, 1863-09-11

and Blunt-numberiny1e less than 5000 officers
and men for duty, md having over twenty.
five separate stations or fields Of operation
throughout the district, have worked hard,
ard until this raid successfully, In hunting
down the Ene5illas, and protecting the sta.
than hundred Of them In petty skirniahcs
| aid engagements between the 18th Of Jane
| and the Goth inst.
T.. On the o5th inst. I issued IN order reauIr-
|: Ing oil residents Of the counties OF jackson,
cass, Bates, and that part Of Vernon included
the limits Of the military stations aud the
ganisoned towns, and those north Of Bush
Creek and west of Big Blue, to remove from
their present places Of reaidenca within fif-
teen days from that date-those who prove
their loyalty to be allowed to move out Of
the district or to any military station in It,
OF to any part Of Kansas west Of the tosdsr
district.
When the var broke out, tho district to
which this order applies, w.s peopled ty .
community three-f1nrths Of Thom were In
tense1y disloyal. The ayowed loya1ists have
been driven from their Earms long since; and
their houses and Improvements generally de-
etIoyed. They are living in Kansas and at
military stations In Missouri, unable to re-
turn to their homes. None remain on their
farms but rebel and neutral families; and
practically the condition Of their tenure is
that they shall feed, clothe aud shelter the
guerilas, furnish them information and
deceive or withhold information from US.
The exceptions are few-perhaps twenty fam
ines II those Parts Of the counties to which
1ne order applies. Iwo-thirds Of thosa WIN
!ett their families on the border and went to
the rebel armies have returned. They dare
not stay at home, and no matter what terms
ot amnesty may be granted, they eau never
I've IN the county except as hrigands. And
they will stay until the Inst man is killed, to
rayage every ueiglborhood OF the border.
With your approval WAS about adopting,
before this raid, measures for the removal
Of the families Of the gueril1as and Of
KnoFn 5enelss under which tWo-thirds Of
been compelled to go. That order Wou!d
have been most difficult Of execution. and
not half as etfectual as this. Though this
measure may seem too severe believe it will
prove not inhumane, but merciful, to the non
CON atants affected by it. Those who prove
Stations and ill not be allowed to suffer TOR
want OF food. Among them there arc but
few dissatisfied with the order, notwithstaud-
lpg the present hardship 1t Imposes. Among
tie Union refugees It Is regarded as tho best
assurance they have cve1 had Of return to
To obtain the full military adgantaxcs of
the destruction Of all grain and hay in shed
or IN the field not near enough to military
stations for removal there. I have also or
dered from the towns occupied as military
stations large number of persons either
openly or secretly dis1oy:l, to prevent the
guerillas getting Information OF the towns
people, which they will no longer be able to
get Of the farmers. The execution Of these
orders will possibly lead to still EeEcer aud
more active struggle, requiring the best use
Of the additional troops the General com
manding has cent me, but will soon result,
though with much unmerisad loss and suffer-
irg, in putting an end to this savage border
war.
I am, Colonel, yery respectfully, your obe-
dent servant.
THOMAS EWING, Jr., Brig. Gen,