The Goodhue volunteer., 1864-05-18
84tsttt1aufnMs 8eading. {
THE MURDER OF ]. w. CATH
CART, ESQ. ]

Full Details of the. Sad Affair.
The following letter from Mr.. Howland,
to Mr.. A. H. Cathcart, gives the full partic.
ulars Of the brutal murder Of our lamsnted
townsman, J. w. Cathcart, Esq.
V1cKsBUReH, Miss, April 27.
DEAR Sir 1t was my melancholy duty
last week to communicate to our mutual
friend, Col. Marshal, tho sad intelligence .f
the death of my associate and partner Mr..
Jno. W. Catheart, who was barbarously
murdered on the 18th instant by southern
depds.
yesterday forwarded his remains per
steamer, 'Jno. II. Dickey,' to the caro- of
Messrs. W. R. Greene & Co., St. Louis,
and instructed them to telegraph you as to
the disposition Of the remains, and now
take tho liberty Of communicating to you
the details.
Cathcart and myself associated ourselves
on business expedition, and left St. Louis
We decided to
take venture jn3planting. We therefore
made arrangements 70 this end. 3 X
went to St. Louis to purchase stock and
supplies, while Cathcart remained below
One month ago returned with sixty hesd
Of stock. and ample supplies, but on the
boat arriving at the plantation selected,
Gone hundred miles from here) I received
orders to proceed to Vick.burg with all the
freight, as the guerilla. had driven all the
planters from that point.
Arriving at that point met Cathe At, and
we looked the matter over, 10 decide VI hat
to do. We had to dispose of our stock and
supplies At a loss, or put them to work a
plantation. A Seemingly favorable oppor
[tunity presented itself for us 10 secure
very fine plantation in sight Of tho city, on
the Louisiana side. It was deemed by all
~ fortunate selection. as we'll As safe
CAthcart and myself always felt much anx
iety as We had o hne lot of wo1khorseS
) while most Of the planters were working
condemned stock. W. feared tha, the
good stock would eventually excite tho Gu
pidity o. the thieves that infcst the neigh
borhood.
Almost all OF our friends advised u. rot
to arm our.elyes and cur hands, to resist
the guerillas, as they argued that in the
event Of our falling into their hands after
any show ofresistance, no quarter would
bs shown to us; ; while, on the other hand
without armed resistance we would lose on
ly our property, and suffer no persona! inju
ry. We felt, however, extremely anxious
but did not arm for resistance. We quiet
" and energetic.lly pushed ahead in our
enterprise, and in few days We ;com
plisbed what was deemed extraordinary
work, and our prospects Of success seemed
hat,ering.
But Providence willed otherwise.
| On the afternoon Of Monday, April II,
loft Cathcart in good health ard spirits, and
it WAS my intention to transact my business
At vi cksburgh and return the same evening
As had generally attended to the bust
ness At Vicksburgh, I suggested before
mounted, that he had better go instead, az
the trip would be recreation, but he deciu-
ed, remarking that as soon az We had got
Everything systematizsd and working
smoothIy, he would take trip to New Or
leans.
! was detained by business until it wa
too late to cross tho river, and remained 10
Vicksbugh all night. At sunrise next
morning crossed the river, and on landing
on the Louisiana side l was informed that
tho guerillas bad ra1ded our plantation, had
taken most Of our stock, and also Cathcart
and old DR.. Fahnesbaek Gan army physic-
ian who was located at tho Government
Hospital st our plantation,
l Immediately crossed the river and ap-
|pl!ed to Gen. Macarthur, for force to pur-
sue, bat with no success, and then immedi-
ately went again over the river, and rode
out to the plantation. there found that
Everything wss in confusi and panic.
found that Cathcart and the Doctor, also
|.bout so head Of horses and 80 or 40 ne :
|groes had been taken away about an hour
lbs.ors day. '.y.<.s -. ....-:<
sst about to secure all the information
p could absus the fac Of the white men,. /
Isent cut scouts as :ar u deemed it safe,
|and . far . could induce them to go. and
gained The intslligsDes .hs. abou. seven
miles out the white men were riding along
with The ether prisoners. That lightsned
Ins up, ard led ne 70 indulge the hops that
they would 81 retained IS espuves msrsly.
] coniinusd my efforts with the military
Ianthosities ior : fosee to 30 into the country
Ia 1an1~ 4H~sp kfa ~s4k<r.p >r~sl sn&sI r.,