Countless missions to exterminate all Bushwhackers

Friday, June 27, 2014

During the Civil War, throughout Missouri and the eastern border counties of Kansas, the guerrilla war was consistent and constant. It started right away in the summer of 1861 and continued in Missouri well after the conclusion of the war in 1865. From the very beginning, the Union or Northern policy was one of eradicating or exterminating the Confederate guerrillas or Bushwhackers. This was justified because the Bushwhackers did not conduct themselves or wage war according the Articles of War, which were the rules of warfare at that time. Bushwhackers were considered to be bandits and outlaws, and the best way to be rid of them was to kill them, which the Union troops in and who were mostly from Missouri did with a passion. By 1864, this form of brutal, barbaric warfare was as intense as it was in previous years of the war, and was evident in the following Union correspondence, located in Series I, Vol. 34, Part IV of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion on Pages 511-512 and 525.

Brookfield, Mo., June 22, 1864.

Brigadier Gen. C. B. Fisk,

Saint Joseph:

General; I have conversed with Captain Crandall as to his course and the course of his men here seven believe the facts to be that his men are as good as can be found in this country, temperate and earnest. They have undoubtedly killed three or four of the "Bushwhackers" who entered Laclede and in ferreting them out have visited some disloyal families and no doubt in the hurried and arbitrary searches they have had to make their acts may have seemed rough. While on scouts [patrols] and to some extent for camp purposes, the disloyal have been required to provide for the militia. All these things will inevitably create disturbances, as you know no men now live about here who will swear that they are "Good Union Men" and there is a large class who are probably at heart "Union" men who have no positive character and who would indorse the loyalty of the devil!

In fact, these men have many of them been allowed to live in the country heretofore for the purpose of indorsing "Unionism" of the disloyal and helping them out when in trouble. Their own "conservatives" can't help looking on all these men as friends who will help them out at the polls next fall and they must be protected. I am told that even Colonel Williams has said rather than go into a war to exterminate Bushwhackers and Rebels he would recognize the southern confederacy. To my mind General, the time has fully come to set to work in earnest to "exterminate all Bushwhackers" and I think soon, if not now, this should also be extended to those who cheerfully aid and harbor them!

I am satisfied from my own experience that compelling disloyal to foot the bills and furnish supplies, so that they shall, as far as possible, feel in their own pockets the effect of these disturbances, is the most effectual way to secure their earnest co-operation to put a stop to such troubles.

If allowed, Mr. Crandall will do this and do it as judiciously as any man you can find, but to suppose that it can be done without complaint is futile. There may be a howl even from a certain class of Union men. Do you believe this marauding can be stopped without pursuing such a course? Captain Crandall knows how every man stands through all this country. It is not guesswork, but much of the knowledge is derived from written testimony and confessions taken when he was Provost Marshal. I am sure that he won't act without good reasons. I feel sure you will fully sustain him in all he does, unless he wants to go farther then you feel you can be yourself sustained. I found him this morning inclined to feel that you were giving to much heed to the complaints of such as must be expected to complain if anything effective is to be done or if what is is done is not done by their clique. I have told him you had very properly referred complaints to him to keep posted, that he might be on his guard.

Yours truly,

Col. J. T. K. Hayward

"Headquarters District of North Missouri,

Saint Joseph, Mo., June 23, 1864.

Col. J. T. K. Hayward,

Hannibal, Mo.:

I am in receipt of your letter of the 22nd instant. You may be assured that Captain Randall's policy, so far as I know anything about it meets my entire approval. I have not censured him in the least. Tell him to go ahead.

He must expect the snakes will hiss when they are stirred up. I am quite sure that I have no better officer in the district than Captain Crandall. When complaints are made against him they will be placed before the Captain, that he may better understand who maybe flanking him. "Tell Captain Crandall to kill every Bushwhacker he can put his hands upon" and to make the feeders, aiders and abettors of the villains sorry for what they have done to help on the iniquity. Let the best discipline be continued among the troops and when they strike, let it be with such force and vengeance that their presence can be felt all along the lines. "No Gloves on Now"! Forward the railway brigade.

Clinton B. Fisk

Brigadier General."

Now then, the Confederate guerrillas of Missouri were an elusive and very effective enemy and the Union policy of extermination was never completely successful. However, as the war continued through the balance of 1864 and the spring of 1865 the Union occupation of Missouri became stronger and the opportunity for successful Bushwhacker operations became less, but they were not eliminated. And of course the war went on!