Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-06-17
CAPTURE OF MISSOURI sEcEss1oN1sTs.

The Lazy Traitors choose to take the Oath, rather
than Cork on the Fort tcations-1heq are held
for Trial
Special Correspondence of the St. Louis Democrat
CAIRO, June 1l-Quite stir was OCCASION
cd in Camp Defiance esterday, by the news
siOnists had been made, and that two or three
secession gangs had been broken up. For
some time Gen. Prentiss has been receiving
letters from the Union men at Rush Ridge,
Lucas Bend, and Norfolk, and other neighbor-
hoods in Mississippi county, Missouri, opposite
Cairo, that the secessionsls were driving
them out and threatening them, and were also
forming several organizations under the mill.
tary bill, i'll order to be able to sweep out all
Union people. Yesterday an old farmer from
Rush Ridge, named j. 6. Long, and citizen
named Kelton, who had been driven out by
these secessionsts, gave information that there
were two armed companies of secessionists
formed to be taken into the command OF Wat
kins, one OF Claib. Jackson's brigadier gener-
ais, who were depressing, driving out, and
threatening all Union men there. After they
had driven Mr.. Long and family out, he sent
an agent to take care of his farm, but they
would not permit him even this privilege
His daughter, in passing by one Of these COM
panles, was fired at by a Volley, designed to
trighten her horse and throw her off Many
other complaints were made by persons who
had 10 flee for their lives from these gangs~
Gen. Prentiss, with his usual promptitude,
detained Capt. Hassfurther company of Col
Schuttners reg ment at Birds Point TO cap
ture them. The command, having surround
ed the dwelling, captured eighteen OF the
gang, who were suddenly started out of their
beds. They then marched rapidly to anoth-
er neighborhood, where a company, raised
by a sceessioust called Hunter, were said to
Ina hO
had seen the troops, had sent word ahead,
and when the troops got to the place the birds
were flown. This was the worst and strong
er gang OF the two. The company returned
with their prisoners to the camp, several Of
the wives OF them accompanying them. They
are mostly farmers. In the evening they were
brought over, and an informal examination
was held in the sitting room OF the ST. Charles
Hotel, by Gen. Prentiss. Alessrs. Long and
Kelton were the principal witnesses, others
not having yet arrived. They testified in the
most positive terms to the ayowed objects of
these armed gangs, which were to fight
against the Union when they obtained arms
aud reinforcements from the south also to
the threats they had made OF soon cleaning
out "the id Dutch and niggers" at Cairo
as they termed them. Mr.. Long had been
repeatedly told, before leaving, that a rope
was being got ready TO hang him. Repeated
and violent threats had been made against
many other Union people, and most OF them
had fled in terror.
Considerable sport was bad in tile eXamina.
ton Of Mr.. James NJ. Newall, witness, but
an unwilling one, whom General Prentiss had
taken care to bring along. He lived among
this crowd but had not committed himself
After considerable equivocation OF questions
he finally acknowledged that these men were
secessioniss that they had organized as SUCH
and that they had made repeated threats to
come over and clean out Cairo, and that if
they had The power would do SO yet. He tes-
tilted to secession flag having been hoisted
at Norfolk also, that if a man should dare 10
raise the stars and stripes over there that his
lie would be in danger. The prisoners were
then examined, one by one, by General Prem.
tlss in a searching manner. The most guilty
of them, Mcpherson, a school teacher, and
Wiseman, lied the most to make out their in
nOcence, but it was no go. The proof that
they had made secession speeches, had de-
nUunced the federal government and troops,
was fully proved. After the examination had
been gone through with, each one was asked
il he would take the oath of allegiance TO the
United States. They all declined, except
three young men, who had been enticed into
bad company. These were Daniel Horrgan,
George Horriean, and Milton Grissam, who
were discharged. Before discharging them
Gen. Prentiss made a few forcible remarks to
them go home" said he, "raise tomorrow
morning the flag of the Union, OF your coun-
try load up your weapons and shoot the first
man that tiles to pull it down. Have nothing
TO do with traitors don't work for them. Ii
you want work, come, and will give it to
you. Loyal citizens shall be protected. AS
for these traitors they will be set tomorrow
TO work wheeling dirt, and shall be kept at it
until get the balance OF the witnesses, then
| shall send them to ST. Louis to be tried for
treason"
1t was astonishing what effect this declara-
ton had on them. One butternut coated in
dlvidual said lie thought they would all take
the oath, that they did not understand what it