Montgomery County, Missouri - Leading Events of 1861, 1885 (part 2 of 2)

It was not long, however, until the news was received that Gen. Price and his'army had been defeated. Then the hopes of the Montgomery county Confederates sank very low indeed.

The Confederate Guerrilla Raids Of 1864

The Second Raid on Rhineland - Hancock's Band Descends on the Place - Brutal Murder of Henry Bresser - Miles Price's Raid on High Hill and Jonesburg - Bill Anderson's Raid - He Attacks and Burns Danville - Murders Five Citizens - Plunders the Stores and Destroys the Public Records - Goes to New Florence - Robs the Stores and Burns the Depot - On to High Hill - Repeats the Performances at New Florence - Turns Back - Is Followed by the Enrolled Militia and Routed - - | Killing of Five Innocent Citizens of the County by the Militia - Full and Authentic Particulars Never Before Published.

On September 12, 1864, Miles Price, a Confederate raider, and belonging to the regular Confederate service, and whose home was near Pendleton, Warren county, made a raid into this county. Just where and when he entered Montgomery county can not here be stated, but at four o'clock in the afternoon of the day named he dashed into High Hill at the head of 13 men, coming in from the west. He was hae men took $75 worth of saddles, bridles, ete., from Emil Rosenberger, some money from Mr. Chapin, one horse, two shot guns, and two revolvers from Hance Miller, and made Mr. Miller himself a prisoner. more 4

In a short time the daring band had ridden away to Jonesburg. Here they held the town for an hour or two, robbed Allen Hess' - store of $500 worth of goods, and rode out toward the south-west.

a number of Union citizens, not soldiers, determined to waylay them. Dr. Samuel J. Moore, Tom Ford, Mike Lee, and a dozen others armed themselves and set out. That night at Muke Snethen's corner, on Dry fork, the Unionists ambushed and bushwhacked the raiders. One horse was killed, one man wounded, and the raiders retreated so_ rapidly that they dropped Hance Miller's shot gun, and let fall 4 many of the goods they had taken from Hess' store at Jonesburg, - The citizens gathered these up, aid they were afterwards restored to - their rightful owners. | Mey

The Second Raid On Rhineland

July 8, 1864, a second raid was made by the Confederate bushwhackers on Rhineland. They numbered 17 men, and their leader was one Hancock, who had attained some notoriety in Callaway and the western part of this county. They first made their appearance at Big Spring, where they robbed Neidegerke's store. After leaving Big Spring they arrayed themselves fantastically, and even gaudily.

At Rhineland they first encountered Henry Groteveil, who lived a few hundred yards east of the village. Mr. Groteveil, his wife, his son Gerhard, and a daughter were at work in the harvest field. The bushwhackers rode up to the house, and three or four of them entered the stable lot and began to try to catch some horses. Five or six others went into the house and began to ransack it. There was no one at the house but Mr. Groteveil's daughter, Bernardina (now the wife of Louis Rincheval, of Hermann).

Seeing the commotion among his horses and the strange men chasing them, Mr. Groteveil started to the house, but did not proceed far. To a command of one of the men to '' come here,'' he refused, and was fired at with a revolver. Then he started to run, and a fusilade of revolver shots was opened on him. One ball struck him in the right leg, making a serious wound, other bullets whizzed by his ears, while one shot grazed his son Gerhard under the arm. Mr. Groteveil made his way to a tobacco barn, where he had a shot-gun, and he was not followed.

The bushwhackers took only a revolver from Groteveil's trunk, and then rushed up into the hamlet. They visited Mrs. Rincheval's store, where her husband had been murdered the year previously, and again her son Louis was chased and more than twenty shots fired at him. : '

South of Groteveil lived Henry Bresser, a widower, with three or four children. He could speak and understand but a few words of English. Him they also shot, and he died in a few seconds.

Bresser was a harmless, inoffensive man, an alien who had not taken 'up arms at all, and who had not been long in America. He seemed devoted to his motherless children and they to him, and when a party of rescuers went down. to his home after the murder they were sitting by his lifeless body, caring for it.

The guerrillas took two horses from Rudolph Schultener and departed for Callaway. Louis Rincheval and others went on to Hermann and gave the alarm, and Capt. Hickman's company of militia followed

Not long after this raid Cant, Gensert resigned as captain of the Enrolled flee and a new company was ioanizod at Rhineland, ; composed of the German-Americans in the neighborhood. Of this - company, an American, Capt. Kendrick, was chosen captain. This company was organized under the orders of Gen. Rosecrans, and was stationed for some time at Rhineland. A number of men were kept on duty all the time. The quarters was a log building, formidable enough for a fort. Capt. Kendrick scouted the country occasionally, and kept the lower part of the township clear of bushwhackers ever afterwards. Heis an old Missourian, and a son-in-law of the old 4 pioneer, Lewis Jones.

Perhaps the most noted and dreadful event in the history of Montgomery county is the raid into the county of Bill Anderson's Confederate guerrilla band, in October, 1864. Of Anderson himself the readers of this volume have heard as much as they wish to hear. He is known by his deeds, and all of his deeds were evil. Of all the - foul, black and bloody monsters the Civil War produced, Bill Ander- - 4 son stands out pre-eminently the foulest, the blackest, and the bloodiest. The only redeeming or palliating feature in his character was _ his suspected insanity by those who knew him best.

After the massacre at Centralia, September 27th, in 'which he a was the conspicuous figure, Bill Anderson and his band made their way to Gen. Price's army, at Boonville, where they arrived about October 10th. They paraded the streets of Boonville '' in open day, with human scalps hanging to their bridles, and tauntingly shaking bundles of plundered greenbacks at the needy Confederate soldiers."'! - Here for the first time Anderson was recognized by the Confederate - officers. Gen. Price sent him out to operate against the North Missouri Railroad, giving him written orders to that effect, which were found on his body when he was killed, and are still in existence. oe - compaying the orders was a pass across the river. lg

1 See Gov. Thos. C. Reynolds' letter,in '' Shelby and His Men,' page 471. Gov. a R. at that time was the Confederate Governor of Missouri; he at present resides iniog St, Louis. - and his band, 50 strong, reached Williamsburg on the evening of October 14th. A few recruits were picked up in Callaway, and there were in the band the three Berry brothers, Dick and Jim and Ike - two of them at least. There was no need of a guide to Danville for there were plenty of men along that knew the road and the town very well. Certain citizens of Williamsburg, too, had been in Danville recently and drew a plan of the town and gave Anderson a correct description of the situation. The guerrillas were assured that no soldiers were there, but that there was a block'house standing in the street into which the citizens expected to repair if the town should be attacked.

Anderson desired very much to pass through Danville. It had several stores well filled and there was thought to be considerable money in the county treasury. Besides the place had a bad reputation in Confederate circles. The majority of the inhabitants were hated *¢ Feds,'' or Federal sympathizers, and it would afford the guerrillas great delight to give the houses to the flames and the men to the sword.

As soon had night had fallen, therefore, Anderson rode out from Williamsburg on the Boone's Lick road, striking straight for Danville. He had 50 men with him, the best and most desperate bushwhackers in Missouri. His trusted lieutenant, Arch Clements, a young man aged not more than 22, keen and shrewd as a fox, but merciless and cruel as a tiger; Bill Stuart, another guerrilla leader ; Frank James, since renowned as a bandit and train robber; Tuck and Woot Hill, desperadoes from Johnson county, the Berry boys, from Callaway, and others equally as desperate, reckless and fearless. All were firmly mounted, all heavily and splendidly armed. No man had fewer than four revolvers, and every horse was a thoroughbred.

The first seen of the band was when it had reached the top of the hill on the Boone's Lick road, west of Loutre creek. Here Alexander Graham, out after a physician, saw and heard them approaching, and without being seen by them, sprang over a fence and crouched down in the corner. The guerrillas went by him with the rush of an express train, all talking and swearing and making a dreadful din.

At old Benjamin White's, nearly two miles west of Danville, they halted. Mr. White was an old pioneer anda '* Southern sympathizer,'' but it did not matter. The guerrillas robbed him of his money and watch, and certain other articles, rode their horses into and about the yard, and abused the family shamefully.

previously, and thg country was full of scouting parties of Confederates and bushwhackers. There were no troops in the place, but nearly every citizen had a gun of some kind, and the block house, which stood near the south-east corner of the square, in the street or road, would afford protection and a vantage point if once its shelter could be gained. A group of citizens were standing in front of the store of WwW atkins & Drury, on the south-east corner, about nine o'clock, and were discussing the advisability of putting out pickets that night and placing half a dozen men to sleep in the block house. Suddenly a column was seen approaching from the west. It had not been heard for the guerrillas were riding slowly and the dust was deep in the roads. Some say that the horses' feet were muflled! Almost instantly the leader of the column, Anderson himself, wheeled to one side and shouted, ''Fire on them."'

Then the terrible scene opened. The guerrillas, with yells and shouts, charged the citizens, firing and riding upon them, and killing ' every living thing in view. M. ni Gilbert and Henry L. Diggs were both shot down and killed near the sidewalk. Through the back streets then ran the brigands searching for other victims. The stores were broken into and robbed of whatever the robbers wanted ; where the proprietors could be found their money was taken first. )

Now began the firing of buildings. Matches were lit and thrust into cotton batting or other inflammable goods, and speedy blazes sprang up in every building about the square. The public square was nearly surrounded by large, fine buildings, and all but Nunnelly's hotel were soon in flames. The county records of Montgomery county from 1818, priceless in value and inestimable in their impor- - tance, were stored in Watkins & Drury's store, and were, of course, lost. .

Private-houses were visited on the back streets and set. on fire, the inmates ordered out roughly, and not allowed to remove their goods. The house of Sheriff Ira C. Ellis was set on fire three times, and each time the flames were extinguished by Mrs. Ellis. Soon the whole - town was one lurid glare of burning light. Vast clouds of black smoke rose in such density as to obscure the moon. Gusts and col- - umns and jets of flame shot athwart the sky, and great showers of - sparks and bits of burning wood were carried far off and up into the 4 canopy. All over town it was so light that one could see to pick ; up a pin. rd ae

Noctesire! The roaring of the fiantiont the crashing of the burning . buildings, the pistol shots fade eile and cries of the guerrillas, the - screams and shrieks of women and children, all made a most dreadful scene, so dreadful that even at this day those who witnessed it are loth to think of it, and mention it with extreme reluctance.

. Every man was shot at that did not yield prompt and implicit obedience, and some were shot who did. Benj. Palmer was shot while standing in his kitchen door. He fell forward outside, but was not killed, though his house was soon in flames. Crawling into the back yard he pulled a board child's <'* play-house'' over himself to screen himself from the terrible flames, and no less terrible guerrillas. Two ladies, Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Hughes, subsequently assisted him to a place of safety.

When the first alarm was given Dr. Samuel J. Moore, a lifetime resident of the county, who was then living in the southern part of town, sprang up and seizing his shotgun and revolver, started for the scene. His young, beautiful and highly accomplished wife, the daughter of Rev. L. T. McNeiley * entreated him not to expose himself, but he ran immediately towards the first squad of guerrillas he saw, unhorsed one, giving him a terrible wound in the thigh. Half a dozen fired at him, and he fought back to the last. He was killed near a stable, shot two or three times, and his head terribly beaten with the butts of revolvers.

The Scenes At The Female College

Prof. Robinson's Female College had opened in September previously, and as it was the only institution of the kind in the county, it was largely attended. Nearly 100 young ladies from this and surrounding counties were present at the time of the raid. A guerrilla calling himself '*' Capt. Stewart '' and some followers rode down to the college boarding house and ordered the inmates out. The whiterobed girls fluttered about their rooms, half-packed their trunks and hustled them into the yard and into the woods, and then seated beside their trunks, sat shivering in the thickets till daylight. Miss Maggie Pegram, now Mrs. Maggie Payne, of Montgomery City, who was a student at the time and a witness of these scenes, says the woods were full of trunks and girls. But some of the girls welcomed the guerrillas. '* We are rebels,'' they glibly called out, and for their sakes the college was spared. _ in the service of the guerrillas, as she wrote and received mysterious a letters, and when the raiders came to the college she spoke familiarly to some of them. Some time afterward she was arrested, charged with being a spy, and taken to Mexico. It is not known what disposition was made of her case.

But more serious affairs were transpiring in other parts of the place. The town was in flames, and to arson and robbery was being added murder, and child murder, too! At the widow Chinn's, in the ~ eastern portion of town, her little boy, Ira, 10 or 12 years of age, sat in the doer-way gazing out upon the frightful scene, with something of boyish wonder. A squad of guerrillas rode up, and one of them taking aim with his pistol in the bright moonlight shot the lad through the body.

It was about 9 o'clock when the guerrillas entered Danville. They remained about two hours, and then departed to carry out Gen. Price's order in regard to destroying the North Missouri Railroad, - and to '¢ go as far east as practicable.'' Every house was burned that was believed to belong to a Union man. The court house had been torn down some months before, and the bricks had been put into a house which Mr. Knox had built. The published statement that the court house was burned, therefore, is not literally true. There was no court house to burn; the building in which the county records had been deposited was burned and records with it - a lossof ~ not less than $50,000 to the county. .

The material for a Radical printing office, belonging to one Orin A. A. Gardener, was burned. The newspaper had not been issued, but Gardener had made the preliminary arrangements and was away at

The guerrillas at last got ready to leave. The wounded man whom : Dr. Moore had shot was Snel in Mrs. Powell's buggy and driven off - west up the Boone's Lick road. A few of the prisoners that had _ been collected were released, and told that if they left town before - sunrise they would be shot. Wm. C. Ellis, now a blacksmith, living u in Wellsville, and Merrill S. Simons were both placed on one hove a and made to ride to the western part of town, in front of Mrs. Powell's. Here Simons dismounted. |

Merrill S. Simons was a school teacher and surveyor, and for ES B time he had been a member of Co. C, Ninth M. S. M. When ~ he dismounted in front of Mrs. Powell's, Arch Clements questioned - him as to whether he had been in the Federal army. Upon his answer- -

The guerrillas now rode west of town a mile on the Boone's Lick road. There they halted, and while here the buggy with the wounded man passed, going west. On they went towards New Florence. The distance was soon compassed. Four miles away the light of the burning town was plainly visible, smoldering though the fire was then.

Incidents Of The Visit

The town of New Florence reached, the business of the raiders was transacted with neatness and dispatch. The depot building was ransacked and some boxes of Federal uniforms, intended for Kendrick's militia company, at Rhineland, were broken open, and those of the guerrillas not already so supplied were soon clad in bright, new uniforms.

The stores were broken into and gutted sans ceremonie. Such things as the brigands had failed to supply themselves with during the burning of Danville they took now. The post-office was robbed, and one enterprising thief sat quietly and systematically opening the letters and abstracting their contents by the light of the burning depot, until he had examined every one. The depot and two cars were also burned.

Dr. Milton, who had been a surgeon in the Confederate service, was taken prisoner. New Florence was then but a hamlet, and there were few prisoners to take and no one could be found to kill. The depot and cars being '' permanently destroyed,'' the other clause of Gen. Price's orders was to be obeyed, and Anderson prepared to go on east. High Hill was the next objective point; and after a stay of an hour or mere in New Florence, the band set out on the road leading into the Boone's Lick road.

Anderson and his men rode into High Hill at sunrise, and scattering through the town began to sack it thoroughly. First the depot was set on fire and destroyed ; then the water-tank was fired, but not consumed. It was said that every watch and revolver in town were taken. Abner Bigelow's safe was robbed of $800; Tom Klise's and Frank Craig's stores were pillaged; Emil Rosenberger's saddle and harness shop was stripped, and Rosenberger and other citizens whipped with the whips there found (see History of High Hill, in the

A number of the citizens were guarded under John B. Jennings' porch, and parties of three and four scoured the surrounding country and brought in others. One party went to the residence of Hance Miller, a strong Union man, who lived a little south-east of town, but Mr. Miller and his son had fled to the woods. Mrs. Miller, yet living for 20 men, and rode away in a gallop, leading the horses. No other buildings or structures were attempted to be burned besides the depot and tank. The many led horses, loaded down already

As they filed out of town Eugene Rosenberger says he counted 35 guerrillas in line. There were perhaps ten more who did not fall in at once. Five went back to Callaway from Danville.

miles south of New Florence, on the Joshua Morris farm, where, ina piece of woods, near the road running south, they went into temporary camp.

When the morning of the 15th of October broke upon Danville what a scene was there! The town in ashes, five of her citizens killed, the women and children in a state of distraction, the men fugitives, and no one knew how many of them had been found and killed. No one had slept through all that night of horrors, and with the ened their corpses so that they were drawn and twisted and distorted and presented a frightful appearance. Citizens throughout the country, at Montgomery City and elsewhere, had seen the smoke of the burning, and by 8 o'clock many had come in.

As soon as possible after Danville was attacked word was sent to Wellsville, where Col. Canfield was stationed with the Sixty-seventh Enrolled Missouri militia, 500 strong. Before sunrise he started Capt. George Pew and Lieut. James McIntyre, with 50 picked men armed with double-barreled shot-guns and revolvers, for Danville. The militia reached Danville in two hours and learned the situation. After remaining in town till after dinner, they started after the raiders, swearing vengeance and declaring they would not return until one or both parties were annihilated. Some 12 or 15 citizens of Danville volunteered to accompany them and their services were accepted. The party took the Boone's Lick road and followed it to where the road turned south which the guerrillas had taken. The militia kept on the trail, following it to the Joshua Morris farm.

Near the Boone's Lick road a guerrilla picket was discovered on horseback, but succeeded in escaping, although fired at and given a close chase.

Mclutyre and Pew now moved their men down to the vicinity of Anderson's camp. Then they turned east, flanking the camp. The militia now dismounted and while one-fourth of the men were detailed to hold the horses, the others formed in two lines, the men ten feet apart, and advanced upon the thicket in which the guerrillas lay.

Within the guerrilla camp were some half a dozen or more citizens of the county, who had been passing up the road and made prisoners by the guerrilla pickets and taken before Anderson, who ordered them detained until he got ready to leave the country that night.

The previous day Capt. Kendrick, of the Rhineland militia, had ordered F. M. Ellis, John Marlow and Ira Tatum, all reputable citizens of the neighborhood of New Florence, to haul some rations for his company from New Florence to Rhineland. They did so, and while down in the bottom Ellis induced Marlow and Tatum to haul some corn back with them from a farm which he owned. They were driving home and in front of the camp were halted by the guerrillas, made prisoners and their corn taken to feed the hungry,

Christopher Logan, a farmer, living in the southern part of the township, had left home that morning and gone to New Florence. He was returning home, when he and his little son were also made prisoners by Anderson's men. John Anderson, Mr. Hatton and a

Anderson had been warned by his faithful sentinel of the approach of the militia and his men were all saddled up and mounted when they appeared in sight. The guerrilla leader, for some reason, gave the order to retreat, and when the firing began the guerrillas retreated in great confusion and disorder, leaving behind much plunder.

The militia advanced directly into the camp, firing and cheering. The citizen prisoners were in asad plight. They were between two fires, for some of the guerrillas were shooting back. Young Whitesides sprang over the fence, the bullets buzzing about his ears in every direction. He and F. M. Ellis made their escape.

But alas! for the other unfortunate, innocent men! John Anderson, Hatton, Marlow, Tatumand Logan were all killed! All but Logan were shot down in the camp. The militia allege that they were mistaken for bushwhackers, and that it was impossible to distinguish them amid the brush and the confusion incident to the occasion. But two of the men were killed deliberately. Christopher Logan had been wounded and was sitting in the fence corner holding his son in his arms, when he was fired on by a militiaman and given a mortal wound ; as to the killing of John Marlow there are two different accounts.

After it was discovered that the guerrillas had fled entirely the militia gathered up seven of their horses and plunder taken from the stores, etc. Some revolvers were also found. The body of John Marlow, who was not yet dead, was put into a wagon and hauled to day, October 16, at 12 o'clock. He was aged 36, and left a wife and: seven children. The bodies of the other unfortunate men who were killed were buried by their friends and broken-hearted families.

ford, and soon after struck a road that lead to Readsville. The next morning they were in Callaway. Passing on up the Missouri river, Anderson robbed Glasgow, after its capture by Clark and Shelby, and proceeding still westward, he was killed, October 27, 13 days after he burned Danville, at a point near Orrick, or Camden, in Ray county. The killing was done by the Daviess county militia, under Col. Cox and Maj. Grimes. Six human scalps were found attached to his horse's bridle, and on his body were six revolvers, $300 in gold, $150 in silver, two gold watches and some orders from Gen. Price.

Leading Events From 1865 To 1870

Enrolling in the Militia - '' Richmond has Fallen'? - The War Over - A Robber Raid - Al. Gentry's Expedition into Callaway and Fight with, and Defeat by Bushwhackers - Encounter with Barker's Bushwhackers at Sayer's Mill - Killing of Sergt. Bunch - Adoption of the '' Drake '' Constitution - Help for the Suffering South - The Political Campaign of 1866-67 - Fatal Affrays - Building the Present Court House - 1868 - The Political Campaign - Presidential Election, 1868.

By anact of the Legislature, approved February 10,-1865, all adult male inhabitants of the State, except under certain exemptions, were made liable to enrollment in the militia of the State and subject to military duty. An enrolling officer was appointed for each county and the able bodied male citizens over 18 years of age and under 45 were required to attend upon his order fot the purpose of enrollment. In Montgomery county, Capt. L. A. Thompson was appointed enrolling officer, and in March he issued notice by posters to the men of the county, stating that he would be at certain places on certain dates for the purpose of enrolling all male inhabitants between specified ages, etc.

Gen. Grant at Appomattox. A few days previously Richmond had been occupied by the Federal troops, and when this intelligence was received there was the wildest rejoicing among the Unionists of the

The hearts of the Southern sympathizers of the county now sank heavily, for it was apparent that defeat, utter and complete and overwhelming, would soon overtake those who followed the stars and bars. The Confederate people of the county betame reconciled to the inevitable, and waited with resignation, for the end.

And the end soon came. A few days after Lee had surrendered to Grant, Gen. Joe Johnston's army surrendered to Gen. Sherman, and May 13, Kirby Smith's Trans-Mississippi army, except a portion of Shelby's brigade and some other Missourians, gave up to Canby. Gen. Price, Gen. Shelby and certain other Confederate Missourians to the number of 500 or more went.to Mexico for awhile. Very soon thereafter the Confederate soldiers began to return to their Missouri homes. The returned Confederates, having fought a good fight and been fairly defeated, philosophically accepted the situation and set to work to retrieve lost time and mend their broken fortunes. That is, those who did return. For many a Montgomery county soldier who wore the gray lost his life in the cause he deemed right, and filled a grave in the Sunny South.

With And Defeat By Bushwhackers

Notwithstanding the war was over there were a great many acts of lawlessness perpetrated in this county in the spring and summer of this year. The war had demoralized people until those of them who were depraved by nature became inexpressibly bad. The same was true of other parts of Missouri. Bands of men combined for the sole purpose of plunder and robbery, and in the defenseless condition of many of the people - their arms having been seized by the military authorities - there was a fine field for their operations.

About the 5th of May, 1865, Capt. Samuel W. Hopkins, of the Montgomery and Warren militia ('* Fletcher's militia''), stationed at Warrenton, received word that a band of bushwhackers or brigands was operating in the southern part of Callaway county, and that it was threatening and encroaching upon the western part of Montgomery. The captain called for volunteers acquainted with the country to go up and assist the authorities of Callaway in suppressing the marauders.

Albert Gentry, a Montgomery county man, and an ex-member of Co. C, Ninth Missouri State militia, volunteered, and with him four or five others. The party set out under the leadership of Gentry, all well mounted and armed. At Danville they stopped, and remained all night, the guests of Co. L, Ninth Missouri State militia. Here Laban Ford, a citizen, volunteered to accompany them. Leaving Danville quietly, the men made their way by well known but not open - routes to Thomas Cole's, two miles south-east of Readsville, in the

Here Gentry and his men concealed themselves in the woods all that day and the following night, watching the roads for the brigands. The next morning they moved to Capt. Smith's, two miles north of Readsville, where they again concealed themselves in the woods and watched the roads that day and the following night. Monday morning, May 8, the men mounted and rode up to Readsville. Here they learned that some suspicious characters had crossed the river at Portland, and that they had bridles but no horses. Conjecturing that they were horse thieves Gentry concluded to go down and try to head them off. He first went to the residence of William Davis, west of Readsville. Here Joseph Davis, a son of William Davis, and William Hutz volunteered to go with the party. Hutz was a son-in-law of William Davis and a former member of Co. C, Ninth Missouri State militia.

Gentry and his party, nuw composed of himself, Laban Ford, Richard McCarty, Wick Miller, David Hall, Madison Filkins, William Hutz, and Joseph Davis, eight men in all, moved on, and three and a half miles west of Readsville, near Jackson's mill, they met twelve men, part of whom were dressed in Federal blue, and all heavily armed, chiefly with revolvers. It is claimed and believed that Ab. Barker was the leader. |

Each party halted the other, and a parley ensued between the commanders, who rode out midway between the.two commands. The two parties, however, agreed to unite their forces and go in pursuit of the thieves and bushwhackers. They started off together, eight of the Gentry party riding in couples with the same number of Barker's ~ party, and four of the latter in the rear. Gentry and Barker rode - side by side in front. Gentry agreed to turn back, and the cavalcade. rode about two and a half miles in an easterly direction, passed Jackson's mill, and there saw some citizens whom Gentry had left in Readsville with instructions to stay there until the afternoon. The E. men were chatting pleasantly together, laughing occasionally, and q seemed to be old friends well met. | a

At a point in the road about two miles south of Readsville, on the - head of Tavern creek, and about 100 yards from the residence of John ; Gill, Barker suddenly placed his pistol in Gentry's face and called - out ' Surrender!'' Immediately the other members of Barker's - band opened on Gentry's men with revolvers, and William Hutz and Wick Miller were killed instantly. Miller was shot through the heart and Hutz through the brain. David Hall was wounded in the mouth and side; Joseph Davis was shot through the shoulder ; Laban Ford surrendered; Dick McCarty handed his gun to a bushwhacker named Dempsey, and three galloped away. All who were not killed outright put spurs to their horses and fled, the bushwhackers, all disguise thrown off now, chasing them and firing upon them.

Madison Filkins was chased into John Gill's door yard and there killed. This was the same Filkins who was one of the militia that shot John Marlow at the time of the Anderson raid.

Gentry and Barker had a hand to hand fight, and Gentry was worsted. When Barker presented his revolver Gentry caught it, and a struggle resulted. Gentry secured the pistol but was dismounted, and on the ground was shot in the hand and forced to drop it. Gentry then started to run across a field, but before he reached the woods and a safe retreat was struck by balls - in the back, head, arms, hands, and shoulders. He made his way to Martin Huddleston's, where his wounds were dressed and attended to by Dr. Mills, who had been a surgeon in the Confederate army.

five returned ex-Confederate soldiers, who were also out in pursuit of the bushwhackers and horse thieves, and came up soon afterward. The friends of the dead men then came and took them away.

After the encounter was over the bushwhackers took their solitary prisoner, Laban Ford, and repaired to Garrell's mill, where they remained till dark. The leader then demanded that Ford should guide them across Montgomery county that night. Ford now lives in Danville, but refuses to give any particulars for publication - whether from motives of modesty or of another character is not known - but he has stated to others that he led the bushwhackers across Loutre at Bibb's farm, below Mineola, and came into the Boone's Lick road, just east of Danville, at Marion Baker'sfarm. They then passed east -to near New Florence, when they took the old Troy road and went over in the Elkhorn bottom, where they told Ford he was at liberty to go home. But instantly they began riding about him in a circle and Beene opened fire' on him. He rode a fractious mare, and the animal '*' bucked'' and threw him into the Elkhorn. He was badly wounded in the thigh, and his fall into the water saved him. The bushwhackers thought he was drowned ; but it was dark, and catching

Barker, who stated to some persons that he was Jim Anderson, a brother of Bill Anderson, led his band down into St. Charles county, then around through Lincoln and back through the northern part of Montgomery, crossing the North Missouri below Wellsville, still going westward.

Of Sergt. Bunch

It was two weeks after Gentry's encounter with Ab. Barker before the latter crossed the railroad below Wellsville, going westward. Monday, May 22, his band, now numbering but 11, ae the North Missouri a mile and half south-east of town, and took dinner at Mr. Winder's. As soon as they had gone a messenger ran to Wellsville and gave the alarm.

iirreen citizens of Wellsville formed a party at once, armed themselves, and under the leadership of Ben F. Waters started out at once in pursuit. This party was composed of Ben F. Waters, J. B. Clarkson, T. M. Clarkson, Ollie Duff, H. W. Hawker, G. W. Pigg, Wm. Wilson, James Wilson, Steiner, George Mudd, Robert Winder, John McIntyre, S. P. Hayes, Henry Branstetter and Sergt. James Marion Bunch, who had recently been discharged from Co. D, Ninth Missouri State militia. There were fifteen in all, but half a dozen were mere boys not more than 15 or 16 years of age.

formed and charged at once, but without much system or management and a hot fire being opened on them they were easily repulsed. The majority of Waters' party retreated and opened a harmless fire on the log fort of the brigands. Sergt. Bunch, however, fell back only a short distance and fired only once or twice, when a desperate guerrilla ran out from the barn and shot him in the groin, giving him a mortal wound. He was taken to the house of Stephen Manning, two miles from the fight, and died the next day, leaving a wife and! children. After the shooting of Bunch, and seeing he could effect

The guerrillas kept on westward, and at Price's, near Stephens' Store, on Cedar creek, they were met, a few days later, by a detachment of 25 of Co. M, Ninth Missouri State militia, sent across from Mexico to intercept them, and were totally defeated and routed. Five of them were killed, five captured, and Gentry's and Ford's horses were recovered and returned to them.

On the 18th of April, 1865, the State Convention, by a vote of 38 to 13, framed an entirely new constitution of the State, which was to be presented to the voters for adoption on the 6th of June. For this constitution, Dr. W. B. Adams, the delegate from Montgomery voted. The canvass which succeeded was one of great bitterness. All of those who had participated in, or given any sort of voluntary aid or encouragement to the rebellion or the Confederate cause, were, by the third section of the proposed new constitution, debarred from voting or holding office, as well as from teaching, preaching, practicing law, etc. And all such were prohibited from voting for or against the adoption of the constitution. Hundreds of our tax-payers, many of them old and honored citizens, non-combatants during the war and men of education and influence, were disfranchised by the third section, and denied the privilege of the ballot in the decision of the great issue before the State - that issue being the adoption or rejection of an organic law, which was to govern them and their children after them.

On the other hand, the Radicals and friends of the new constitution majntained that citizens who, by overt or covert acts, had attempted to destroy their government; who had, by fighting against the Federal government, '' committed treason,'' or in deeds, words and sympathy, given encouragement to those who had, were not and could not be proper recipients of the ballot. It was further alleged that, had the Confederate armies succeeded, and Missouri become in fact and indeed one of the Confederate States, then every Union man in the State might have considered himself truly fortunate if he had been allowed to live in Missouri; that no Union soldier, or militiaman, or those who had sympathized with either, would have been allowed a vote; and-that, in all probability, Gen. Price's threat, made in the fall of 1861, would have been carried out - and the $250,000,000 worth of property belonging to the Union people of the State would

In the whole State only 85,478 votes (including soldiers' votes) were cast at the election adopting the new constitution, as follows: For, 43,670; against, 41,808; majority for, 1,862 - a very small majority, indeed, to decide so important a question. The constitution went into effect on the 4th of July following.

In the fall of the year 1865 John T. Hubbard, one of Bill Anderson's guerrillas, who was present at the time of the burning and sacking of Danville, was arrested and placed in confinement here. In - November (29th), 1865, he, '' with others unknown,'' was indicted for the murder of Dr. Samuel-J. Moore, October 14, 1864 - the time of the Danville raid. It was rather clearly shown that he was one of the parties that shot the doctor and then beat him over the head. Benjamin Palmer, who was shot through the shoulder at the time of the raid, was foreman of the grand jury which found the bill. Really two bills were found, both for the murder of Dr. Moore.

Hubbard was arraigned at the time of the finding of the indictment, pleaded '' not guilty,'' and on his motion a change of venue was granted him and the case was sent to St. Charles county. Hon. T. J. C. Fagg was the circuit judge and E. P. Johnson the circuit attorney at the time. Upon the trial of Hubbard at St. Charles he was acquitted.

Help For The Suffering South

In the spring and summer of 1866 there was considerable destitution and suffering in Alabama, Mississippi and other Southern States ~ over which the fire of war had passed, and relief was furnished the _ people from abroad. Associations were formed in the country, having . : for an object the aid of the indigent in the stricken Southern districts. In some quarters there was an extra sympathy felt for these befallen them by reason of the part they had taken in behalf te the Southern cause. | In Montgomery county an association, called the Southern Aid ~ Society, was formed by a meeting held first at Montgomery City, in- : July. The proceedings of this meeting are still of record. Another meeting was held at New Florence on July 28 folowing. at which time it was resolved that a county fair should be held at Montgomery City on the 17th of September following, to be continued from day to day until the work was completed, for the purpose of raising funds for the purpose indicated by the name of the society. The fair came off at Montgomery City, in the college, in September, and realized about $900.

The Political Campaign Of 1866

In the political campaign of 1866, in Montgomery county, the first after the war, the parties were the Radical Republicans and the opposition to them which took the name of Conservatives. The latter were chiefly old Democrats or pro-slavery men, war Demecrats and moderate Republicans.

For an '' off year'' the political canvass in Montgomery was very spirited. The Conservatives had «' Johnson clubs '' at Montgomery City, New Florence, and Middletown, and during the summer they secured the attendance of Gen. Frank P. Blair, who delivered a speech at Montgomery City. The following were the county tickets : -

Radical Union Ticket - For Congress, G. W. Anderson, of Pike ; for Senator, W. B. Adams, of Montgomery ; for Representative, L. A. Thompson; for Sheriff, William McCormack ; for Circuit Clerk, S. T. Sharp; for County Clerk, John W. Ellis; for County Judges, A. F. Trainer, G. Lensing, T. McIntyre; for Assessor, W. P. Fisher ; for Surveyor, H. Greer; for Treasurer, L. H. Riggs; for Registrar, D. M. Draper; for Supt. Com. Schools, J. T. Gleason.

Conservative Union Ticket - For Congress, W. F. Switzler, of Boone ; for State Senate, R. A. Campbell, of Pike; for Legislature, ' George Dillon; for Sheriff, John Cope; for Circuit Clerk, S. W. Hammack ; for County Clerk, J. T. Hunter; for County Judges, G. W. Hammett, J. B. Johnson, B. F. Clark; for Assessor, James B. Adams; for Supervisor, Sol. Hart; for Supt. Com. Schools, J. R. Hance; for Treasurer, D. R. Knox; for Coroner, Thompson Bunch.

The number of registered voters in the county was 960. The Republicans carried the county by a large majority of all the votes cast. The following was the result of the election, Radical candidates 'marked R., Conservative candidates marked D., for Democrats, as they all were : - .

General Election, 1866

But notwithstanding Switzler's majority on the face of the returns: the Secretary of State, then Francis Rodman, threw. out enough of his votes, on the ground of illegal voting, to declare that he was not elected, and the certificate of election was given to Hon. Geo. W. Anderson. Switzler contested, but the seat was retained by Ander- - son. '

During the year 1867 two fatal affrays occurred in the county, the _ particulars of which were reported in current numbers of the Montgomery City Independent. The first was the killing of Peter Grennan, July 4, under the following circumstances :

Grennan had been divorced from his wife hee previous fall, and on E: the day of the tragedy went to her father's to persuade her to return : home with him. She was at Jno. C. Flood's house, and learning 6 this fact, Grennan went there, but was met with a refusal upon the upon his returning found Grennan endeavoring by force to get Mrs. G. from the yard. Cobb interfered to protect Mrs. Grennan when ~ Grennan fired two shots, wounding Cobb in the leg and hand. Cobb | pistol and shot Grennan through the neck, from the effects of which he died tn. a few moments. Flood and Cobb were both acquitted on the ground of justifiable homicide.

Weare informed that the cause of the difficulty was Mr. Wooley had used Mr. Burton's horse in his wagonto New Florence, and returning home in the evening, Burtonaccused him of driving the horse too fast. He denied it, and the lie passed between them, when Burton struck Wooley witha stake from a wood rack, breaking the skull just over the ear; Wooley died next morning atfive o'clock. Burton saddled his horse and left immediately. His brother started after, and found him at Marthasville and brought him back. * * *

Building The Present Court House

In the fall of 1865 the county court took steps to build the present court house at Danville. October 12th the contract was let by A. C. Stewart, commissioner of public buildings, to James Getty, of St. Louis, for the completion of the entire building for the sum of $27,700, payable quarterly. The architect was Gustave Bachmann. The building was completed and occupied by the county officials about the Ist of August, 1867. Owing to certain modifications of the original plans, the sum of $388 was deducted from the contract price. The building is a very creditable job, and considering the time when it, was built the price was not at all unreasonable. The jail, which is within the court-house building, was built by T. R. Pullis & Son, of St. Louis, for $709.

This.was the first Presidential year since the war, and, although hundreds of men were disfranchised, it was largely participated in by all classes. 'The Republicans, owing to the operation of the Drake constitution, were largely in the majority, but the Democrats were zealous and plucky. -The Democratic candidates were Horatio Seymour and Frank P. Blair, and the Republicans nominated Gen. U.S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax.

This year the greenback question came tothe fore. The Democratic National Convention had resolved in favor of the payment of the 5 - 20 bonds of the government in greenbacks or ' lawful money,'' and the idea was popular in this county. -

The Democrats knew that they were hopelessly in the minority unless they could induce the Republican registrars to give them what they termed a " liberation registration,' when, possibly, enough ex- Confederate sympathizers (or those accused of being such) might be allowed to vote to give them the victory. Certain individuals, incensed at being disfranchised, threatened the registrars with violence, and sometimes trouble was feared. .

It will be noted that the Radicals carried this county, electing all - but one of their candidates. It will be noted, furthermore, that the q majority against negro suffrage was over 200, showing that many - RadicaljRepublicans were at that time opposed to granting the right - of the ballot to the black man. The amendment to the constitution E to strike the word white from the article on suffrage was proposed by ; Senator Winters, of Marion county, February 12, 1868. It passed - the Senate 12 days later by a vote of 19 to 7, Adams, of Montgomery, 4 _ favoring. March 7th it passed the House, 74 to 46, Thompson, of - Montgomery, favoring. In the State this year the Radical majority - on the vote for Governor was 19,327, and the majority against striking | the word '* white'' out of the constitution was 18,817. Grant's ma-_ jority over Seymour was 25,883. . ;

Switzler received a majority of the votes of the district over Dyer, - but was again counted out, on the ground that his majority was composed of '' rebel'' votes. A second time he contested, but the case was decided against him in the Republican Congress. <q