Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6 [Dec. 13, 1862-Nov. 3, 1863].

To John M. Schofield1Jump to section

Private & Confidential2Jump to section Executive Mansion Washington,
General John M. Schofield, October 28th. 1863.

There have recently reached the War Department, and thence been laid before me, from Missouri, three communications, all similar in import, and identical in object. One of them, addressed to nobody, and without place or date, but having the signature of (apparently) the writer, is a letter of eight closely written foolscap pages. The other two are written by a different person,3Jump to section at St. Joseph, Mo., and of the dates, respectively, October 12th and 13th. 1863, and each inclosing a large number of affidavits. The general statements of the whole are, that the Federal and State authorities are arming the disloyal, and disarming the loyal, and that the latter will all be killed, or driven out of the State, unless there shall be a change. In particular, no loyal man, who has been disarmed, is named; but the affidavits show by name, forty two persons, as disloyal, who have been armed. They are as follows:

Jackson Christopher Ratcliffe Baker John Keyes

Henry Highsmith Thomas J Nolan Capd Enos Woodward

Richard Highsmith Calvin James William Marsh

David Alderman, James Raneer Barney Clark

& two sons Milton R. Singleton Caswell Goodman

William Jones John Smedie John Smith

Perry McVay Anderson Cameron Geo. Cunningham

John Goslin John Utz Fleming Tate

Newton Rogers John Register A. H. Leach

Alfred Rogers Joseph Register David Fitzpatrick

Jacob Cox. Capd Lewis De Voss Samuel Wyatt

Perry Hamilton Joseph Corton Aquilla I. Morrow

John Chestnut P. Burge William Morrow

William Ferrill Dillard Woodward Thomas Fly

Tip Russell

A majority of these are shown to have been in the rebel service. I believe it could be shown that this government here have deliberately armed more than ten times as many, captured at Gettysburg, to say nothing of similar operations in East Tennessee. These papers contain, altogether, thirty one manuscript pages, and one newspaper in extenso; and yet I do not find it any where charged in them, that any loyal man has been harmed by reason of being disarmed, or that any disloyal one has harmed any body by reason of being armed by the Federal or State government. Of course I have not had time to carefully examine all; but I have had most of them examined and briefed by others, and the result is as stated. The remarkable fact, that the actual evil is yet only anticipated---inferred---induces me to suppose I understand the case. But I do not state my impression, because I might be mistaken; and because your duty and mine is plain in any event. The locality of nearly all this, seems to be St. Joseph, and Buchanan County. I wish you to give special attention to this region, particularly on election day. Prevent violence from whatever quarter; and see that the soldiers themselves, do no wrong. Yours truly A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   LS copy or DfS, DLC-RTL. General Schofield replied on November 9: ``On my visit to Kansas, and North-West Missouri, during the troubles there in September last, I examined personally into the difficulties in Platte, Buchanan, and other Western counties, and learned fully their nature and origin. I at once ordered the organization of the militia which created so much commotion for a time, but which has restored that portion of the State of Missouri to a condition of profound peace. . . . The rule I established for the militia organization . . . was that the Officers should be of undoubted loyalty---Original Union men---and that both officers and privates, as far as possible, should be men of wealth and respectability whose all depended upon the preservation of the peace. . . . I have yet to hear the first report of a murder, robbery, or arson in that whole region, since this new organization was made. The late election was conducted in perfect peace and good order. . . . The prospects of future peace in the State are highly encouraging.'' (DLC-RTL).

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[2]   In Lincoln's autograph.

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[3]   Emended in Lincoln's autograph from ``the above person'' to ``a different person.'' Benjamin F. Loan signed the letters dated October 12 and 13, enclosing affidavits (DLC-RTL). The third letter mentioned has not been located.

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