of General Price into Missouri, Mr. Stra'tton, a re
spectable citizen, sixty-five years old, was killed and his house and contents
burned to the ground. Since the raid, Rev. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Brummell
were killed by Federal soldiers. Their offence consisted in the circumstances
that they acknowledged they belonged to the Southern Methodist Conference.
Mr. Abner Finnel, sixty years of age, Mr. Philpott. aged -seventy-five, and Mr.
Moses Hurt, aged sixty, Judge Flood, aged sixty, and Mr. McAshen were all

-18-
killed by soldiers the body of the latter having been thrown intoi'tnir Missouri-
river after he was shot. Mr. Allen Farmer, aged forty years, was shot and!
killed at his home near Brunswick. Mr. Pixley, aged fifty-jive, was killed. Mr.
Franklin, a young man, was shot and killed in Brunswick. Mr. W. El Reading,
a well-known Union man, aged sixty-five, was shot a short distance from Ms-
house. When his, body was found, it was nearly eaten up by the hogs. A Mr.
Dejarnett, aged fifty, was shot to death near Keytesville, Mr. Shuckey, aged
sixty-five, was shot and killed at his home in Chariton county.
Among the property destroyed by fire, were the houses of Captain Herre-
ford, Martin Hurt, Duncan Lock, Mr. Plunkett. Jackson J. Mills (Postmaster
at Keytesville)., and the tavern property at Old Chariton, belonging to the
Moore estate. Kennedy's warehouse, at Brunswick, was burned to the ground,
with its contents, including a large quantity of tobacco and other produce, and
furniture belonging to citizens preparing to leave the county in consequence
of the continued outrages. Among the furniture destroyed were six valuable
pianos. The warehouse and contents were estimated to be worth fully $30,000)
no part of whj.ch was -permitted to be saved from the fury of theflames. The
dwellings destroyed were among the most costly and valuable in the county:
Not any of the above property was burned by bushwhackers or Southern soldiersi.
On the. contrary, the destruction of life and property, not named above as com
mitted by bushwhackers, was done by 'militia in the Federal ' service, from Put
nam and Sullivan counties, as we are credibly informed by persons well ac
quainted with the fact. Doubtless other outrages have been committed against
persons and property, of which we have no definite knowledge.
The effect of these atrocities, accompanied as they have been, by numerous-
threats and demonstrations of violence, has been to cause innocent and unof
fending persons, Union men as well as Southern, to flee from their homes, im
order to save themselves from insult and injury, if not from assassination. We
are assured that a reign of terror has existed for months in various parts ot
Chariton county. Much of the. property burned in the warehouse at Brunswick:
belonged to parties endeavoring to leave the county. These terrorists were de- ¦
termined that no property should be taken away, at least not by the owners.
The motive inducing this determination, may be inferred from the circum
stance that large quantities of clothing, carpeting, beds and bedding, and every
description of portable furniture, much of it of the finest and, most costly
quality, have been taken from dwellings abandoned by their wealthy owners,
some of which has been since seen in the houses of persons residing in the
northern counties of the State. T,hat this property might safely be carried
away by plunderers, will be readily understood, when we state, what we are
assured is the fact, that fully two-thirds of the male population of Chariton
have sought safety by abandoning nearly everything they possessed, and fleeing;
from the county.
Much of the destruction of life and property, and general disorder, which*
have so long existed in that section of Missouri, has been attributed to the in-,,
efficiency and downright dishonesty of those entrusted with the control of the
military forces operating within the county. Whether this has been truly or
erroneously done, it is not our province to affirm. We are glad, however, t»
LEARN THAT LATELY CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE COMMAND, AND THAT
THERE IS A HOPE INDULGED BY THOSE DIRECTLY INTERESTED, THAT THIS WILL TEND
TO RESTORE QUIET AND ORDER TO THAT DISTRACTED COUNTY. THE MILITIA, STA
TIONED in Chariton county for- some weeks past, is placed under the com
mand of Captain Benecke, a young, but active, experienced, and efficient
officer. Those who know him, speak of him as a man and officer, in
terms of highest commendation. Captain Buckhardt, who also has a company
in the county, is likewise spoken of in praiseworthy terms. It is sincerely to be
hoped that these officers may succeed in capturing all lawless persons in Chari
ton or expelling them from the county, and bring about at least such a condition
of affairs as shall permit the return of the law-abiding, and that with- a- reason^-
able assurance of safety.
Upon assuming command I issued the necessary orders, making-
disposition of the several Companies, q£ militia: w.hichi -w.ere placed;

—19—
under my command by special order of Gen'l Fisk. Finding it neces
sary, in order to discipline the militia as well as the volunteer troops,
and to prevent c$use for complaint by citizens, based upon impropcr
conduct by soldiers, I issued the following orders :
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Brunswick, Mo., Nov. 22, 1864.
Special Order,
No. 3.
The commanding officers of companies of all forces stationed in Chariton
county, Missouri, will hereafter make the following reports to these Headquar
ters : I. A weekly report of all public property in their charge.
II. A weekly report of all individual horses in active service.
III. Tri-weekly report of strength of their companies to be forwarded by
mail or special messenger.
IV. At no time will furloughs be granted to more than five men of a com
pany; said furloughs, if extending over five days, must be approved at these
Headquarters. V. No scouts will be sent out unless commanded by a commissioned officer
or a trustworthy non-commissioned officer.
yi. The commanding officer of a scout will allow no citizen to ac
company the scout, unless they . act, and are, absolutely necessary as
guides. VII. No enlisted or enrolled men will be allowed to enter dwellings
of private citizens, unless accompanied by a commissioned officer, or with
written instructions of a commissioned officer; cases of high importance
excepted. VIII. The commanding officers of companies will hold an inspection of
their company arms and quarters on every Wednesday and Sunday at 10
o'clock a.m. Louis Benecke,
Capt. Co. I. 49th Reg., Mo. Vol. Com. Post.
Also the following : HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Brunswick, Mo., Nov. 25th, 1864.
Special Order,
No. 4.
1. Having been sent to this county to restore order and to establish the
authority of the Government, I deem it my duty to make known to the public
generally that I. shall extend all the protection in my power to all law-abiding
citizens. In order to accomplish this more fully, I shall require' the aid and as
sistance of every loyal and well disposed person within the limitation of my
, command. It must by this time be manifest to every one that the only way to restore
peace and quiet in this State is for every individual intending to make a perma
nent residence here, to give cordial and prompt support to the Government.
Protection on the part of the Government, and support and maintenance on the
part of citizens, are the reciprocal duties imposed by our form of government.
This alone is the true solution of our present troubles, and while I shall so
use the power intrusted to me as to extend the largest amount of protection to
the citizens, I shall expect in return their hearty aid and support. Bushwhackers
and other irregular forces of the so-called Confederate States are known and
recognized as the public enemies of mankind, and those who give aid and com
fort to such are equally guilty with them, the severest penalties known to mili
tary law will be inflicted upon, and every honest man should feel it a special
duty to hunt them out and have them brought to justice.
2. Upon hearing of any bands of bushwhackers in their neighborhood, or
upon gaining information that any person is engaged in harbpring or feeding
them, the person or persons ascertaining the same will immediately report such.

LOUIS BENECKE, Captain, Co. I, 49th Regt. Inf. Mo. Vol.
1864-5.

—21—
information to the Post at Keytesville or Brunswick, selecting the one that may
be nearest to them. Any person being in possession of any such information
and failing to report the same promptly will be adjudged guilty of giving aid
and comfort to the enemy and will be punished accordingly. All such informa
tion must be given to the Commanding Officer of the Post only.
(Signed) Louis Benecke,
Capt. Co. I, 49th Reg., Mo. Vol. Com. Post.
The originals are recorded in my Post order book, which is on
file in the Secretary of War office in Washington, D. C.
Notwithstanding my care to prevent lawlessness by soldiers, I
learned of many shameful acts by soldiers or men wearing Union
uniforms, whose identity could not be established, yet whose transgres
sion was attributed first to "Benecke's men," and in course of time to
"Benecke." Their presence annoyed me because in several instances
I had to detail men of my own company to guard the persons and
property of citizens, hence I wrote a special request to Gen'l Fisk ask
ing him to relieve me of the command of the 62nd Regiment of En
rolled. Militia of Missouri, of which the following is a copy :
HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Brunswick, Mo., Nov. 27, 1864.
General Clinton B. Fisk,
Commanding Dept. North Missouri, Macon, Mo.
General : — I beg to submit the suggestion that you order the -62nd E. M. M.,
now here under my command, to return to their counties, because the discipline
¦of these troops is bad and I have been compelled to use a part of my Company
to guard persons and property from depredation threatened by some of them,
and hence would be glad to be relieved.
I beg to submit my order No. 3 and 4 for your information and trust that
¦each may meet your approval.
I have the honor to be, Sir, Very Respectfully, Louis Benecke,
Capt. Co. I, 49th Reg., Mo. Vol. Com. Post.
The General granted my request and transferred the \ 62d Regi
ment to upper counties.
This left me free to devote my time to look after the enemy, and
¦also to relieve many families whose husbands and sons were either in
the army or did not feel safe in Chariton county.
I applied for advice to Gen'l Fisk, of which the following is a copy
¦of one of my letters : HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Brunswick, Mo., Dec. 1st, 1864.
Brig. General Clinton B. Fisk,
Commanding District of North Missouri.
General: — There are a number of families residing in this place whose
husbands are soldiers in the Federal army, (the most of which belong to the
Ninth Regiment M. S. M.) that are almost destitute of food. All of them have
suffered greatly by the late raiders and guerillas that have been through this
place. Their husbands have not drawn pay for five or six months, and in con
sequence of it their means of subsistence is very small. I have for some time
supplied those families with some articles of food, such as beef and flour. I
will be much pleased if you will inform me as" to what course would be most

-22—
proper to pursue in regard to those families — as to the alleviation of their wants-
and as to the manner in which they are to be supplied with necessaries of life.
L. Benecke,
Capt. Co. I, 49th Mo.
HEADQUARTERS DIST- OF NORTH MO.
Macon, Mo., Dec. 7th. 1864.
Captain : — The General commanding directs me to say that yours of De
cember 1st is received -and contents noted.
The Ninth Cavy. M. S. M. has just been paid all arrearages; most of them
six and some eight months pay, and should send a portion at least of their
earnings to their families.
The rich rebels, about Brunswick should be advised to furnish occasionally
an animal for beef, to be distributed among. sufferers, and in other ways to con
tribute to their £omf ort and . support.
I have the honor to be, Captain, Very respectfully,
Your obedient,
W. T. Clarke,
First Lieut, and A. - D. C.
Capt. Louis Benecke, Commanding,
Brunswick, Mo.
Some of the old citizens still living here, including- -"families of
Confederates or sympathizers of the South, but who were in distress.
and unable to purchase necessaries of life, will undoubtedly remember
that provisions were made for their sustenance, until law and, order
was re-established so that stores were re-opened and supplies were
made available to them.
It is now a source of gratification to- me to know that I had the
opportunity of securing relief to many, the political opinions of whose-
fathers, husbands or brothers were opposed to those of my own.
At that time we had no assurance that the war would end during-
the next year. .
To fortify several places became advisable. As Keytesville court
house was burned by rebel forces, and the town had no fortification, I
ordered a substantial stockade to be erected, and when it was com
pleted one Company could have resisted a whole regiment, unless at
tacked by artillery, for an indefinite time by the protection the stocks
ade gave. ;
I placed Lieut. Wrocklok in command of the Keytesville Post
till the stockade was completed. While at work on it he wrote me a
letter which I consider of sufficient interest to reproduce here as it
throws additional light upon the affairs as they existed at that time.
So here it is:. HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Post, Keytesville, Mo., November 23, 1864.
Capt. Louis Benecke :
Dear Sir: — Your favor of the 22nd came to hand last night at 9 o'clock..
I am sorry to hear of your being unwell, but hope it is not serious. The mes
senger I dispatched this morning to your Headquarters returned here with your
orders at 1 o'clock. I gave the orders to Capt. Holland, who is perfectly recon
ciled in staying here. We had started out a scout to-day of twenty-six men,
mainly composed of Capt. Holland's men, in search of a Union man, who had
gone in the direction of Salisbury, yesterday morning, but had not yet returned,.
and his brother-in-law, "Kerr," firmly believed that he was murdered by Jack-

—23-
son's gang, which, I am truly, sorry to inform you, has actually been done yes
terday evening. The. body has not yet been found on account of darkness com
ing on before they could get to the place, where the man, bad -been foully mur
dered by Jackson's gang. There are now only eight of Jackson's men heard
of. We intend to start out another scout early -to-morrow mofnihg; — thirty
men in all, partly to recover the body and partly to strike the trail of these-
devils. The scout will be commanded by Lieutenant Backer, who seems to be
an energetic man. Kerr and Hurt will act as guides, and it is understood that
if this scout should strike the trail of the bushwhackers that they will follow
it, till they run them down or fight them. If T had you only here, I would then
feel satisfied, that we would run into them, but I suppose, from what you say
in your letter, that* you have your hands full. If I might judge your business
by mine here, then I know that you have got more than you can attend to
easily. The fortress is progressing finely — three sides of the trenches are com
pleted. We will commence setting in the pallisades in the morning, and I think
we will get' all the timbers on the ground by to-morrow evening. The Rebels
curse me nicely — that tickles me. I love to see them sweat. But how much1
more will they love me before another month?
I intend keeping most of the teams here after they are done hauling posts-,.
for hauling up forage and firewood, also the darkies for gathering the contra
band corn that is in the neighborhood, and have it cribbed in a good place.
Capt. Buckshardt started from here this morning with twenty-two men and
four mule teams, at 9 o'clock. But my dear sir, that Company is in an abomin
able lawless condition. It needs a hard hand to keep them in order. I shall try
my very best to make these men fit for service, cost what it may. If you will
let me know if I shall recruit for our Company, then I shall go to work at once.
The Rebel women here are just like those you got — every half hour there
comes a squad of them to get passes for St. Louis or Illinois. Of course d
give them with great pleasure after scaring them first.
Mrs. Salisbury was here to-day to claim protection against Federal sol
diers, for she says that Capt. Rausch stole nearly everything in her house that
he or his men could lay their hands on. I told her that her husband was to
blame for not being at home, but that I would grant her every possible pro
tection in my power against bushwhackers and thieves, but as to Federals being
thieves, that I knew she must be mistaken. She left me in great wrath and I
hope will not return.
Sergeant Slister is here ; he came in this evening, and say's he will stay
here till he hears from you, and begs of you to let him know what he shall do.
I received another contraband horse to-day, he is in very bad condition, but
I shall keep him subject to your orders.
I have established a good hospital here in the house of Mr. Hershey.
There are five patients in it at present.
I have forbidden all sales of liquors, to prevent disorder. It creates a good
deal of dissatisfaction among the E. M- M., but I don't- care for that.
I have talked myself nearly hoarse standing out on the fortifications, and
have besides a dreadful cough, but I feel a great satisfaction in seeing those
devils work.
Let me hear from you by the messenger how you are progressing m clean
ing out Chariton county.
I write this at 1 o'clock at night. I shall start the messenger by daybreak.
Accept my kindest regards and believe me to be Always yours truly,
F. B. Wrockloff.
N. B. — Interrogate the messenger.
I find that restraint in the disposition of intoxicating liquors be
came, advisable as a military necessity. I caused notice to be served
on all beer or liquor dealers, and required them to acknowledge re
ceipt of notice by endorsing their names on my circular letter. I still
have the original with their autographs on it, which reads as follows :

—24— HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Brunswick, Mo., January ,7, 1865.
-(Circular.) All dealers in spirits, liquors or intoxicating drinks will strictly comply with
the following regulations :
I. A permit to buy whiskey, &c, to a limited quantity must be signed by
'Capt. Benecke, Provost Marshal of this county, or his Deptuy.
II. All such passes must be retained by persons selling on the permits.
III. Liquors mixed with medicines in drug stores on prescriptions of
physicians are allowed to be sold without the approval of the A. A. P. M.
By order *of
Louis Benecke,
Capt. 49th Inft. Mo. Vols. Com'dg. Post & A. A. P. M.
A. Mackay, Clerk. service hereof acknowledged, by:
John F. Cunningham Samuel Heiman Fred Sasse
James M. Douglas Mrs. X Witmer John Strub
John Hartman J. B. Norman J. T. Meyer
The Andrew Mackay signed as Clerk is Mr. Andrew Mackay now
in St. Louis, and is the son of the late Senator Mackay.
A very unpleasant duty placed upon me was the execution of
orders notifying women that they were ordered to be sent within the
Confederate lines ; in other words, they were banished from the Union
into the so-called Confederacy.
v I made a strong effort to rescind the orders as to several ladies
and children whom I had known prior to the war, and whom I held
in high regard, notwithstanding their sympathies and activities for the
South, but I failed to secure the release Of any one.
One of the orders I found in my scrap-book and copy it here, as
it is .a scrap of history worth knowing.
OFFICE AS ST. PROVOST MARSHAL,
FIRST SUB. DISTRICT, NORTH MISSOURI,
Macon, January 17, 1865.
'Special Orders,
No. 8.
In accordance with instructions from Brig. General Fisk, Commanding
District, North Mo., Mrs. Francis Owens and children, residing in Chariton
¦county, Mo., will on the 10th day of March,. 1865, report to the Provost Mar
shal General, Department of the Mo., at St. Louis, Mo., for banishment,, beyond
the lines of the United States forces, during the existing rebellion in the United
'States. D. C. M. Kay, Maj. and Asst. Pro. Marshal.
L. Benecke, Capt. and- A. A. P. M.
LIST OF PERSONS TO BE REPORTED FOR BANISHMENT.
Mrs. Rosaline McCord and children. " Marilla Collett and children.
" Elizabeth McCord and children. " Elizabeth Owens and children.
" Elizabeth Scott and children. " Elizabeth Moseley and children.
" Jemima Thomas. " Elizabeth Fuller.
" Elizabeth Broc'kman and children. " Elizabeth Tippett and children.
" Flora Moseley and children. " Elizabeth Haines and children.
" Mahaley Drew and children. " Ann Noble.
"" Elizabeth Chapman and_ children. " Francis Owens and children.
-" Mary Bivens and children. Miss Sarah Case.
"" Mary Shoemater -and -children.

-25—
I learned that the order for banishment was almost entirely based!
upon the report of the Secret Service man, who freely intermingled
with the bushwhackers, and who was supposed to be one of them.
Our active scouting by day and by night was made more effective-
from the fact that nearly all the confidential communication between-
the various bands passed through the secret Confederate mail service,.
which was inspected by one of my non-commissioned officers. Of this,
of course, the writers and mail carriers had no knowledge. A few-
words of explanation may here be pertinent. A system of conveying,
. letters to the Confederates and the bushwhackers had been inaugur
ated, which for promptness and expeditiousness was almost equal to the-
U. S. Post Office service in the Western States as it existed at that
time. There were small boxes or old tin cans placed out of sight, but
at convenient places near the public highways, generally in hollow.
trees, under stumps, or in weeds at road crossings in the prairie.
The mail was carried almost exclusively by ladies who took the-
letters from one place to another and at the same time carried back the-
mail going the other way.
There was one Confederate mail box on the bank of the Missouri!
river, under the roots of an old Cottonwood tree, into which the mail
¦ coming and going across the river was deposited. Another box was
in a ravine near Col. Bruce's farm, north of Brunswick, and additional
stations were further north, west and east; I believe the principal
"office" where all mail north and south passed was in the cottonwood
tree on the bank of the Missouri river. I found that the mail from
the south was deposited in this at night, and it was taken out by a lady-
residing in Brunswick in the afternoon. The Secret Service man had
posted me, and I had selected an intelligent and discreet non-commis
sioned officer of my Company (Sergeant Young) and appointed him
as my "Confederate mail inspector." All private letters, love letters,
and letters between relatives, were expedited without delay, .while-
those containing information about movements of troops, appoint
ments, etc., were held and first submitted to me, and by these pointers
I was often enabled to be about the place when rendezvous were con
templated to be held, or were attempted to be held by our enemies.
Some very interesting communications were brought to my notice, of
which I may speak later, especially of one wherein a proposition was
made by a lady to surprise and assassinate me when visiting a friend
of mine whose residence was not far from the Missouri river, south
east portion of our city.
The result of our activity, stimulated from time to time by a skir
mish, made it very unsafe for the bushwhackers, especially after my-
entire Company was armed with the celebrated Spencer carbine seven-
shooters. I obtained these Spencer rifles under the following circumstances :¦
The massacre at Cenfralia by Anderson's men had demonstrated
the uselessnees of muzzle-loading rifles in fights with guerillas. I had;
made a requisition to be supplied with Spencer rifles, and my requisi
tion received a strong endorsement from General Clinton B. Fisk, Gen
eral Rosekranz, and also the approval of Secretary Stanton, but it was-

—26—
turned down by the Chief Ordnance Officer, because it was alleged
that there were not sufficient arms of that kindi on hand. General Fisk
regretted that very much, and since I could not obtain those guns
from the United States I proposed to make some arrangement by
which we could obtain them. Each one: of my men agreed to pay for
¦one gun, to become his property as soon as paid for, provided I could
¦obtain them. I did not have sufficient funds, hence I had to borrow
money, and purchased one hundred at forty dollars a piece.
A majority of my men paid me for their guns, but after m;y
Company was sent South many guns were lost before the men were
paid, hence the loss fell on me; I paid all 'my notes, some after the close
•of the: war.
When law and order had been restored in North Missouri, the
services of the 49th Missouri Volunteers was required- in the South,
:and my Company was included, notwithstanding the promise made to
us that we should be retained in Missouri. In compliance with orders
we marched to Mexico, Missouri, there dismounted and took the rail
road for St. Louis, and steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans, for
the Mobile campaign. .
It is not my. intention to write of our campaign outside of Chari
ton county, Missouri, as others have given a full account of the cam
paign from Mobile, Ala., to the close of. the war.
But my narrative would not be complete if I failed to mention
that after my Company and I had left Chariton county and reached
New Orleans, certain irresponsible parties had filed charges against
me which required me to appear before a Court of Inquiry. As soon
.as taken up by the Court, however, and evidence taken, the charges
were dismissed, and instead of being reprimanded, I was recommended
for faithful discharge of my duties.
The charge was that I had killed or caused to be killed a peaceful
-citizen named Charles Paul.
Secondly, that when my -Company was dismounted at Mexico I
had permitted my men to dispose of their horses, which my accusers
erroneously alleged to have been Government property.
Upon the report of the Court of Inquiry General Fisk ordered
the horses, which were taken away from the citizens to whom my men
delivered their horses to be returned to them, and thus settled that
point, and, as to the killing of Charles Paul, it was shown that while
he was arrested by my men because found with a revolver in his pos
session, and giving his name as Charles Bauer, a report of which was
made and in compliance with orders he was delivered to Captain St.
Clair of the 17th Illinois Cavalry, who with his Company passed
through Brunswick on his way to Macon City. Not one of my men
accompanying the soldiers who had charge of the prisoner. Some
where near Bucklin the prisoner was shot while attempting to escape.
Capt. St. Clair's report fully and completely exonerated me from the
charge, and I returned to my Company and remained until we were
"honorably mustered out on August 2nd, 1865.
I quote from the report of General Clinton B. Fisk, dated April '
17, 1865:

—27 -
"It appears from the paper marked A, that Captain Benecke arrested Charles
Paul and sent him forward under guard (Capt. St. Clair, commanding, of 17th
Illinois), to District Headquarters, together with charges against him, and that
lie was killed by the guard while attempting to escape, and that Cjpt. Benecke
is in no way responsible for the killing, neither he nor any one of his Company
being present or near the place where Paul was killed."
In regard to the charge that I permitted eleven of my men to
appropriate Government horses, the following Order, being issued as
a result of a full investigation by Court of Inquiry, is a complete
exonoration of the charge :

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Oify (p/rc/jyr (7/ /&vc-f /kciv6 (¦
HEADQUARTERS, DISTRICT NORTH MISSOURI,
Macon, Mo., May 10th, 1865.
Special Order,
No. 96.
1. In compliance with instructions this day received from Headquarters,
Department of the Mossouri, Capt. A. G. Burr, A. Q. M., District North Mis-

souri, will deliver to Capt. Louis Benecke, Co. I, 49th Missouri Infantry, eleven
horses, the private property of enlisted men of his Company, which were taken
from them by the Provost Marshal Department, upon proper identification by
Capt. Benecke of said animals. By order of Brig. Gen'l Fisk.
W. T. Clark,
Asst. Adjt. Gen'l.
To Capt. Louis Benecke, Co. I, 49th Mo. Inf.
The years 1866 to 1870 were ntot without interesting transactions,
in which I participated, mostly of a quasi public nature. It covers a
period of Chariton county's unwritten history that will prove of inter
est to the older citizens who were actors upon the stage of life, as well
as those who came thereafter.
After my muster-out, August 2nd, 1865, I returned to my home
in Brunswick. The return of hundreds of men from both armies
caused but little friction. The Union boys were satisfied that the
Federal Government was supreme, and the "Johnnies" had enough,
and submitted with much grace to the inevitable. In fact the soldiers
of both armies were better friends to one another than those who
stayed at home.
It was the "stay-at-home" fellows who were just getting ready to
fight that caused the greatest trouble and turmoil. The Mayor, Judge
S. Mausey, too timid, failed to enforce the law against many of these
rowdies and drunkards, and as a result life was made unsafe, or at
least unpleasant.
It was under such condition that a number of the leading citizens
requested me to run for, that is, accept the office of Mayor. I con
sented, and was elected by a very large majority. '
I enforced the law. Mr. R. A. Scott, the Marshal, was not only
given my individual support but I appointed a sufficient number of
deputy police officers, and the result was that within a few months
Brunswick became as orderly a town as could be found anywhere in
the United States.
I consider that the Republican party made a very great mistake
at that time by not inviting the ex-Confederates to join them. The
Democrats had disfranchised them (see record of the Constitutional
Convention of 1862-63) and the ex-Confederates (not the bushwhack
ers ) were, so to speak, without a home ; they .were, mistaken when they
risked their lives to break up this grand Republic, but they had been
misled, and thought they were in the right.
Now, if the Republican party had extended the hand of brother-^;
hood to the returned sons, I belieye that Missouri would have re
mained a Republican State. But this did not suit the office holders,
who were ever ready to waive the bloody shirt and keep themselves in
office. Under the law as first enacted by the Democrats of the Convention
elected in 1861, and afterwards re-enacted by the Drake constitution
of 1865, all persons who had been in the Confederate army, or who
had aided or abetted or sympathized with the Rebellion, were disfran
chised, and a board of registering officers was required to prepare lists

-29-
of qualified voters, also a list of disqualified persons, whose ballots
were not to be counted.
The registering officers of Chariton county were at that time
(1866) Mr. Jas. Johnson, F. C. Wicks, Lucian Spencer, J. J. Abrigg,
and Wm. Stroemer.
These officers were threatened by an element consisting of the
stay-at-homes and bushwhackers. This induced them to adjourn from
Keytesville to Brunswick, and to ask me as Mayor of the city to take
measures to protect them from violence by a mob, if one should be
formed, to destroy their registration books. I investigated the matter
and became convinced that there was an organized effort made by the
stay-at-home and bushwhacker element, led by a few Democratic poli
ticians to overide law and intimidate the registration officers, and; per
haps do them personal violence.
This required action on my part as chief civil officer of Bruns
wick, and under authority of special charter of the city I deputized
about 100 men as special police, and selected most of my old Company
and other Union soldiers as my deputies, and armed them with
Spencer rifles, which had been purchased by the county and were
under care of Judge Cunningham, presiding Judge of the Count)-
Court, who consented that the city police should make use of them.
When this was made public, and a review of my special police was held,
who with military precision obeyed the commands given, word was
sent to the fellows who had organized in the eastern part of the county
for the purpose of coming to Brunswick, "not to come to Bruns
wick," but some kind of a complaint must have been made by some
influential Democrat to induce General Hancock to send a Major
Kelley with a battalion of two or three Companies from Sedalia to
Brunswick, with the avowed intention of disarming my special police.
Major Kelley came to my office with two -other commissioned Officers,
while his soldiers remained on. the banks on the south side of the Mis
souri river. The Major ga've me a written order of which the follow
ing is a copy : . Brunswick, Chariton County, Mo.,
Oct. 27, 1866.
Order :
The Major General Commanding the Dept. of Missouri directs that the
Spencer rifles belonging to this county (Chariton) be restored from whence
they were taken, and the whole number placed in charge of Judge Cunningham.
By command of Major Gen'l Hancock,
Signed) James R. Kelley,
Bat. Major U. S. A.,
A. A. D. C.
I prepared a reply of which the following is a copy :
MAYOR'S OFFICE, BRUNSWICK, MO.
James R. Kelley, Oct. 27, 1866.
Major U. S. A.
Sir: — You will please inform Major Gen'l Hancock, Commanding the De
partment of Missouri, that his order directing re-storage of Spencer rifles now
in hands of my special deputy city marshals, will be ignored, and if you want
them, you must take them at your own risk, as any attempt on your part to
enforce this order will be resisted by force, under authority of myself as Mayor
and chief civil officer of the City of Brunswick.

-30-
You will please call Major General's' attention to the fact that since the
close of the war, martial law no longer prevails, and civil law executed by civil
officers is supreme.
I further invite your attention to the third amendment to the United States.
Constitution and Articles of War and General Regulation of the United States .
Army, and advise you that I, as Mayor, shall provide quarters for your men if
you conclude to visit our city. Respectfully, Louis Benecke,
Mayor of City of Brunswick, Mo.
My reply must have been very disappointing, as a council of war
was immediately held in the office of Col. Samuel Taylor. I learned
afterwards that a heated debate took place, wherein Col. Taylor, Ben
Naylor and some others urged Major Kelley to bring his battalion over
and enforce his order; while Judge Charles A. W'inslow, Stark
Mauze'y, Willis Plunkett and others most strenuously opposed such
move, saying that they knew me and my special police, that I had -a
superior force and well-disciplined company -of "veterans, who would
fight, .and after a more deliberate consideration and a personal talk with
me, Major Kelley recrossed the Missouri river and countermarched
his force back to Sedalia.
I sent a full report of my action to Gov. Thomas C. Fletcher, to
gether with a- copy of Major Kelly's -order, and this is Gov. Fletcher's.
reply, written by himself on the back of the order, which I had photo-
lithographed because worth preserving:

-31-

C*^y^> ^^VL__e--L^_- CA &_*— ^ A— ^v*\>,

5 /<£-> ^/(jlA^^J^A,

JL

The Andrew Johnson regime had its effect upon the middle and?
southern States in retarding rather than stimulating a perfect recon
ciliation between the North and the South.
It is a matter of history that active Republicans who favored the-
repeal of the Rebel disfranchisement clause had been volunteer sol
diers. I favored the repeal because the honest ex-Confederate obeyed
the law, while the dishonest bushwhacker and his allies disregarded it,.
and disregarded the sanctity of an path by qualifying as a voter.

';-• -32-
I was elected chairman of the County Republican party; I stood
for enforcement of the law until it was repealed, but was in favor of
Its repeal at' the earliest possible moment. In this spirit I attended
several meetings of co-laborors which were held at the old Planters
House in St. Loujs, at which Carl Schurz, Wm. Grovenor, B. Grate
Brown, Emil Pretorius, Enos Clark, Louis Gotschalk were active agi
tators for a liberal policy.
Opposed to this element was Charles D. Drake, M. Hilton and
office holders generally.
The difference of opinion as to what should be -the policy of the
Republican party finally resulted in a split in our party, and the nomi
nation of two tickets, the one headed by Governor McClurg the other
by B. Gratz Brown.
During this period I found some time to devote to local improve
ments ; I wrote the first notice calling for organizing pur city as a
public school district, and on the first election held the- Rev. Wentz,
L. A. Cunningham, and I were elected as first trustees of the public
school. By our management we overcame the opposition to public
schools which existed at that time, and it may not be amiss for me to
state that by repeated re-election I served over 38 years as a member
of our public school board, and finally relieved myself by resigning last
February a year ago (1908).
A railroad project for a railroad from Brunswick to Omaha by
-way of Chillicothe received my active support. I was elected director
at its organization, and remained as a director till the road was com
pleted. It is now a part of the Wabash railroad.
A county board of immigration was formed, of which I became
President, and a number of our present substantial citizens, still living
liere, owe their location in this county to our activity in the sixties.
I was nominated as a candidate for Senator of this senatorial dis
trict; I accepted the nomination but did not expect to overcome a 600
majority of the opposition strength, but to my surprise I was elected
by about 500 majority. I served for four years, leaving imprint
on the State legislation as evidence of my activity as State Senator.
I append a few extracts from newspapers.
These are the most important points of historical value and of
transactions of which I took an active part from 1860 to 1870, the
period to which this sketch is confined.
I feel grateful to my friends who- never lagged behind in their
devotion to me. I have forgiven my enemies, at least feel very indif
ferent towards them, as they never amounted to very much anyway.
I have never been defeated for any elective office.
If time permits I shall add a few chapters covering the period
from 1870 to 1880, and may be down to date.
The following copied from stray leaves in my scrap-book tend to
fortify some of the foregoing.
I also append a circular statement published in 1892, exposing a
malicious slander secretly circulated by some enemy. Louis Benecke.

33-
Extract from The Brunswicker of January 28, 1865.
When Captain Benecke took command of this Post, he found things in a-
state of chaotic confusion; many worthy citizens, and in fact nearly everybody,
were making calculations on leaving the county before the putting out of leaves
next spring, fearing that bushwhackers and predatory bands would make it im
possible for an honest man to remain in the county.
But their confidence in his ability and willingness to put down all species
of marauding, to defeat bushwhacking and maintain peace in the county, has:
wrought quite a change.
Business in town, once clogged and almost at a standstill, now begins to
assume an appearance of cheerful activity. The farmer who made up his mind
to abandon his farm and seek protection elsewhere, is now preparing his plows.
and implements for the coming season.
We consider Captain Benecke eminently qualified for the particular kind
of service required at this Post. He and his men all know the crossings and
by-paths frequented by bushwhackers far better than any stranger that might
be sent here, and in addition to this, the company is well armed and equipped
with revolvers and the Spencer rifle, a formidable gun that shoots seven times.
without reloading. The Weekly Brunswicker, Saturday, April 4, 1874.
Reform At Last. — The Chariton county reform bill, which we publish on
the first, page of our paper this week, has successfully passed through all the
forms of legislation and is now the law in this county. The true friends of
retrenchment and reform have triumphed at last over the champions of sham
and bogus reform, and it now remains for the people to make fast all that has
been gained by selecting the proper men to -fill the various offices provided for
in the bill, especially county judge, which is by far the most important office the
people of this county have ever been called upon to fill. We advise the people
to be very cautious and slow in committing themselves to any candidate that
may offer for this office. We warn them here and now against the intrigues of
the court house ring. They are at heart opposed to this bill, just as they are to
the township organization law, and will do all in their power to make it un
popular. Grangers, we warn you to be on your guard.
The combination that fought this reform boast that they control your
organization, and threaten to use it in their own interest, and unite it with out
side combinations to secure success, if necessary. Beware ! Look to your
organization and see that it is not prostituted to base purposes. It has already
suffered much in this respect.
We cannot close this article without some mention of the valuable services
that several gentlemen in the legislature have rendered the people in connection
with the bill. Chief among them is Senator Benecke. He made a grand fight
for the bill, and never allowed his energies to flag or his vigilance to sleep until
it was signed by the Governor. The task he undertook and successfully per
formed seem almost superhuman under the circumstances, and we assure our
friends that it was not accomplished without energy and effort and tact com
bined, such as is rarely exhibited in legislation. Senator Benecke was ably
and faithfully assisted by Hon. Chas. E. Peers, of Warren, of the house com
mittee on local bills, who reported the bill to the house and made a gallant and
successful fight for its passage.

(Copy of Resolution.)
Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of L. Benecke, the Mayor of
the City of Brunswick, we express our regret at _ the necessity of parting with
his services as Mayor of the city and assistance in the discharge of the duties
of the Council, etc.
That while we express our regret at his absence from our midst we would
congratulate him on the position won.
That we believe him to have discharged the duties of Mayor with prompt-

-34-
~ness_ and fidelity, and that the interests of the city have been faithfully guarded
~in his administration, and that he, for the discharge of his duties, deserves the
^thanks of the city.
That a copy of these resolutions' be forwarded to him. . -
1, Jackson Brock, Clerk of the City of Brunswick, hereby certify the. above
to be a. true copy of the resolutions passed by the City Council of Brunswick,
-on the 3rd. day of January, 1871.
[seal] Jackson Brock,
Clerk of the City of Brunswick.
(Copy.) Kirksville. Missouri, April 3, 1872.
The following - resolutions were unanimously , and enthusiastically adopted:
Resolved, That we, the teachers and students of the N. M. S. N. S. tender
our grateful thanks to the noble benefactors of our State, who have labored so
energetically and efficiently to secure an appropriation to complete our Normal
"School Building.
Resolved, That we return our special thanks to the Hon. Louis Benecke.
J. Baldwin, Principal,
C. W. Bigger, Linn County,
W. F. Drake, Chariton County,
J. C. Stevens, Clark County, Committee.
SOLDIERS' HOME NOTES.
AN EFFICIENT OFFICER.
[The St. James Journal, July 5, 1901.]
After a, faithful service of four gfears as president of the board of man
agers of the Soldiers.'. Home, Capt. Louis Benecke stepped down and out at the
annual meeting in June, declining the honor to further act as the. head of that
body, although earnestly solicited to do so. Capt. Benecke was the, first presi
dent of the board after the Home was established by act of the State legisla
ture. During that time, as a .matter of course, the duties of the office was
-quite laborious and required a great deal of his time and attention, in fact so
much so that scarcely -a month passed hut what he wa$ here. However, the
office was conducted in a business-like and satisfactory manner, and was the
subject of favorable and complimentary^ mention by Governor Stevens in one of
"his messages. , At the annual meeting in June, and upon his retiring as presi
dent of the board, the following complimentary resolution from his fellow-
members was unanimously adopted:
"Be it resolved by the State Federal Soldiers' Home Board of Trustees:
That we deeply and sincerely regret to know that Capt. Louis Benecke has
•determined upon not allowing, his name to be used again for president of the
board; that since, the organization of the board he has been faithful and
energetic in the performance of his duties ; that we will "always remember with
raffection his many acts of kindness and usefulness and devotion to tie interest
(•of the Home and all its inmates. .
Unanimously -adopted by the hoard June S, 1901."
Frances M. Wheeler, Setfy.

—35-
HISTORICAL "LANDMARKS."

In January 21st, 1861, State Legislature passed act calling State Con
vention.
On February 18th, 1861, the election of Members of Congress took
place. Gov. Sterling Price was elected as "the Union" dele
gate.
On February 28th, 1861, Convention met, and organized by electing
Gov. Sterling Price as President, and after declining to pass
a secession ordinance, adjourned on 27th March, 1861, to
meet subject to call of Executive Committee.
On June 22nd, 1861, Convention re-convened.
On October 10th, 1861, Convention re-convened under call of Gov.
Gamble, and on October 18th, 1861, adjourned subject to call
of Gov. Gamble.
On June 2nd, 1862, Convention met pursuant to call of Gov. Gamble
at Jefferson City.
May 10th, 1861, Camp Jackson, St. Louis, Mo.
June 17th, 1861, Battle at Booneville.
November 30th, 1861, Fight at Hurricane Creek.
August 8th, 1864, Fight at Butler's farm.'
September 27th, 1864, Centralia Massacre.
October 14th, 1864, Price captured Glasgow, Mo.
Of my skirmishes I mention the following additional before No
vember, 1864 :
August 20th, 1864, near Roanoke, Randolph county.
September 28th, 1864, near Keytesville, Chariton county.
October 17th, 1864, at near Magee College.
October 26, 1864, at Paris, Monroe county;

1 12 13 1415 16 1718 19
20 21 2223 2425 26 2728 29 3031 32 33 343536 37 38 39
40
41 42

CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF LOUIS BENECKE,

1843
1855 18561857
1,858 18591860 186118621863 1864 1865 1866 18671868 1869 1870 1871 18721873 1874
1875 1876 18771878 18791880 1881 1882
1883 1884 1886

/**

Born May 1 1843; years 1 to 11 at Stiege, Schuetzenkonig; on Boys' Freischussen, when 11 years old.
Passed lamination before Prof. Muller, and admitted to Blankenburg College (Gymnasium).
Came to America; located at Brunswick, Mo.
Attended Brunswick High School for three months; clerked for F. Sasse.
Liederkranz at Brunswick and Turner Association; clerk Hotel Harry House. .
Clerk Dry Goods Store of Wm. Ladd & Co.; learned book-keeping; commenced reading law.
^^SSSSS^T^SS^SS: C^nytcame secession; Sept 11 1861 mustered in Co Hff Mo Vol. (U.S.).
Promoted to Sergeant Co. H 18th Mo.; Battle of Shiloh April 6; taken prisoner with Qem. Prentiss; parolled Oct. 19, 1862.
March 4 honorable discharge on account of disability contracted in Rebel Prison. .,,-.„, v ,
TTfrfp 8 commissioned Lieut Co.E.35th E.M.M.; placed on special duty in Co.B. (Independent Co.); recruited Co. for U.S.Vol
LrnnNnvl7 1864 was assigned as Co. I 49th Mo.Voh, and placed in command of Dist. of Chariton Co. under Gen. Fisk.
Wen! south witl ^egimentTc ^ew Cleans; detailed as Asst. lisp. gLi. under Gen. Carr, 16th Army Corps at Montgomery, Ala.;
Ele^VaVnfB^wiS^Ste^jSBiice of the Peace; Chairman Co. Republican Com.; admitted to Bar of Chariton Co. .
V PcrPrl Ktor of ' Public School; re-elected Mayor; organized and became Trustee of German Lutheran Church of Brunswick
Delegate Pte -State Republican Convention; member State Republican Committee; Director of B. & C. R. R.; on June 23 marne
Re-elected Mayor; elected State Senator; resigned as Mayor and School Director,
State Senator; Chairman of Committee on Board of Corporation; re-elected Director B. & C. R. R,
State Senator.
State Senator.
State Senator.
Cit^Counfenor; elected member of City Council; elected to School Board.
Elected Mayor of Brunswick.
Re-elected Trustee School Board.
Re-elected Mayor.
'organized Elliott Grove Cemetery; Deputy Gross Barden D. O. H.; re-elected to School Board and Mayor.
Re-elected Mayor.
Re-elected to School Board.
Re-elected Mayor over Col, Miisser,

43

1886

44

1887

45

1888

46

1889

47

1890

48

1891

49

1892

50

1893

51

1894

52

1895

53

1896

54

1997

55

1898

56

1899

57

1900

58

1901

59

1902

60

1903

61

1904

62

1905

63

1906

64

1907

65

1908

Deputy Grand Dictator K. of H. „.,*„¦¦-,
Re-elected to School Beard; elected Commander Post 268 G.A.R. ; electe i Councilman of City; President of Council.
Alternate Del. National Republican Convention at Chicago; resigned as Trustee German Lutheran Church: Gross Barden D.O.H.
Delegate National Encampment G.A.R. ; Director and Secy. Elliott Grove Cemetery; Director First National Bank; City Council.
Elected Judge Advocate G. A. R. of Missouri; re-elected Director Public Schools, Elliott Grove Cemetery and First Nat 1 Bank;
Delegate to National Supreme Lodge K. of H.
Elected Director First Nat'l Bank; Brunswick B&T. Co.; Director Elliott Grove Cemetery.
Elected Chairman Republican Congressional Committee; Grand Dictator of K. of H.; Senior Vice Dept. Commander G. A. K.;
Alternate Delegate to National Republican Convention at Minneapolis. "
Director First Nat'l Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; Secy, and Director Elliott Grove Cemetery; School Board; City Council and Crranoj
Dictator K. of H.
Joined Loyal Legion. ».
Department. Commander Grand Army of the Republic.
Elected Alternate Delegate to National Republican Convention; re-elected to School Board.
Delegate Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress, Salt Lake City; elected President Board of Trustees State Soldiers' Home.
Re-elected President Board of Trustees Soldiers' Home; Director First, Nat'l Bank; B. B. & T. Co. ; and Elliott Grove Cemetery.
Re-elected President Board of Trustees Soldiers' Home; Director First Nat'l Bank; B. B. & T. Co ; Elliott Grove Cemetery; and
Re-elected President Board of Trustees Soldiers' Home; Director First Nat'l Bank; B.B. & T. Co.; Elliott Grove Cemetery; and
School Board; appointed City Counselor.
Re-elected Director of First Nat'l Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; Elliott Grove Cemetery. v
Re-elected Director of Public School; First Nat'l Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; and Ellioit Grove Cemetery Association. >
Director of Public School; First National Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; and Elliott Grove Cemetery Association. *»^
Director of Public School; First National Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; and Elliott Grove Cemetery Association.
Director of Public School; First National Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; and Elliott Grove Cemetery Association.
Director of Public School; First National Bank; B. B". & T. Co. : and Elliott Grove Cemetery Association.
In Europe; Director Public School; First National Bank; B. B. & T. Co.; and Elliott Grove Cemetery Association.
Delegate to National Republican Convention at Chicago; appointed on Committee to Notify Vice President Sherman; resigned as
Director of Public School.
I attended every Republican State Convention from 1866 to 1908, except two; also was Delegate from this County to all Congressional,
Senatorial and Judicial Conventions of my District.

SOME LIGHT

=TT£=0£T Al

_2S.

^.A.^

•x> _

?J

11 COUNTY E

^j\gsr(S^ *

Rumor is a pipe
Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures;
And of so easy and so plain a stop,
That the blunt monster with uncounted heads.
The still — discordant wavering multitude,
Can play upon it. — Shakespeare.

AN August 8th, 1864, one William Carter, a member of Cap-
^ tain Stanley's Co. "B," Thirty-Fifth Eegiment,, E. M. M.,
while visiting his sick mother, who lived on a farm near Keytes
ville, Mo., was taken prisoner by Bushwhacker Jim Jackson's
gang, stripped naked, tied to a tree in the' yard and shot at by
the gang till his body was riddled with over thirty bullets, and
he was then left dead, still tied to the tree. '
Stanley's company brought in the corpse and buried it.
I 'have information to the effect that one of the participants- in ,
that murder was afterwards caught, shot, and thrown in the
river at Brunswick; and, without making any comments upon
his fate; relate the above in order to make clear some things
that were shrouded in mystery and were not known to me till
after I had investigated the same.
I made such investigation because it had been rumored
and insinuated that I was one of the. parties who participated
in the latter, or was present and authorized it to be done.
While I have -never had any responsible party to accuse me of
it, in such a way as to fasten a case of slander, or libel, yet I
have reason to! believe that this malicious rumor has been re
ported and circulated under the seal of secrecy in one form or
another, till nearly everybody around here has heard of it and
some may have placed more or less credence therein.
I have failed to find any respectable person who knew me
who believed the rjimor connecting me with the above; on the
contrary, the fact that for more than twenty-five years I have
been repeatedly honored by my fellow- citizens in electing me
to various offices of trust and honor, never having been defeat-

2
edjior any office for which I was a candidate, justified me to
believe that the scandal-mongers failed to alienate public don-
fidence so frequently and emphatically expressed.
In the discharge of my duties as a public officer I have at
various times aroused the bitter animosity of persons who
found me a stubborn impediment to their schemes and plans,
especially when they tried to accomplish things that they had
reasons to be kept in the dark. To seek revenge or to lessen
my influence, some of these sneaks and cowards have reached'
the ears of some strangers, and under the seal of confidence
told strangers — ''It has been said," or "some think that
Captain Benecke did so^ihd so," taking pains to disavow any
direct accusation by which they might have made themselves
criminally or civilly liable,; yes, even pretending to regret that
such reports existed at all, when as a matter of fact, their sole
object was fa poison. the minds and prejudice the parties
against myself.
Now, as I cannot live always to meet my enemies, and as
some of my friends have fought my battles for me without hav
ing any knowledge of the facts, but simply judging by my gen
eral character and conduct that I could not be guilty of such
serious wrong and remain^ right here where the wrong was com
mitted, I have at, the suggestion of a friend taken the pains to
investigate the facts connected with the killing of Wm. Carter
and the retaliation by the killing of J. W. Leonard, and sub
mit so much of the result of my investigation as will show that
I had no connection, direct or indirect, with either of these
lamentable episodes of our civil war.
I state at the outset, that I never knew said Leonard,
never saw him dead or alive, and what I state in regard to him
has ,been learned by me long after the war was over. I have
been especially, favored in finding evidence of the existence of
which I had no knowledge when I began my investigation, for
which I am truly grateful. '
I apologize in advance for reciting some matters which

may appear as boasting on what I have done as, a soldier; but
if I failed to refer to the same, -I could not do justice to the
subject before me. Thus, when- 1 was ordered to take com
mand of the military district composed of Chariton and How
ard counties,,! found a large force of militia and one company
of M. S. M. on duty in my district. ' One of the 5 first steps
taken by me was to "send certain * militia companies out of my
_ district, because I found much complainfragainst them, and the
^llfeling of unsafety for person and property was not confined to
a, few, but appeared to be -general among the resident citizens;
whet'her this, feeling was justified or not, is something I shall
'not undertake to discuss at this.' time. ..;
i. I next issued the following order, a copy .of. which I ob
tained recently from the War Department, as will be seen from
the -.endorsement thereon: ''"¦¦'
HEADQUAETEES U. S. FOECES,
; •' >' Bbtjnswick, Mo., Nov. 25th, 1864.
Special Order, No. 4:
' 1. Having' been sent to this county to restore order and
to-. establish the authority of the. Government, I deem it my
duty to make known to. the public generally that I shall extend
all the protection in my power to all law-abiding citizens. In
order to accomplish this more fully, I shall require' the aid and
assistance of every loyal and well, disposed person within, the
limitation, of my command.
Itjnustby this time be manifest to every one that the
only way to restore peace and quiet to this State is for every
'individual "in1iefidin.g - to ma;ke a permanent residence here, to
give a cordial and prompt support to the Government. Pro
tection on the part of the Government, and support and main
tenance on the part of the citizens, are the reciprocal duties
imposed by. our form of government.
This- alone is t"h'e true solution of our present troubles, and
while I shall so use the power intrusted to me as to extend the

A largest amount of protection to the citizens, I shall expect in
return their hearty aid and support. Bushwhackers and other
irregular forces of the so-called Confederate States are known
and recognized as the public enemies of mankind, and those
who give aid and comfort to such are equally guilty with them.
Th6 severest penalties known to military law will be inflicted
upon and every honest man Should feel it a special duty to
hunt them out and have them brought to justice.
2. Upon hearing of any bands of Bushwhackers in their
neighborhood, or uppn gaining information that any person is
engaged in harboring or feeding them, the person or persons
ascertaining the same will immediately report such information
to the Post at Keytesville or Brunswick, selecting the one that
may be nearest to them. Any person being in possession of
any such information and failing to report the same promptly
will be adjudged guilty of giving aid and comfort to the enemy
and will be punished accordingly. All such information must
be given to the Commanding^ Officer of the Post only.
(Signed) LOUIS BENECKE,
Captain Co. "I," 49th Mo. Volunteers, Commanding Post.
War Department, Eecord and Pension Division, \
January 8th, 1893. \
Official copy respectfully furnished for the information of
Captain Louis Benecke. By authority of the Secretary of
War. ¦ , F. F. AINESWOBTH,
Major and Surgeon United States Army.
Then, next, after a reduction of my command from over
one thousand militia to only Captain Bucksath's Co. "G,"
Thirty-Fifth' Eegiment, E. M .M., and part of Captain Stanley's
Co. "B," Thirty-Fifth Eegiment, E. M.M., and of a company
of the Mnth Eegiment, M. S. M. and my own company, I, by
a systematic and vigilant course, succeeded in driving the
Bushwhackers out of the county and also restored confidence
to our citizens, irrespective of party or former affiliation in our
civil conflict

When I make this statement, I admit that it is not with-
out some degree of .pride, as I was at that time a mere boy — ..
just twenty-one years of age; hence the following document is
a testimonial which I esteem very highly, and, in explanation
of it, state that when I purchased Spencer rifles for the use of
my company in order"to be able to meet the weapons used by
the Guerillas, I had received assurance that 1 should not be
sent out of the State, as I had spent the first two years of my
military life, in the South and preferred to remain near my
aged parents, who then lived in this, county. Thus, when it
was reported that the Forty-Ninth Mo. Volunteer, my company
included, was to be ordered to Mobile. Ala., this petition was
circulated, but- before, it had reached the Department Head
quarters, I was with my commander on our way. to New Or
leans; hence the petition was sent to me with endorsement of
the General Commanding Department that it did not reach him
in time to prevent my transfer from Missouri to Alabama. But
the signatures of the citizens on this petition will show who it
was that endorsed my action while here in Chariton county,
, and it embraces those of all parties, and in fact all prominent
men living here at that time and having personal knowledge of
my military record in Chariton county.

[copy of petition referred to.] ',
Chariton County, Missouri, January 25th, 1865. ,
General 'Clinton B. Fisk, Commanding District North Mo.
The undersigned, loyal citizens of Chariton county,, hav
ing learned with regret that efforts are in progress having in
view the removal of Captain Benecke and his command from
this county, would most respectfully appeal to you to make no
change at present. Captain Benecke is discharging his .duty
with ability and efficiency, and his removal would cause gen
eral dissatisfaction. The company have been armed at private
expense with the Spencer carbine, with a view of making them

6

effective against Bushwhackers, and we think it bnt just that
they should remain in this county The Bushwhackers and
thieves are decreasing daily, and our people begin to feel safe

once more.
Hugh Sportsman,
Jacob Heiman,
John H. Adams,
Alfred Mann,
Philip Hooper,
Samuel Mathews,
John Smith,
David Hampton,
William B. Bruce,
Madison S. Marsh,
Jno. E. M. Triplett,
Joseph F. Walker,
Charles Turner,
H. Glascock,
A. A. Knight,
Jacob Stoeckley,
John S. Smith,
William Hooper,
C. Johnson,
A. Barnes,
W. C. Applegate,
John Frock,
J. W- Long,
A. A Walles, (X)
Wm. Alley,
C. S. Forquener,
Pet.' Moor,
H.B. Alley,
J. E. Smart,
L. A. Cunningham, E. Fisher,
John H. Oneil, Elias Turner,

Bespectfully,

Thos. Allin,; , v
M. A. McOluTe,
John N. Barr,
L. Bosworth, •.',.
John W.j West/-'
John I. Ewing, :
Martin Filzer, .
W. Stroemer,: ;
Jo. Eaaf,
John Knox,
Thomas I. Beazley,
John Strub,
Louis Sasse,
M. Griffen,
Phillip Butticker,
A. C. Eoss,
Saml. W. Sullivan,
Ferd. Striecher,
Jas. F. Eobertson,
Sterling Euye,
Conrad Schlapp,
Andrew J. Crockett,
John Venable,
Wm. H. Warren,
T. J. Marshall;
H. Mortenmeyer, ,
E. Price,
F. J. Heimburger,
P. J. Cox,

J. E. Vickers,
Wm. E. Allin, ¦
D. A. Embree, '- '¦- '
James McCullotighj 'J
J. A. Merchant,
Pettus Perkinson, .
J. B. Hale,
James Allen,
Henry J. Britt,
W. H. Bees,
Thomas E. Serieker,
E. M. Gray,
John Williamson,
Isaac H. Hibler,
Friedolin Meyer,
M. H. Priel,
Joseph Howerton,
I. G. Venable,
S. Mayfielde,
J. E. Allega,
J. Dearing,
A. H. Hooper,
Wm. L. Terrill,
Joshua Bowersmith,
W. S. Pennington,
Henry Kimble,
F. H. Alley,
H. S. Smalley,
Wm. B. Hurd,,
James Allen,
William D. Herring,

Levi Benjainin,
H. E. Mauzey,
John F. Anderson,
Samuel G. Leeper,
John E. Granam>
Stephen Jesse,
Leroy Hise,
John Morton,
James D. Harlow,

Asa Turner, James L. Vaught,
Jesse M. Hare, Joseph Cooly,
B. Bowman, John Laird,
Chas. A. Tomlinson, Charles Isle,

A W. Carter,
Eobert M. Mauzey,
Louis S. Prosser,
John McFarran,
Peter E. Dolman,
Jno. F. Cunningham,

Fred Sasse,
E. C. Gregory,
John Heiman,
Samuel Heiman,
John G. Fetzer,
G. W. Cunningham, J. M. Lunz,
Wm. Mansen. Jas. D. Plunkett.
It seems' reasonable to me that these parties, who signed
this testimonial after I had departed from Chariton county,
ought to know whether or not my efforts were to restore peace
and secure safety to the law abiding citizens of our community ;
or whether I was encouraging a spirit of lawlessness, if not
actually leading it.
I take it that they knew the difference between my admin
istration and that of some others who came and left in quick
succession prior to my arrival, in November, 1864.
In order to keep account of Scouts sent out from my com
pany, I had a record of Scouts kept by the company clerks at
Brunswick. These clerks were E. B. Keyte and Andrew
Mackay, both well-known as gentlemen having the full confi
dence of our population, irrespective of party.
Entries im this scout-book were also made by myself ., and
officers of the company, but generally by the above named
gentlemen. This record shows when Scouts left, who was in
command, when they returned, and what, if anything, was ac
complished by them.
Good fortune preserved it and for the purpose of this sub
ject I hereby give a correct copy of certain entries which have
a direct bearing upon the case.

Record of Scouts of Co. "I," Forty-Ninth Infantry, Missouri. Vols.

I NO.
DATE. of
MEN.

1865.
January 3d.

January 4th

'9

14

Commanding Officer.

Corporal Cox and
Corporal-Mitchell

Capt. Benecke.

Where Sent.

Clark, Keytes
ville and Forks of
Chariton. X
[ON NEXT
Lake Creek.

Why Sent.

After Bush
whackers. X
PAGE.] After Bush
whackers.

CAPTURED.

Horses.

Guns.

Departed.

5 o'clock a.-m,
X
8 o'clock a. to.

Returned.

2 o'clock p.m.
January 4.
X

5 o'clock p. m.
January 5.

REMARKS.

Heard of no Bush
whackers. Brought
in one prisoner, John
W. Leonard. Cap
tured one saddle.

Found the cave
where Bushwhackers
had been quartered on
Lake Creek. Found
one flask of powder
and saddle at Morris'.

oo

From these entries it will be seen that at the time the Scout
came to quarters with J. W. Leonard, that I was out on a
scout in the north part of the county, and did not return till
the next day.
When I returned I did not find the prisoner Leonard, nor
did I make any special inquiry about him, 'but, took his escape,
as it was reported to me, as nothing unusual. The important
bearing of this record was not apparent to me till long after
the war was over, as during my term of service no "rumor"
reached me that would have had an investigation as a result.
Since then, however, I have made further investigation
and hereby give the sworn statements of some (not all) ob
tained, and as to the standing for truth and veracity and gen
eral good character of affiants, I know those who know them
will say that they stand above reproach.

STATE OF TEXAS, )
County of Denton, j ss' E. B. Keyte, of lawful age,
says that in December, 1864, and January, 1865, he was office
clerk in the headquarters of Captain Louis Benecke, Com
mander of the Post at Brunswick, Mo., and as such it was part
of his duty to keep the record of said post, including a record
of Scouts, showing when and where they were sent and when
they returned. This record was kept in the office or head
quarters aforesaid and was well known to him, as he, this de-
, ponent, made most of the. entries therein.
On his last visit to Brunswick, Mo., deponent refreshed'
his memory on certain facts shown by said record, and from
this states that a scout of nineteen men was sent out under
command of Corpora! Cox, which scout left Brunswick on
January 3rd, 1865, at 5 a. m., and returned on January 4th, at
2 p. m., and brought in a prisoner by name of John W.
Leonard. That another scout of fourteen men, under command of
Captain Benecke, left Brunswick at 8 o'clock a. m., on January

10
4th, 1865, and returned at 5 o'clock p. m. on January 5th,
1865. That during the absence of Captain Benecke, Lieut. F.
B. Wrockloff had command of the Post and that when Captain.
Benecke returned from his scout, said prisoner "Leonard" was
gone, he 'being reported as having escaped the night while
Captain Benecke was absent on scout.
I know from personal inspection made on my last visit to
Brunswick that the record entries showing time of return of
Cox's scout, and time of departure and return of Benecke' s
scout, were in my own handwriting and have no doubt as to
the facts as stated. (Signed) . E. B. KEYTE.
Subscribed and sworn to, before me this 26th day of Novem
ber, 1891. (Signed) E. W. TEEEILL,
[Seal. ] A Notary Public in and for Denton County, Texas.
COPY OF J. E. M. TfilPLETT's AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF MISSOUEI, (
Gounty of' Chariton, [ ' " On this 2nd day of De
cember, A. D. 1891, personally appeared before me,' the under
signed, a Notary Public for and within the county and State
aforesaid, Mr. s John E. M. Triplett, who is personally
known to me to be a person of good- standing, entitled to full
credit and belief, and who, upon his oath, declares and states:
That during the month of January, 1865, he was most of the
-time at Brunswick, Mo., remaining near headquarters of the
soldiers then stationed at Brunswick, and was well acquainted
with Captain Louis Benecke, Commander of said Post. He
was also well acquainted with Fredow B. Wrockloff, who was
first Lieutenant and who, during the absence of Captain
Benecke, was the commanding officer of said Post. He well
remembers that on the morning of the 4th day of January,
1865, Captain L. Benecke left on a scout towards Macon City,
and that he remained out on said scout that day, the night of
the 4th to the 5th of January, and returned the next day; he
had some fifteen men with him and I saw him leave as well as
return to the quarters.

11
While Captain Benecke was thus gone on this scout, there
was brought to the camp by another scouting party a prisoner
named Leonard; that at the time said prisoner was brought to
the camp, Lieutenant Wrockloff was in command, and as such
received the report of the Scout and had charge of laid pris
oner; that said prisoner was taken from prison quarters that
night and was never returned ; this was on the night when
Captain Benecke was away on the scout aforesaid, and I know
that when Captain Benecke returned to the quarters from said
scout, said prisoner was gone. I was told that night by Hamp
ton or Ham. Breeze, in presence of Fred Boomer, that one B.
Godfrey, Cole and B. F. Wrockloff had taken said prisoner to
the river, and had drowned him. . I have no- personal knowl
edge whether this is true, but do know that said prisoner dis
appeared, and that his disappearance-' took place during the
time that "Captain Benecke was away from the town and on the
\ scout towards Macon City.
I know that any statement, in any way connecting Captain
Benecke with the prisoner Leonard, is maliciously false.
(Signed) JOHN E. M. TEIPLETT.
Witness, E H. MUSSEE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day aforesaid. My
1 commission will expire February 12th, 1895.
[Seal. J ' JOHN F. CUNNINGHAM, Notary Public.
COPY OF JAMES. L MITCHELL'S AFFIDAVIT. .
STATE OF OHIO, }' >
County of Shelby, j ' On this 1st day of January,
1892, personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Jus
tice of \the Peace for and within the county and State ^foresaid,
Mr. James I. Mitchell, and made oath and deposeth: During
the years, of 1864 and 1865 I was a Corporal of Captain L.
Benecke's Co. "I," , Forty-Ninth Eegiment Infantry Mo. Vol
unteer, and during the month of January, 1865, was stationed
with said company at Brunswick, Mo. I remember that about,
the 3rd day of January, 1865, 1, with a squad of nineteen men,

12
was on a scout and that said scout went east and south of
Keytesville and while there we took a young man prisoner
who; it was alleged, had been active with Bushwhackers, and
whose name was Leonard. Our scout returned to Brunswick
on the neift day, (the 4th as near as I can recollect) and when
we returned to Brunswick, in the evening of that day, we found
Lieutenant Fredow B. Wrockloff in command, because Captain
Benecke was out on a scout in northeast part of the county, and
I turned said prisoner Leonard over to Lieutenant Wrockloff.
That night Wrockloff and four men took said prisoner Leonard
from our prison quarters. I saw him and one of the men
said they were going to fix him. I said to them they had bet
ter let him alone till Captain Benecke returned, and then
Wrockloff said that "it was none of my put in" or words to that
effect. They took the prisoner off, and he was not returned to the
quarters, and I never saw him afterwards Captain L. Benecke
returned to camp the next day and I know when he returned
said Leonard was not in camp, and I was informed that said
prisoner had escaped during the night previous to the return
of Captain Benecke on January 5th.
I am morally certain that Captain Benecke never saw said
Leonard after he was taken a prisoner. I know when he.
Captain Benecke returned from his scout said prisoner was
gone, and that Captain Benecke was told that said prisoner had
escaped the night previous to his return.
In this connection I want to state that I was in several
skirmishes with Bushwhackers when Captain Benecke was in
command and; that he was invariably in the front of the fight,
but when a prisoner was captured he protected him from abuse
of any kind. . My present postoffice is Anna, Ohio.
(Signed) JAMES I. MITCHELL.
Subscribed and sworn to before me oh the day and year afore
said. (Signed) ,1 E. B. DILL, r
[Seal.] Justice of the Peace, Dinsmore Township, Shelby
County, Ohio.

13
I have thus submitted these statements without comment;
more are available and could be added, yet my worst enemies
are invited to investigate for themselves to satisfy themselves
of the truth or falsity thereof.
In conclusion I may state that if there is anything that I
am proud of (outside of my wife and children) it is my military
record. I was a mere boy when placed in responsible positions*
surrounded by intense partisan feeling, hatred, revenge, and
all that helped to bring about the unfortunate condition of
things as they were in 1864-65.
v I had different companies under my direct command, and
while I was Commander of this district those under my com
mand were known as "Benecke's men" whether- they belonged
to my company or not, and if any of them did anything not
right, it may have been reported as done by "Benecke's men"
and next may have been laid at my feet as done by "Benecke
himself;" yet with the exception of the enemy in the field upon
equal terms with me, no one can say to my face that I mistreat
ed him or abused my power ; to the contrary, I often extended
protection to persons and families relatives of whom were in
the Confederate army, and I feel equally proud of the friend
ship and respect of those who wore the grey, as I do of my own
associates' good will.
I could give many instances where my personal interven
tion saved property and, perhaps, personal injury or death, to
some who never wore the blue, but it would make this little
pamphlet too voluminous if I undertook it.
LOUIS BENECKE.

3 9002 02945 2688

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