Robbery By Bushwackers Of The Steamboat Marcella
At Dover's Landing, Carroll County, Missouri
17 September 1863
Source: Provost Marshal Records
Statement of Andrew A. Belt
Statement by Andrew A. Belt to Capt. D. A. Calvert, concerning
the robbery of the steamboat "Marcella" by 18 bushwhackers led by Mark Belt
on 17 September 1863 near Holmes warehouse; Four Federal soldiers were
on board at the time; Frank Dosier was Captain of the
"Marcella".
Carrolton, Missouri Jan. 20th 1864
Andrew A. Belt of Dover Township, Lafayette Co., State of
Mo.
Having been duly sworn, says that on or about the first of October 1863
about eighteen bushwackers came to Holmes warehouse where I was living at
the time - in about two hours after they came the steamboat Marcella came
up the river and they halted her - She immediately rang her bell and
landed. There was no guns fired at the time - the Bushwackers proceeded to
pillage the boat and took everything that they could find that they
wanted.
There was four Federal soldiers aboard the boat - the first I saw of them
however they were sitting on the bank - all were in their sock feet and two with
nothing on but shirts and drawers, having been striped by the Bushwackers. The
last I saw of them the Bushwackers had started off with them - they went south -
I heard there was three of them murdered about two miles from where the boat was
robbed.
I
heard the Captain of the boat say he did not care what they took if they spared
the ---------? (illegible). The leader of the robbers was Mark Belt. There was
several men in the band whom I knew - Their names were Thos. Warren, James
Warren, Dave Pool, Henry Hockensmith, Shelby Curtly, Gatewood, Henning, Wm.
Yount.
Andrew A. Belt
Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 20th day of January
1864
D.
A. Calvert, Captain
Co.
E, 4th Prov E.M.M.
Carrolton, Mo.
------------------------------------------
Statement of Jesse C. Stovall
Jesse C. Stovall of Carroll Co., Mo.
being duly sworn oath states a few days before the 1th of Sept. 1863 -
John Grinder came to me and wanted me to go and join him and some others in
robbing a steam boat on the Mo. river at Dover's Landing. He told me John Cook
would be along and that there would be a large band of men on hand. He also said
that there would be no fighting - that it was all fixed. I understood him to
mean that the crew of the Steamboat were into the matter. I did not go, pleading
that my mother was sick at the time but I saw him afterwards - When I asked him
what he got he said he got enough to pay and that a gray coat he had on he got
there & also remarked that I sould have went along - I could have made
enough to pay me for my trip.
The
steam boat robbed to the best of my knowledge was the Marcellas, which was
robbed on the 17th day of September 1863, at Dover's Landing on the Mo. river. I
understand said Grinder when he told me of the large band of men who were
to be there to mean that a lot of men had plotted and gathered up for that
special occasion. I do not think the robbery was effected to Guerrillas as the
newspaper at the time stated, but by citizens planning together for that
robbery. The two men meantime is all that were mentioned to me as being there
named John Grinder and John Cook.
(signed) Jesse C. Stovall
Sworn and subcribed to before me this 12th day of January
1864
(signed) W. McTlurratt?
Lt.
& Provost Marshal
Chillicothe, Mo.
------------------------------------------------------
Note: Also implicated in the robbery were:
Jesse C. Stovall, Jr.
John Coker
John Cook
Andrew A. Belt
?
Givens
?
Burdett
John Grinder
Charles Wagner
James R. Baker
Jr.