FROM THE OFFICIAL RECORDS

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
OFFICE PROVOST MARSHAL-GENERAL,
Saint Louis, Mo., October 29, 1864.
Col. J. V. Du Bois, Chief of Staff, in the Field:
COLONEL: I have the honor to inform the commanding general that on this day
the following rebel soldiers--James W. Gates, Company H, Third Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army; Harvey H. Blackburn, Company A, Coleman's regiment, C. S. Army; John Nichols, Second Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army; Charles W. Minneken, Company A, Crabtree's cavalry, C. S. Army; Asa V. Ladd, Burbridge's regiment Missouri cavalry, C. S. Army; and George F. Bunch, Company B, Third Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army--were executed by being shot to death by musketry in retaliation for the murder of six men of the Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia by Tim. Reves' guerrillas, and in compliance with Special Orders, No. 277, paragraph 12, dated headquarters Department of the Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo., October 6, 1864.
I respectfully inclose records in the case.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
JOSEPH DARR, JR.,
Acting Provost-Marshal-General.
[Inclosure No. 1.]

HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT,
Saint Louis, Mo., October 25, 1864.
Col. JOSEPH DARR, Jr.,
Actg. Provost. Marshal-General, Dept. of the Mo., Saint Louis:
COLONEL: Yesterday I received the inclosed dispatch from Colonel Stone, General Pike's chief of staff, informing me that the bodies of Major Wilson and six men, who were captured at Ironton, Mo., were found fifteen miles southwest of Washington, Mo. To-day I received from Colonel Stone the accompanying books and papers, which were taken from one of the bodies, and which show conclusively to my mind that the body from which they were taken was Major Wilson's, Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia.
Captain Dinger, Forty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, reports that he was paroled fifteen miles south of Washington and ten miles west of Union, and that Major Wilson was at the same time and place ordered by the field officer of the day of the rebel army to be turned over by the guard to Tim. Reves, and when he last saw him he was waiting there under guard for Reves to come up.
The facts and papers conclusively establish to my mind the fact of his murder by order of the field officer of the day, and fully justify and call for retaliation.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS EWING, JR.,
Brigadier-General.

[Sub-inclosure.]
WASHINGTON, Mo., October 24, 1864.
Brigadier-General EWING:
The bodies of Major Wilson and six men, captured at Ironton, have been found about fifteen miles southwest from this place on the old State road, near Jeffrey's farm. Major Wilson was shot through the body several times. One of the bodies is supposed to be that of an artillery bugler, from the trimmings on his jacket.

<ar120_1061> They were found by a man who was out gathering persimmons, who identified Major Wilson by papers found on his body. All documents found on these bodies are in the hands of Esquire Kleinbacker, of this county, and will be forwarded to you as soon as received here. G. HARRY STONE,
Colonel and Chief of Staff.
[Inclosure No. 2.]
SPECIAL ORDERS No. 279.
HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE MISSOURI,
OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,
Saint Louis, Mo., October 28, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

VIII. It appearing from the most conclusive evidence that Maj. James Wilson, Third Cavalry Missouri State Militia, and six men of his command, taken prisoners of war by the enemy in their late raid through the State at Pilot Knob, Mo., were turned over by some rebel officer, now unknown, to the guerrilla Tim. Reves, at a place near the town of Union, in Franklin County, Mo., and that subsequently Major Wilson and his men were brutally murdered by this blood-stained outlaw; therefore, in compliance with so much of Special Orders, No. 277, paragraph 12, headquarters Department of the Missouri, dated October 6, 1864 (hereto appended), as can at this time be carried into effect, the following six of the enlisted men of the rebel army--names W. Gates, Company H, Third Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army; John N. Ferguson, Company A, Crabtree's cavalry, C. S. Army; Harvey H. Blackburn, Company A, Coleman's cavalry, C. S. Army; John Nichols, Company G, Second Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army; Charles W. Minneken, Company A, Crabtree's (Arkansas) cavalry, C. S. Army; Asa V. Ladd, Company A, Burbridge's (Missouri) cavalry, C. S. Army-will be shot to death with musketry within the limits of the city of Saint Louis, Mo., on Saturday, the 29th day of October, 1864, between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m.
Lieut. Col. Gustav Heinrichs, Forty-first Missouri infantry,
superintendent and inspector of military prisons, is hereby charged with the execution of this order.
JOSEPH DARR, JR.,
Acting Provost-Marshal-General.
SPECIAL ORDERS No. 277.
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, Mo., October 6, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

12. From testimony which cannot be doubted the commanding general learns that Maj. James Wilson, Third Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and six enlisted men of his command, prisoners of war, were given up by Maj. Gen. Sterling Price to the guerrilla Tim. Reves for execution. The provost-marshal-general of the department will send a major and six enlisted men of the rebel army in irons to the military prison at Alton, Ill., to be kept in solitary confinement until the fate of Major Wilson and his men is known. These men will receive the same treatment Major Wilson and his men received. The provost-marshal-general is held responsible for the execution of this order.

By command of Major-General Rosecrans:

FRANK ENO, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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[Inclosure No. 3.]
SPECIAL ORDERS No. 280.
HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE MISSOURI,
OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL-GENERAL,
Saint Louis, October 29, 1864.
I. Paragraph VIII, Special Orders, No. 279, headquarters Department of the Missouri, office of the provost-marshal-general, Saint Louis, Mo., October 28, 1864, is hereby altered so as to erase from the same the name of John N. Ferguson, Company A, Crabtree's (Arkansas) cavalry, C. S. Army, it appearing from this man's examination that he never bore arms and was only employed as a teamster, and substituting for the said Ferguson the following rebel soldier for execution, viz, George F. Bunch, private, Company B, Third Missouri Cavalry, C. S. Army.
JOSEPH DARR, JR.,
Acting Provost-Marshal. General.


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