Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-07-26
TEH RELAPSE INTO BARBARIsM IN MIS-.
SOIRI


souri,.
The Western mails begin to bring us details
Of the destructive guerilla operations in North.
western Missouri, Of which we have had brief
telegraphic reports the few days past. These
details chow that the horrors of this guerilla war.
fare iu that portion of our unhappy country
have been undciia.el rather than exaggerated
Occasionally whole villages are given TO tho
torch, aud tue wTetched inhabitants, after being
feeeed of their property, are compelled to seek
shelter, with their wives aud littlo ones in the
forests Among the most nourishng towns thus
destroyed, was Platte City. 1t was not thus de-
stroyed by gueras, however, but by Federal
troops, for the alleged reason that its Inhabitants
were sympGthigers with tho rebels, and gave en-
couragement to the guerillas At Camden (on
the Missouri river scenes OF the most horrible
character were enacted. The st. Louis HsraR
says;
Once in possession Of the town, o sad scene Of
destruction aud pillage commenced, such as ne
hope never again 10 witness. Several Of tho
citizens were arrested and taken to headqnar-
ters. Houses were burned and pilllged, and
the heavens, for miles around, were lighted with
flames. Late into the night the fires continued,
and again in the morning were renewed. About
two-thirds Of tho town was destroyed, but the
fine Seminary buildings were unharmed when
we left.
At the time our forces entered tho town they
were told that there were Il number Of men hid
in the hemp house, then iD flames, having been
fired by Thornton, in which he had number Of
guns, end it is supposed that three Of them we're
burnt with tho building, aud the bodies Of two
dead guerillas were cast into the flames and also
consumed. We hear it estimated that over
twenty men were killed belonging to The guer-
las, aud odsy one man killed and one wounded ON
the part of the attacking forces.
The fine residence Of DR.. Thomas, living at
the edge of town, was smouldering heap Of
ashes, as we passed in the orning, and it was
reported that tho Doctor had been taken out and
shot lie wns an old man, bore good charac-
ter, but it was reported that he had visited a
sick guerilla, hence his fate. Previous to the
report of his death, a squad Of the 18th Kansas
were in possession of his house, which they gut
ted and then fired, and only waited to get tho
Doctor to leave lounge upon which lay his
sick wife, to blow his brains out, and we are Of
the opinion that they accomplished this bloody
work before they left. Other citizens III tue
neghborhood, no doubt, shared the same fate
One Olve, formerly of the militia, who had
Joined tho guerilas at Platte City, was captured
having his leg broken. He recognized one OF
his captors, aud called him by name, and re-
ceived in replyi "OlviH, you are in id bad
company" Ono of the party then held him up, ;.
and another placed his carbine close to the pri- |
soners head fired, and the soul Of 0lvis was in |
the presencs of his Maker.
Mccormick. the prisoner named above, was !
marched into camp aud placed under guard !
About o'clock report was circulated that we |
were attacked, when the guard immediatelysshot
the prisoner, or as they said, "disposed OF |
him." Col, Ford then addressed the men, aud /
said that, as the guerillas gave no quarter he