The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-11-07
A Little Light on Lanes Operations

A Little Light on Lanes Operations.
Not a little wonderment has been
excitedby Adiutant General Thom-
ass illusions to the maltreatment
of Union men by General Lanes
force in Southwest Missouri, in his
letter of instructions to Fremont,
and by his request that the abuses
be corrected promptly. In many
cases it has beeL received as an eX-
libition OF mean spite, III which
imbecile dotage is apt to indulge
towards ill-regulated vigor, and has
been sternly rcbuked by the press.
In others it has been set down to
the account of the usual inditfer-
ence to intelligence of any kind,
which prevails in Washington.
But we have reliable evidence that
the Adjutant Generals admonition
was not mistimed or uncaled for,
and that Lane'smen, either through
his culpabIe connivance or scarcely
less culpable indifference, have
greatly lnisused US good Union
men as there are in Missouri.
Many Of our readers are well ac-
quainted with the family of Mr..
Sickles, of this city, and know that
no truer Union men live than they,
ormen whose words may roceived
with more unhesitatiug confidence.
For some years they Eave been set
tied in Southwestern Missouri,
where they are well known as
devoted Unionists. We have be-
fore US two letters from one of tho
brothers to his relatives in this
city, of course not intended for
publication, and therefore free from
any purpose to affect Gen. Lane
one way or the other, which fully
establish the imputations implied
in Thomas's letter. OF the conduct
of Lanes men, he says, under dato
of October Sd, Mounds, Vernon
county, Missouri
MOUNDS, VERNON Co., Mo-, !
October Sd, 1861.
"All of our cattle and horses are
yet safe, except the mare L. rode
to Clinton, and the Federal troops
stole her six or seven weeks ago.
They have been doing foul work,
1 tell you, on this border. Had
such a man as Major Sturgis been
appointed by the Federal Govern
ment to command the troops in
this region, things would now wear
a different aspect. But no! Those
scoundrels, jim Lane, Montgom-
cry, Jennison, &C., who are curse
to any country, are in command,
and such Il time we have had OF il!
About six or seven weeks ago a
party OF Federal troops came down
from Kansas, and after routing a
party of secessionists, committed
various depredations, q few of
which | will mention. They burn
ed McNeil's mill and the bridge
over the Little Usage, and though
this Mcneil is a Union man, and
has been threatened time and again
by the secessionists, yet they havo
robbed him Of nearly all his horses,
cattle, carriages, &C., and forced
:! his negroes to accompany them
i Some of them even tried to ride
), their horses into his house. Other
Union men suffered in the same
! proportion. One Union man barely
escaped with his life, and probably
wouldn't have done SO if he had
, not had copy OF the st. Louis
=. Democrat in his house.
Mr.. Austin (whom you know,) q
, Union man, was called ont Of his
house and shot, the ball taking
effect Ia his hand and thigh-it
5 first struck rail and glanced
downward, or, in all probability, it
, would have struck him in the
breast and Killed him. He now,
, however, is about well. .-
|; The Federal troops here take
every negro they can lay their
hands on, whether he belongs to a
, Union man or a secessionist. They
| have negroes i'll their army, too,
equipped as white soldiers. In
short, their manner of proceeding