Volume 14 , Issue 6

1863 June 11 White Cloud, Kansas

1863 June 11 White Cloud, Kansas According to the White Cloud Kansas Chief (1857-1872), dated Thursday, 11 June 1863, Editor Sol. Miller, there was an article entitled "Military Necessity." It concerned a squad of Missouri enrolled Militia coming to White Cloud and distorting all the skiffs. Not even sparing the one belonging to the ferry boat.

The story goes, "One day last week, a squad of Missouri Enrolled Militia came to this place, and destroyed every skiff to be found here, not even sparing the one belonging to the ferry boat. We understand their excuse was, that rebels were in the habit of escaping by means of skiffs from Missouri, without paying their tax, and that Col. Harding had ordered all on the river to be sunk. But they could show no written order to that effect.

"The Lieutenant who commanded the squad, said he had verbal orders from Capt. Hart, of Oregon; but the latter cannot show his orders. We suspect there was another cause for the act. Capt. Hart is a rebel in feeling, and has only been prevented by policy from being one in action. he was appointed to the command of the Holt County Militia, (over Capt. Baskins, who was entitled to it,) through the influence of certain seeds over there, who have not been able to sleep soundly, lest some rebel should be hurt. A good many niggers have left Holt County and come to this place, and these sham Union men saw a fine opportunity to take revenge upon White Cloud.

"The shift of the ferry boat was a public necessity, and was chartered. Many of the destroyed skiffs belonged to citizens who were engaged in logging, and to the saw-mills, where they were absolutely necessary in removing rafts from the river. Kansas is in Gen. Blunt's Department, and we cannot see by what authority even the commander of the Department of Missouri could cross into this Department to commit depredations upon the property of loyal citizens, much less a company of local militia, commanded by a rebel. Had a band crossed from Kansas into Missouri and done the same thing, they would have been called thieves or Jayhawkers.

"A word of advice to the people of White Cloud, may not be amiss here. The skiffs belonged generally to persons who never engaged in nor countenanced Jayhawking; but if we do not want suspicion to attach to our place, and acts of revenge to follow, there must be less encouraging and harboring of thieves than in times past. It is not a week since suspicious characters were lying about town, whom everybody felt confident were horse thieves, although there was no positive evidence to establish the fact.

"While they were here,horses were stolen in Missouri, and swam across the river near this place. A horse was stolen from a doctor, while on a visit to a patient, and was tracked to the river, nearly opposite here. Every one's mind is settled as to who were the thieves, yet they must have had assistance or directions from persons who were better acquainted about here than themselves.

"These fellows were permitted to stay until they disposed of their stolen property, and saw fit to leave of their own accord. If a town does all in its power to deserve a bad name, it will be sure to get it."   |  View or Add Comments (0 Comments)   |   Receive updates ( subscribers)  |   Unsubscribe

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