Prisoner list of men who destroyed the North Missouri RailRoad

On 20 December 1861, in Audrain and Montgomery Counties, Missouri, a band of Southern Soldiers from central Missouri, destroyed the track, ties, bridges, buildings and other property of the North Missouri Railroad Company.

14 January 1862

Source: Provost Marshal Records

The Military Report is as follows:

Headquarters 81st Reg. O.V.U.S.A.

Danville, Mo. Jany 14th 1862

Henry Butler

St. Louis, Mo.

D' Sir:

Yours dated Dec. 11th containing the names of those who have been engaged in destroying the North Missouri Rail Road is at hand. In reply I would inform you that I am under many obligations to you for the information and would say that since I last saw you I have arrested some 30 persons most of whom have been have been engaged in destroying the road and giving assistance re and enclosed I send you a list of them.

Most of these have admitted they destroyed it besides I have sufficent evidence to convict them.

Bentley Haze

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.

William Combs

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.

James Howard

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.

John R. Hayden

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.

Capt. John W. Owens

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.

Dan'l Hickerson

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.

Wm. Matthews

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.- has been proven.

James Penn

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.- has been proven.

Robert Hawkens

Assisted in destroying R.R.- has been proven.

John H. Bently

Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.- has been proven.

George W. Harvey

Member of company that destroyed Road.

Wm. L. Norris

Member of company that destroyed Road.

Edward Wingfield

Furnished tools , team for destroying Road.

John Bentley

Interested in destroying Road - giving assistance to.

George Boswell

Engaged in destroying RR. - Has been proven.

John W. Bryant

Giving assistance.

Noah Lee

Giving assistance.

Thos. Henley

Interested in destroying Rail Road

R. B. Purvis

Member of company that destroyed Road.

David H. Able

Interested in destroying Road

.

.

List of those engaged in destroying Rail Road, furnishing tools, re. and not yet arrested - however I am making arrangements to have them soon.

Elijah Lale	Furnished team and tools.
John Coil	Assisted in destroying Road.
Jacob Coil	Assisted in destroying Road.
John Sawyer	Engaged in destroying Road.
Cap. Morris & son	Engaged in destroying Road.
Peter Harrison	Engaged in destroying Road.
Lieut. Wm. Shull	Engaged in destroying Road.
Sam'l. Bishop	Engaged in destroying Road.
Dr. Brown	Engaged in destroying Road.
Decatur Harris	Engaged in destroying Road.
Caleb Bay	Engaged in destroying Road.
Charley Smith	Engaged in destroying Road.
Wm. Blake	Engaged in destroying Road.
Lieut. Hudson	Engaged in destroying Road.
Wm. Hall & brother	Engaged in destroying Road.
James Martin	Engaged in destroying Road.
John Arnold	Engaged in destroying Road.
James Norris	Engaged in destroying Road.
James Clemens	Engaged in destroying Road.
Wm. Johnson	Engaged in destroying Road.
Henry Brandenburg	Engaged in destroying Road.
Leonard Cigler	Engaged in destroying Road.
Hill	Engaged in destroying Road.
Peter Richardson	Engaged in destroying Road.
Robt. Collin	Engaged in destroying Road.
.	.

Will you ascertain if there is a Physician in St. Louis by the name of James Neidlet. He was preparing to go into the Confederate Service as Surgeon of a party of my command while out scouting found a Surgical case of instruments and a trunk containing a military suit with his name on it buried under the grounds. If there he should be arrested immediately.

Rspectfully Yours,

Thos. Morton

Col. Cmdg. in Reg ouse?

Bentley Haze	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.
William Combs	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.
James Howard	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.
John R. Hayden	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.
Capt. John W. Owens	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.
Dan'l Hickerson	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.
Wm. Matthews	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.- has been proven.
James Penn	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.- has been proven.
Robert Hawkens	Assisted in destroying R.R.- has been proven.
John H. Bently	Admits he was engaged in destroying R.R.- has been proven.
George W. Harvey	Member of company that destroyed Road.
Wm. L. Norris	Member of company that destroyed Road.
Edward Wingfield	Furnished tools , team for destroying Road.
John Bentley	Interested in destroying Road - giving assistance to.
George Boswell	Engaged in destroying RR. - Has been proven.
John W. Bryant	Giving assistance.
Noah Lee	Giving assistance.
Thos. Henley	Interested in destroying Rail Road
R. B. Purvis	Member of company that destroyed Road.
David H. Able	Interested in destroying Road
.	.