Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-05-31
Texas.
ouANTRELL's BANn AT THEIR BLOOD
WORK.

the countries bordering on Arkansas, in
cluded in the district TO which he was APP
pointed, writes very interesting letter to
The Batavia Advocate, telling something
Of what he saw and heard. We quote a
portion Of his letter as follows:
OFFICE OF SUB-AssIsTANT CoMM'R.
XXXIvth DISTRICT OF TEXAs.
MARSHALL, Texas, Apr. %, 1867.
80 We finally reached the border,
and crossed into the Chickasaw Nation.
Along the border 70 Arkansas, the country
is in sad condition. Civil law in these
pats recognizes no crime but horse steal
ing The penalty for this is death as soon
as caught. Murder, which is so common,
is unnoticed, for the following reasons
First, there are very few men who have
not at some time, killed their man, and a
jury cannot be- found that will convict. A
true bill is sometimes found, but witnesses
are spirited away, or the murderer escapes.
Second, they dare not convict, FOR the re-
naming gang will kill the jurymen. There
are roaming bands still fighting, robbing
and killing for the Coniederacy--a portion
of QuaatrelPs band. A gentleman in Red
River County, told me that they had visi-
ted his place very often, during the war.
These ruflians would sit hours in his par
lor and tell of robberies and murders they
had committed, and laugh at the jokes, one
of which viii tell as they told it TO him.
They were riding along in a squad, and
man met them and said g Thank God you
have come. Do catch Quantrell for he
is rdering every one that has got any
money" Then Quantrell spoke and in
formed him that he was Quantrell "Ah,
my Gott, / am dead !" Here they all joined
in laugh. " But" said the gentleman,
! ''you didn't kill him 2" Oh, yes, we killed
him: twas fun to see him pray" Guam
trell said he hated to kill man that was
! stubborn and showed fight, or said nothing
! or told them to kill him and be done with
] it. But ! do like get after Dutchman,
| aud hear them beg and pray for God to
. spare them. / ALWAYS make them get on
! their knees and look me in the face, and
! while they pray to blow their faces TO
pieces" This incident raised great laugh,
! and called out another story. Lee, the
first officer under Quantrell, told an incl.
dent that happened that morning in the
neiglborhood and it was true. They rode
, up to an old man aud asked him for his
money. He was in his yard-an old man
seventy years old. They were told he hal
no money in the house or anywhere else,
aud, said Lee, g. killed him." We went
to the next house and an old Dutch
man was reading book. / asked him if
: he had any money he answered no. |
then took him over TO the next house and
showed him the dead man lying on his face
in the yard" "Oh! Mr.. Quantrell there
is $40 in my trunk take ii and lie; me
live" Another laugh. The gentleman
asked if he killed him. Oh no, Budd
killed him; Budd had never killed man
, new recruit-and we made him Kill him
! to get his hand in" One man said after
: the first man he killed he could not sleep
for week 4" but " said he, g have killed
r ei.hty-two, and now / had just as soon do
r ii as kill dog | will not relate any
more Of these horrible stories, they are too
t terrible to think Of Yet these Union peo-
! pie have been Obliged 10 live through the
reign Of terror for years. The Rebel por-
It ton Of the community killed, but did not
T rob, as did Quantrel. In Cook County,
: forty-two Union men were hung to one
S limb for loving the government. The
names Of them and the parties who muir
e dered them are known. There is day Of
reckoning coming, and it's not far distant.
A portion of this Quantrell band is now on
), the border, OF Red River county; we are do
ing our best 10 catch them. If we succeed
. they will probably come to grief. Such is
iuG COHuiiiOH VI +, J u t.jtSS ptUpic
y as mass, raid against the ursurpation
4 BILL" because desperadoes do not get time
- TO break Jail or be bounded out until the
next term Of the court. Their trials al e
a short and decisive. They 60 sup" or
: down in hurry-someIimes both.
4 Since | began this letter, l have re-
> ceiyed notice that the State of Texas has
p been divided into dstricis; ours is the 34th.
!, and Only includes six counties, and we have
!. been assigned TO the co nmand. This is for
i its better government, as it is a we can do
q Justice to with infantry. Heretofore our
q district was SO large We could not visit it.
h Now, under the new order of things, six
. counties we can regulate without much
- trouble.
- Judge Shellabarger of Ohio is going
south to talk republican, The Mobile
= Advertiser says: every solitary vote
ha IN, tI,Io r..