AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF
SAMUEL S. HILDEBRAND,
THE RENOWNED
MISSOURI “BUSHWHACKER”
AND UNCONQUERABLE
ROB ROY OF AMERICA;
BEING
HIS COMPLETE CONFESSION
RECENTLY MADE TO THE WRITERS, AND CAREFULLY COMPILED
By JAMES W. EVANS and A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D.,
OF ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, MO.;
TOGETHER
WITH ALL THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH HIS
EARLY HISTORY.
JEFFERSON CITY, MO.: STATE TIMES BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE, MADISON STREET. 1870.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
[Sam Hildebrand Driven from Home] Frontispiece. [Frank Hildebrand Hung by the Mob] 45 [Sam Hildebrand Killing McIlvaine] 61 [The Murder of Wash. Hildebrand and Landusky] 69 [Stampede of Federal Soldiers] 139 [Sam Hildebrand Betrayed by Coots] 179 [Sam Hildebrand‘s Last Battle] 297 [Col. Bowen Captures Hildebrand‘s Cave] 303
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1870, by James W. Evans and A. Wendell Keith, M. D., in the Clerk‘s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Missouri.
CONTENTS.
[CHAPTER I.] | |
|---|---|
| Introduction.—Yankee fiction.—Reasons for making a full confession. | 25 |
[CHAPTER II.] | |
| Early history of the Hildebrand family.—Their settlement in St.Francois county, Mo.—Sam Hildebrand born.—Troublesomeneighbors.—Union sentiments. | 29 |
[CHAPTER III.] | |
| Determination to take no part in the war.—Mr. Ringer killed byRebels.—The cunning device of Allen Roan.—VigilanceCommittee organized.—The baseness of Mobocracy.—Attackedby the mob.—Escape to Flat Woods. | 35 |
[CHAPTER IV.] | |
| McIlvaine‘s Vigilance mob.—Treachery of Castleman.—FrankHildebrand hung by the mob.—Organization of the mob intoa Militia company. | 42 |
[CHAPTER V.] | |
| His house at Flat Woods attacked by eighty soldiers.—Miraculousescape.—Capt. Bolin.—Flight to Green county, Arkansas. | 48 |
[CHAPTER VI.] | |
| Interview with Gen. Jeff Thompson.—Receives a Major‘s Commission.—Interviewwith Capt. Bolin.—Joins the BushwhackingDepartment. | 54 |
[CHAPTER VII.] | |
| First trip to Missouri.—Killed George Cornecious for reportinghim.—Killed Firman McIlvaine, captain of the mob.—Attemptto kill McGahan and House.—Return to Arkansas. | 58 |
[CHAPTER VIII.] | |
| Vigilance mob drives his mother from home.—Three companiesof troops sent to Big river.—Capt. Flanche murders WashingtonHildebrand and Landusky.—Capt. Esroger murdersJohn Roan.—Capt. Adolph burns the Hildebrand homesteadand murders Henry Hildebrand. | 66 |
[CHAPTER IX.] | |
| Trip with Burlap and Cato.—Killed a spy near Bloomfield.—Visitshis mother on Dry Creek.—Interview with his uncle.—Seesthe burning of the homestead at a distance. | 75 |
[CHAPTER X.] | |
| Trip with two men.—Killed Stokes for informing on him.—Secretedin a cave on Big river.—Vows of vengeance.—Watchedfor McGahan.—Tom Haile pleads for Franklin Murphy.—Tongue-lashedand whipped out by a woman. | 84 |
[CHAPTER XI.] | |
| Trip to Missouri with three men.—Fight near Fredericktown.—Killedfour soldiers.—Went to their camp and stole four horses.—Flighttoward the South.—Robbed “Old Crusty”. | 91 |
[CHAPTER XII.] | |
| Trip with three men.—Captured a spy and shot him.—Shot Mr.Scaggs.—Charged a Federal camp at night and killed ninemen.—Came near shooting James Craig.—Robbed Bean‘sstore and returned to Arkansas. | 96 |
[CHAPTER XIII.] | |
| The Militia mob robs the Hildebrand estate.—Trip to Missouriwith ten men.—Attacks a government train with an escort oftwenty men.—Killed two and put the others to flight. | 102 |
[CHAPTER XIV.] | |
| Federal cruelty.—A defense of Bushwhacking.—Trip with Capt.Bolin and nine men.—Fight at West Prairie.—Started withtwo men to St. Francois county.—Killed a Federal soldier.—KilledAddison Cunningham.—Capt. Walker kills Capt.Barnes, and Hildebrand kills Capt. Walker. | 106 |
[CHAPTER XV.] | |
| Started alone to Missouri.—Rode off a bluff and killed his horse.—Fellin with twenty-five Rebels under Lieut. Childs.—Wentwith them.—Attacked 150 Federals at Bollinger‘s Mill.—Henry Resinger killed.—William Cato.—Went back to Fredericktown.—Killedone man.—Robbed Abright‘s store. | 114 |
[CHAPTER XVI.] | |
| Started to Bloomfield with three men.—Fight at St. Francis river.—Goesfrom there alone.—Meets his wife and family, who hadbeen ordered off from Bloomfield.—Capture and release ofMrs. Hildebrand.—Fight in Stoddard county.—Arrival inArkansas. | 121 |
[CHAPTER XVII.] | |
| Put in a crop.—Took another trip to Missouri with six men.—Surroundedin a tobacco barn.—Killed two men in making hisescape.—Killed Wammack for informing on him.—Capturedsome Federals and released them on certain conditions.—Wentto Big River Mills.—Robbed Highley‘s and Bean‘sstores. | 128 |
[CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
| Selected seven men and went to Negro Wool Swamp.—Attackedfifteen Federals—A running fight.—Killed three men.—KilledMr. Crane.—Betrayed by a Dutchman, and surroundedin a house by Federals.—Escaped, killed eight Federals, recapturedthe horses, and hung the Dutchman. | 136 |
[CHAPTER XIX.] | |
| Went with eight men.—Attacked a Federal camp near Bollinger‘sMill.—Got defeated.—Men returned to Arkansas.—Wentalone to St. Francois county.—Watched for R. M. Cole.—KilledCapt. Hicks. | 147 |
[CHAPTER XX.] | |
| Trip to Hamburg with fifteen men.—Hung a Dutchman and shotanother.—Attacked some Federals in Hamburg but got gloriouslywhipped.—Retreated to Coon Island.—Killed Oller atFlat Woods.—Robbed Bean‘s store at Irondale. | 153 |
[CHAPTER XXI.] | |
| Started with six men on a trip to Springfield, Missouri.—Deceivedby a Federal spy in the Irish Wilderness—Capturedthrough mistake by Rebels.—Routed on Panther creek.—Returnedhome on foot. | 159 |
[CHAPTER XXII.] | |
| Started with four men.—Surrounded in a thicket near Fredericktown.—Escapedwith the loss of three horses.—Stole horsesfrom the Federals at night.—Killed two soldiers.—Sufferedfrom hunger.—Killed Fowler.—Took a horse from G. W.Murphy.—Went to Mingo Swamp.—Killed Coots for betrayinghim.—Killed a Federal and lost two men. | 168 |
[CHAPTER XXIII.] | |
| Went to Mingo Swamp with ten men.—Went to Castor creek.—Attackedtwo companies of Federals under Capt. Cawhornand Capt. Rhoder.—Bushwhacked them seven nights.—Wentwith Capt. Reed‘s men.—Attacked Capt. Leeper‘scompany.—Killed fourteen, captured forty horses, forty-fourguns, sixty pistols, and everything else they had. | 182 |
[CHAPTER XXIV.] | |
| Took a trip with fifteen men.—Captured a squad of Federals.—Reception of “Uncle Bill.”—Hung all the prisoners.—Captured five more and hung one. | 187 |
[CHAPTER XXV.] | |
| Put in a crop.—Started to Missouri with nine men.—Killed a soldiernear Dallas.—Went to St. Francois county and watchedfor Walls and Baker.—Watched near Big River Mills for McGahan.—Narrowescape of William Sharp.—Robbed Burges,Hughes and Kelley of their horses.—Robbed Abright‘s store.—Capturedsome Federals on White Water. | 195 |
[CHAPTER XXVI.] | |
| Started to St. Francois county, Missouri, with eight men.—HungVogus and Zimmer.—Hung George Hart.—Robbed Lepp‘sstore.—Concealed in Pike Run hills.—Started back.—HungMr. Mett‘s negro, “Old Isaac.”—Hung another negro.—Tooktwo deserters back and hung them. | 205 |
[CHAPTER XXVII.] | |
| Started with nine men to St. Francois county.—Stopped in PikeRun hills.—Robbed the store of Christopher Lepp.—HungMr. Kinder‘s negro.—Attacked by Federals.—Killed two menand lost one.—Shot two soldiers on a furlough.—Enters amysterious camp. | 212 |
[CHAPTER XXVIII.] | |
| Capt. John and a company of Federals destroy the Bushwhackers‘Headquarters in Green county, Arkansas.—He is bushwhacked,routed and killed.—Raid into Washington countywith fourteen men.—Attacked by twenty Federals.—Killedthe man who piloted Capt. John. | 219 |
[CHAPTER XXIX.] | |
| Took a raid into Missouri with four men.—Killed a Federal.—Killedtwo of Capt. Milks‘ men.—Started to De Soto.—Routedby the Federals.—Adventure with a German.—Killed threeFederals on Black river. | 228 |
[CHAPTER XXX.] | |
| Commanded the advance guard on Price‘s raid.—The Federalsburn Doniphan.—Routed the Federals completely.—Capturedseveral at Patterson.—Killed Abright at Farmington.—LeftPrice‘s army.—Killed four Federals.—Major Montgomerystorms Big River Mills.—Narrow escape from capture. | 237 |
[CHAPTER XXXI.] | |
| Selected three men and went to Missouri to avenge the death ofRev. William Polk.—Got ammunition in Fredericktown.—Killedthe German who informed on Polk.—Return to Arkansas. | 244 |
[CHAPTER XXXII.] | |
| Started with eight men on a trip to Arkansas river.—Hung a“Scallawag” on White river.—Went into Conway county.—Treacheryof a negro on Point Remove.—“Foot-burning”atrocities.—Started back and hung a renegade. | 250 |
[CHAPTER XXXIII.] | |
| Gloomy prospects for the South.—Takes a trip to Missouri withfour men.—Saved from capture by a woman.—Visits hismother on Big river.—Robs the store of J. V. Tyler at BigRiver Mills—Escapes to Arkansas. | 257 |
[CHAPTER XXXIV.] | |
| Started to Missouri with three men.—Surrounded at night nearFredericktown.—Narrow escape by a cunning device.—Retiredto Simms‘ Mountain.—Swapped horses with RobertHill, and captured some more.—Killed Free Jim and kidnappeda negro boy. | 264 |
[CHAPTER XXXV.] | |
| Trip to Missouri with four men.—Attempt to rob Taylor‘s store.—Fightwith Lieut. Brown and his soldiers.—Killed Millerand Johnson at Flat Woods.—Return home from his lastraid.—The war is pronounced to be at an end.—Reflectionson the termination of the war.—Mrs. Hildebrand‘s advice.—Theparole at Jacksonport. | 275 |
[CHAPTER XXXVI.] | |
| Imprisoned in Jacksonport jail.—Mrs. Hildebrand returns toMissouri.—Escape from prison.—Final settlement in Ste.Genevieve county.—St. Louis detectives make their first trip.—TheGovernor‘s reward.—Wounded by Peterson.—Removedto his uncle‘s.—Fight at John Williams‘.—Kills JamesMcLaine.—Hides in a cave. | 286 |
[CHAPTER XXXVII.] | |
| Military operations for his capture.—Col. Bowen captures theCave.—Progress of the campaign.—Advent of GovernorMcClurg.—The Militia called out.—Don Quixote affair at theBrick Church.—The campaign ended.—Mrs. Hildebrandescapes to Illinois.—“Sam” leaves Missouri.—His final proclamation. | 300 |