HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI,
Springfield, Mo., April 10, 1864.

Capt. WILLIAM RAY,
Commanding Company, Gadfly, Mo.:

There is information that a large number of rebels and guerrillas have crossed the Arkansas River, moving north.  Be on the alert.  Keep out small scouts and fight whenever there is a chance of success.  Send any information you get to me via Cassville; also to Neosho and Mount Vernon, if it is such that they should know it.

JOHN B. SANBORN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 34 (Part III), Page 122.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 28, 1864.

Maj. O. D. GREENE,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

Colonel Jackman and his command, about 125 men, passed Carthage, in Jasper County, during the night of the 24th.  He evades all posts and public roads and commits no depredations, and has moved since crossing the Arkansas about 40 miles a day.  Five guerrillas have been killed in Dade County, and the band, about 40 in all, scattered through Dade, Barton, and Vernon Counties.  The brother of Finch [Kinch] West, the leader, has been killed.  Quantrill has been up Grand River 40 or 50 miles, but Colonel Phillips, commanding at Fort Gibson, says he has been driven back across the Arkansas.  Colonel Adair, with 325 men, crossed the Illinois River, passing east above Tahlequah on the 9th.  I have not been able to communicate with Fayetteville for four days, and infer that Adair is near that place or between here and there.  The wire is up as far as the repairers from this district go, but down at and beyond Cross Hollow.  Nearly all my mounted men are on the move.  There are rumors that Jackman’s design is to rob banks at Boonville and other towns.

J. B. SANBORN,
Brigadier- General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI,
Springfield, Mo., April 28, 1864.

Capt. O. S. FAHNSTOCK,
Commanding, Cassville, Mo.:

Communicate with Captain Ray, commanding at Gadfly, and order his company, if necessary; also order a company from Berryville to move in the direction of Cross Hollow, if necessary, communicating the facts to Colonel Phelps.

By order of Brigadier-General Sanborn:

W. D. HUBBARD,
Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 34 (Part III), Page 328.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHWEST MISSOURI,
Springfield, Mo., May 4, 1864.

COMMANDING OFFICER,
Cassville, Mo.:

The enemy came into Bentonville yesterday with about 200 men.  You will keep up communication with Captain Ray, at Gadfly, and if the enemy advance toward Cassville, concentrate all the forces you can, and citizens, and hold your position.

JOHN B. SANBORN,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 34 (Part III), Page 444.

CASSVILLE, May 17, 1864.

General SANBORN:

Captain Ray has just returned from a scout.  He went to Bentonville, thence to Pineville.  He learned nothing of any large force of the enemy, but ascertained that rebel Missourians are collecting on White Rock Prairie, near Pineville.  They expect to be about 50 strong and to leave for Johnson County, Mo., about the 19th.  A squad of 30 crossed the Wire road near Keytesville yesterday, going in the direction of Pineville.

J. HACKETT,
Major, Commanding.

SOURCE:  OR, Series I, Volume 34 (Part III), Page 641.

Home: Historical Items from Barry & Newton Counties, Missouri

© 2005 Robert O. Banks, Jr.  All Rights Reserved