CIVIL WAR SCOUT REPORTS TO COMMANDING OFFICER

Editor's Note: This is the last installment of the Jackson USA Signal's series on the Civil War in Missouri. Bernard Schaper of Jackson obtained these reports from the estate of Raymond McNeeley. McNeeley received them from State Rep. Lewis Simpson of Oregon County in the 1960s. Rep. Simpson researched these reports at the archives in Jefferson City.

The following report is dated Nov. 4-9, 1963 -- Scout from Houston to Jack's Fork, Mo. Reports of Lieut. John W. Boyd, Sixth Provisional Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia. It was taken from the "War of the Rebellion; Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Vol. XXII.

HOUSTON, Mo., November 1863

SIR; In compliance with Special Orders, No. 42, issued from your headquarters November 3, 1863, on the morning of the 4th instant, I started on scout with 15 men of my company, 5 men of Company B and 5 men of Company G, Fifth Missouri State Militia, in the direction of Spring Valley. Marched that day 25 miles, without discovering anything worthy of note. Visited the residences of Benjamin Carter and Wilson Farrow, that were engaged in burning Houston; they were gone.

Burned Carter's House. November 5, divided the scout. Sent 10 men, under Orderly Sergeant Basket, Company I, to march by way of Bay Creek to Jack's Fork. I proceeded with the balanced of the command by way of Leatherwood or Wollsey's trail; found fresh trail of horses; followed the on to Jack's Fork to the residence of Miles Stephens and brother, Jack Stephens, whom I was satisfied were bushwhackers. Burned the house. Heard that Fed Taylor had been at Stephens' last week with 25 men.

Proceeded down Jack's Fork 10 miles, having marched 30 miles that day. Camped at Widow McCormick's. Has positive evidence that the widow had kept a general rendezvous for Freeman's and Coleman's guerrillas. On the morning of the 6th, burned the buildings. Learned from the widow's son, a young lad, that on the previous evening James Mahan had got him to give news of our approach. Sent back and took Mahan prisoner. Went down Jack's Fork to mouth of Mahan's Creek; turned up said creek on Thomasville road. Prisoner Mahan attempted to escape, and was shot by the guard. Camped at William Mahan's that night (having) marched 24 miles.

On the morning of the 9th, marched up Mahan's Creek. About 9 o'clock discovered about 20 of the enemy on the bluff above us; fired a few shots at them, when they fell back. I took 20 men up the hill and reconnoitered, expecting to find them in force to give us battle, but they had all fled into the rocky ravine and hills, where it was impossible to pursue to advantage, mounted; returned to the road, and had gone about 1 mile, and met 3 men, who started to escape on seeing us; killed 2 of them, whom I ascertained from papers found on their persons to be William Chandler supposed to live in Dent County, and a man named Hackley, who had in his pocket a discharge as lieutenant from Company F, Mitchell's regiment, rebel army. He also had several packages of letters from persons in the rebel army and citizens in Arkansas, directed to persons in Dent and Phelps Counties, all of which were submitted for your disposal.

Two miles farther on we captured William Story on a United States horse. He was recognized and well known as a notorious horse-thief and house-robber. He attempted to escape, and was killed. Camped that night at Morgan Dean's, on Birch Prairie. November 8, started in the direction of Houston; marched 5 miles, and captured William Hulsey, James Hulsey, William McCuan, and Samuel Jones at the house of James Harris, all well provided and packed, going to Freeman. One of them had a horse that was stolen some time since from one of our men; also goods of different kinds.

The first three, viz, the Hulseys and McCuan, were killed. Jones, on account of his youth and apparent innocence, I had brought in, prisoner. Five miles farther, at the house of John Nicholson, a known rebel and bushwhacker, we captured the said John Nicholson, Robert B. Richards, alias Bruce Russell, and Jesse Story, all of whom were killed.

We then marched by way of McCobbin's Mill to Spring Valley, and camped at Wiley Purcel's. November 9, started direct for this post, ending a few men by way of Upper Jack's Fork, and all arrived here in the evening, all in good health, having been out six days, marched 145 miles, killed 10 men, returned 1 prisoner, burned 23 houses, recaptured 9 horses that had been previously stolen, and took 6 contraband horses and mules. All of which is respectfully submitted.

John W. Boyd

First Lieut. Co. I, Sixth Prov. Reg. E.M.M., Comdg. Scout Captain Murphy, Commanding Post, Houston.