Whiskey, cigars, a spy and irons

During the night of May 4, 1863, four thieves robbed the post-office and cut the telegraph wire at Wellington, Mo., which is on the south bank of the Missouri River approximately 6 miles west or up river from Lexington. They also intended to rob a "Union" steamboat that was docked at Wellington, but according to the following report, they were convinced by a citizen of Wellington not to rob the vessel because of the severe reprisals that the Union "Missouri State Militia" would inflict upon the citizens of the town for the robbing or destruction of any steamboat. The Union commanding officer at Lexington was also responsible for Wellington and he did not know if the four thieves were outlaws, bushwhackers, guerrillas, Kansas redlegs or jayhawkers. It didn't matter, they were to be pursued, captured or killed! He was also faced with a number of citizens and merchants who were not loyal to the Union and with the rumor that the "Chief Confederate Fox," Col. William Clark Quantrill or his men were in the area! The following report indicates how Lieut. Col. Walter King, 4th Mo. State Militia Cavalry reacted to these situations and it is located on Pages 319-320 in Series I, Vol. 22, Part I-Reports of the Official War of the Rebellion:

Headquarters, Lexington, May 5, 1863

General: I have the honor to report that Captain Morris returned last evening from the Wellington neighborhood, bringing 27 prisoners and having in other respects carried out orders. Another officer goes into that section today with similar orders. On last night the same 4 thieves visited Wellington and robbed the Post-Office and cut the telegraph wire.

I have no information that the party in Wellington exceeded four or six. I do not think that there were any guerrillas outside the town. The four or five who were at the (steam)boat would have robbed it, but were restrained by the earnest representations of one Chancellor, a resident who told them what certain fate would overtake the people of that place (Wellington) if they did harm to that boat. They accordingly desisted by sending one man up the stairway for a can of whiskey and some cigars, etc., which I expect was in the way of a treat for their desisting (not robbing the boat). "Fifty or 60" are liable to come here at any time from Quantrill's old grounds, on the Blue (River); but there are no reasons to believe other than I have now stated. I have talked with four or five men who saw the party (of thieves) that night and some as late as an hour after sunrise next day. There were four of them. They went into the Upper Missouri bottom that night; were scene with cigars and lemons about daybreak at Totetes, above Wellington and an hour by sun they were seen on the Lone Jack Road, going south. I have sent farther out to arrest other parties.

The result of my order yesterday, closing out all men in the city who are not friendly to the Government and the subsequent meeting, I look to as the inception of a genuine reformation in this county. After the publication of the order, about 80 residents rushed to Ryland's office to sign the resolutions (Oaths of Alligeance). But in the meeting they were excluded from participation in the meeting and they are under areest and their business closed as yet. I stated in the meeting that in each case of those signing yesterday there would be a special inquiry as to their motives of their signing so late. The meeting went off in fine spirit and I assure you of my belief that much good will come of the movement. The resolutions were adopted by acclamation before the house crowded throughout.

An hour has elapsed since penning the foregoing paragraph, spent in interview with "John de Courcy" my utmost trusted spy, who reached here and I gather the following: Quantrill is here; he came from Price (Major General Sterling Price, former governor of Missouri) to conscript; he came with 40 men; he has joined Reid's, Jarrett's, Todd's, Younger's and Clifton's gangs to his own, which give him from 125 -- 150 men; he disbanded his force on Sunday night, with orders to rendezvous on Thursday night on the Big Sni, precise place not definitely learned: (Quantrill) has orders from Price to stop bushwhacking and horse stealing. Price is to invade Southeast Missouri and Quantrill is to annoy Kansas and western Missouri; intends to conscript all of military age; has secret notice among Southern men to come to his camp and get property taken by mistake; came here to stay and not to take away any recruits; seems to be rather elevated in his purpose by his six or eight month's experience with the regular forces; proposes that he will not assail McF.'s men unless assaulted, but that he neither will give quarter of K.'s or P.'s men.

I shall send a man into Quantrill's camp.

"DeCourcy" informs me that one of the men (Wise) I have here, taken yesterday at Wellington, is an arrant guerilla. I put him in irons (hand and leg shackles) today.

Mail hour is past minutes. I'll write more tomorrow.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Walter King,

Lt.-Col.

It is not known if the four whiskey, cigar stealing thieves were ever caught or how many of the disloyal merchants decided to sign the resolution. However, it is known that in less than three months Col. William Clark Quantrill and his men conducted one of the boldest most successful savage raids of the Civil War when they attacked and destroyed the Lawrence, "the Abolitionist Capital of Kansas" and killed many of it's citizens. Perhaps the "gathering of the gangs" was a premonition of what the future would and did bring!