Barry County Missouri - Civil War Letter written by Captain George Reeves King Civil War Letter Written By: Captain George Reeves King Contributed by: Lowell Lux who said: "My grandmother, Rose Miles Lux, 1882 - 1997 (104) was a daughter of Caroline King Miles. Caroline was a half-sister to George Reeves King. In clearing up the estate of Rose's son and my uncle, I found a photo- copy of an original letter. Some one of the King relatives must have the original document, but I attach an accurate transcription for anyone interested. Lowell Lux, Vancouver, WA" -------o------- Feb. 6, 1865 Fayetteville, Arkansas Major T.J. Hunt 1st Ark. Cav. Vols. Major: Having been scouting for some time past in Benton County in this State. I have had the opportunity of watching the schemery practiced by the disloyal citizens of that county in procuring goods such as salt, coffee domestic &c. under the pretense of loyal citizens. In the fall and winter of 1862 when the border counties of Arkansas was occupied by General Blount and Col. Phillips’s Commands, a great many of the old men, who had taken up arms against the United States, were at home and got protection papers from Blount and Phillips, to enable them to get pay for their forage &c. that was used by the federal armies. Since that time the county has been occupied by Arkansas Troops, who are well acquainted with the country and know who are loyal and who are not, and those old men, finding that they could not so easily proove (sic) their loyalty where they were known, have all gone either south or to the brush, and their sons, having served out one term in the southern Army, have returned to this country, and have been bushwhacking with Buck Brown and Patten Inks ever since. Those folks know it is useless to come to Faytetteville, Ark. where they are known to get permits to by (sic) goods. Therefore, they go to Cassville Missouri where there is nobody that knows them, and how their old protection papers that was given to them 2 or 3 years ago, and the authorities there, having no other proof of their conduct, give them permits to buy anything they want, and in that way these bushwhackers, who are constantly killing our soldiers from the bush, murdering our loyal citizens and cutting down our telegraph wire, are supplied with all the necessaries and comforts of life. It was a daily occurrence in my scouting through the country to see women returning from Cassville Mo. with salt, coffee and all kinds of dry goods, when to my certain knowledge their husbands, sons and brothers were then lying on the bluffs, watching an opportunity when they might touch the fatal trigger that would send a ball through some of our blue coats. Major this is no exaggerated report, for the proof of the facts I refer you to Lieutenant Warren Monday, Co. "H," 1st Ark. Cav., and being an officer in the U.S. service I deem it my duty to inform you of the facts, that you may use your influence in prohibiting our most dangerous enemies from drawing their support from inside our lines. I Am, Major, with respect, Your obedient servant, G.R. King Capt. Co. "E," 1st Ark. Cav. Vols. Return to Online Data Index <../barry.htm>Return to Barry County © 1999 Susan Tortorelli All Rights Reserved