Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-11-18

Destruction Of the Court House
at Sidney by Powder.

The following sorrsspondsoss tetvsss u.
Col z. b. Sssss and Adjstsss General Baker
resssls como most atroeisss eulsagss u Sid-
sey, Fremont county. To- -, probably ths work
Of dssssrdly bashwhsstsrs and jsyhs~ksss.
who iofsst thss Segios for plasdsr. Aside
fron what Gen. Baker orders - below print
ID. he 10 using ether me.suses TO bring the
ssoundrsls 70 jussiss. which ~s sioesrsly trust
! will be done:
EiDssy, RaRMosf Cousay, IowA,(
November IL, 1868.
IN d. Baker, Adjusa~s General Of lo,sa:-
DsAR Sta R:--Although perhaps not by way Of
an official report, deem it my duty - lay
before you events as they have transpired in
this county since the killing Ct the Provost
Marsbs!, Of which you have Official notice.
This happened On The 3lst Of October, apd
VAS undoubtedly perpe.rsted BY guerri'Ias or
bushwhackers. Believing frem m what l lhons bt
reliable representations that other persons
Of the same class had been 10 different parts
Of the county. and it being the general i'm
preston that they were spies for the purpose
Of ascertai0iog where successfui raid might
b. made, felt it my duty to detail Captain
Hoyt With Ten men to patrol the couoty, (too
small fosce.) with directions 70 throw on.
p;ckets at nigh. on tho principal roads. O.
the night Of tte 7th inss.. (Sa.urisy hisbi,)
the pickem Oo the vest OF she sowo we're ~.
saeked by 0ve 0r six mon, (the niahs being
dark, } aud 6sed on. The dring was rapid
The pickess returned the 6re, and gave
ihe alarm. The enemy re.rea,-d, pns.
.ued for about half Q miie, and tosk shelter
iU = thickss Of brush 10 the west Of Ine town
aud escaped. They we're mounted. I was
q the tive, aid sttil aw, sta loss to know
~hesher this a,lack wss made BY vuerriilas r
ny evis minded uien in The country. II eitner
| case 1t shows an unhappy state Of affaire.-
On the lOsh, ye't.rday, two horses were re
ported stolen within sign. OF town, and on the
uight before that men were seen skulxing In
The bushes. bu, rot reported in time TO secute
t9sna, las. ni2hs Def re O'clock, the splen.
d,d Court House, which Cos. the county &C.
600 90, and the best building this side OF Des
Moines, was blown rp with powder placed
ia the haiL The building is wreck. l al
once directed Capt. Hoy. 70 seud his men. in
cOnnecli1u wilh the civil authorities 10
sea rch cot aud secure the guilty parties, and
to guard the House unit. the public property,
records, &c, could be secured. Again | do
not know whether this act was doue to plum
der the Treasures safe or to destroy the rec.
ords Tor some private bens ct, or to destroy
.he town, for had 1t taken fire nothing could
nave saved the e1tire business part of the
town fron destruction, Tue Treasurer's sale
is found uDii.turbed. The people ask for a
detail Of moro men for duty, but as yet l
have but ten on duty, desiring the citizeus TO
depend moro On themselves. l would like
your views or instructions, AS TO keeping mep,
aud n0w macy OIL duty, under circumstances
as they exist in this place. Uusess the state
of thi.ss, imperasiveIy, demand my presence
here, l will start on Monday Iext for = tour
through my District for the inspection Of
arms, under Order l27.
Yours, respectfully,
f. H. SEARS, 1t. COL,
A. d. q. ~ Governor.