Rogue Union Soldiers In Warrenton
WELLSVILLE, MO., January 2, 1862.
Colonel J. C. KELTON,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Saint Louis,
Mo.
COLONEL: I have the honor to urgently request the
immediate action of the commanding general upon a matter which I regard of
vital importance. Upon my arrival at Warrenton I found a battalion of
Reserve Corps Cavalry under command of Major Hollan the only cavalry at my
disposal. These men had preceded me only a few days but they had already
murdered one of the best Union men in that vicinity and committed numerous
depredations upon the property of peaceful citizens. Since that time their
conduct has been absolutely barbarous-a burning disgrace to the Army and
the Union cause. In spite of all my efforts to the contrary they have
plundered and destroyed the property of citizens, many of them the best
Union men in the State, to the amount of many thousands of dollars. Their
officers either connive at it or else have no power to restrain their men.
I cannot trust them out of my sight for a moment and of course they are of
no use to me as cavalry so long as this is the case. I have succeeded in
detecting five of the robbers and have them in irons, and have arrested
the major and one of the captains and placed them in close
confinement.
I have placed Lieutenant Sheldon, of my staff, in
command of the two companies at this post, but I cannot long spare him
from his proper duties and there are still three companies at other posts
and it is beyond my power to prevent their acts of robbery if I make any
use of them. No doubt there are some good men in this battalion but as a
class they are well-armedand well-mounted barbarians. I am told there is
at Benton Barracks a considerable force of good mounted men without arms.
I therefore urgently request that a battalion of them be sent without arms
or horses and that I be authorized to dismount and disarm Major Hollan's
battalion and send it to Saint Louis. If something of this kind be not
done soon there will be very few Union men in this part of the State. I
will as soon as possible forward charges against Major Hollan, Captain
Wenkel ad the men I have arrested.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
SAINT LOUIS, January 3, 1862.
Brigadier-General SCHOFIELD, Wellsville,
Mo.
GENERAL: Your letter of yesterday is just
received. I have no cavalry to send in place of Hollan's command. As soon
as you can dispense with this command send it back to Benton Barracks. If
you think the officers and men who are in arrest had better be tried there
I will order a military commission immediately on your sending the names
of five officers suitable for such a court and one for recorder. If you
think that they can better be tried here send all the prisoners and
witnesses to this city where there is now a commission in session; but
don't send them at the same time with the command. They will require a
different escort. The offenses of each should be stated fully so that
charged and specifications may be drawn up here. If their crimes are
proved they will not be likely to escape punishment. Having all the
witnesses there I think a military commission might dispatch the cases in
a few days.
I send you a couple of memoranda which may help
you in finding out some of the bridge-burners. The names of the writers
are known to me and are represented as reliable men.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General.
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