Drugs, delusions and deceptions

In today's world, drugs and delusions are normally associated with each other in which delusions and hallucinations can be created by the ingestion of drugs.

However, delusions can also be created without drugs by visual perceptions and deceptions of reality. In the Civil War, medicinal drugs were a very precious commodity for treating the sick and wounded Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians. Powdered drugs and pills, such as sulfur, mercury and opium pills, were often smuggled in small quantities and larger supplies were often stockpiled in the "Medical Departments" and in this particular case a Confederate drugstore in southeast Missouri. The following after action reports describe the destruction of the latter drugstore and a strange delusion possessed some of the rebels. Both reports describe separate incidents and are located on Pages 938 and 939 in Vol. 34, Part I of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.

Camp 6th Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers, May 26, 1864

Colonel: I have the honor to make the following report of the expedition sent out by you under command of Captain Johns, Co. A, 3rd Mo. State Militia: We scouted the country from Patterson through Cherokee Bay to the Bank of the Black River, about 5 miles above Pocahontas without finding a rebel. On the opposite bank of the Black we found seven men, who took to the brush as soon as fired upon. We crossed the Black river by swimming it on Tuesday afternoon May 17, 1864. About a mile from the river we burned a drugstore containing about $8,000 or $10,000 worth of drugs. Toward evening we charged upon a squad of bushwhackers, but lost them in the swamp. On Wednesday, the 18th, crossed Cache Swamp. Bushwhackers very bold firing on the advance often. During the day we killed two and wounded one. Captured a rebel mail and several prisoners and some cotton passing to Cape Girardeau under the protection of Major Reves. Reached Gainesville at night, were joined by Capt. Huiskamp of the 6th Mo. Vol. Cavalry with 46 men. Started for Bloomfield Mo., on Thursday, the 18th. The bushwhackers wounded Capt. Johns in the arm the same night while he was visiting the pickets.

We found no more rebels on the march.

Seven reached Pilot Knob on the 25th of May, 1864, having marched over 350 miles, killed two bushwhackers and wounded one, captured seven prisoners, one rebel mail and destroyed about 100 shotguns and rifles.

WM. A. Kirby Capt. Co. A, 6th Mo. Vol. Cav., Comdg. Co.

Camp Cameron, May 23, 1864

Colonel: I have the honor to report that in obedience to Special Orders No. 60, I marched May 17, 1864 with a detachment mostly of from Co. M, 2nd Ark, Cavalry to the direction of Richland Creek. On the 18th I crossed Buffalo Creek and marched up Richland to R. W. Robertson's where I found forage for the horses. Me. Robertson accompanied me as guide as far as Mrs. Hindricks, where I learned that she had been robbed of her wagon, cattle and corn by two men (William Martin and William Wilthite) from Izard county, Ark. I took the trail of these robbers and crossed the mountains north of Point Peter to Calf Creek and overtook said robbers at Widow Turney's, took them prisoners and fed the corn to my horses! Here I received two U.S. horses and two U.S. mules and captured two horses. On the 19th I marched down buffalo on the north side; encountered a small party of rebels on the Tomahawk Barrens, attacked and dispersed them, wounding one and taking Cpl. Bevins, of Capt. Love's Company, prisoner. I crossed the Thomahawk about noon and arrived at Yellville at sundown, taking John burns, Robert smith and Elisha Estis prisoners on the way. Sergeant Kimball, Co. M, 2nd Ark. Vol. Cav. having charge of said prisoners, suffered John Burns to escape during the night. On the 20th, I marched by Talbot's Ferry on the white river to Camp Haley; encountered J. B. Lovell, who was shot to death by private bailey and captured his horse and $150 in Confederate notes were taken from his person, which please find accompanying. Finding nothing against Robert smith and Elisha Estis, I released them.

On the 21st, a strange delusion possessed some of the rebels below the mouth of the Little North Fork. They insisted that my command must be Jackman's and 5 reported and congratulated me upon the manner in which the prisoners taken at the "Richland" slaughter were treated. Their names are George Hogan, Calvin Hogan, William Lance, James Cocker and Thomas Allman. The last named came, bringing with him his arms.

On the 22nd I marched in the direction of this camp without occurrence of importance. Whole number of prisoners brought in, eight; horses recovered, captured and brought in, seven, and mules, two. I cannot close this report without an illusion to the vigilance of Lieut. Phillips, Co. M, 2nd Ark. Cavalry and to the conduct of the men which was highly creditable to your regiment; also to the very valuable services of Dr. G. W. Jobe, who acted as guide and scout.

Hugh Cameron Lieutenant Colonel, 2nd Ark.Cavalry

Deceptions and delusions were and are common place in any guerrilla war. However, the destruction of drugs and medicine would and did increase the suffering which is also the nature of war.