Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-11-12
The Missouri Outlaw,
Interesting Sketch of lis Care

letter purportlng to come from Sam
the notorious Missouri O2t-
law and cXConfederate ranger, dated
Memphis, Ten, 0rtsher II, has been pub
lished in the st. Louis Times, giving Hill
derbrand's account OF himself since the
end Of the war, in which he asks to be
let alone" declares that he always wish
ed to be a peaceable and honest man, but
was not permitted to remain in quiet by
his ''enernies, the radicals" IN regard to
his troubles, adventures, &c, Hilderbrand
says:
After the excitement about the war,
its troubles seemed to die ont, and men
seemed disposed to heal over old sores in
the spring of 1868. l came back to ST.
Francois county and talked with many of
the good people of that county concerning
the prcpriety Of returning to my old home.
All l spoke to of ali oarties said, Sam,
come home"
@ came back in good faith. [ moved
to my mothers old place and lived there
six months. I then moved to Hillsboro'
and stayed there until last fall. Finding
it hard to make living there, I moved on
the Mississippi river, near Rush Tower,
and chopped wood all last winter. I then
moved back to the three rivers, on the Sam
Herd place, to raise crop. There [ lived
aud worked until the 4th of juno last,
when [ was waylaid and shot by Jim Nc
Lane, or Walter Evans, and two others,
that [ or my friends may yet call to ac-
count.
"Jim McLane, NEcQuinn and others,
waylaid my house to murder me in April
last, for several days. On the 4th of June
I was shot through the thigh at my house.
[ went to my uncle Williams where they
attacked me six days after. They shot all
day at me there. selected Jim McLane,
whom [ knew only by description, and
shot him from the house. Sheriff Breck-
iAridge and the balance Of his party took
good care Of their scalps after [ killed Nc
Lane. 1t was then three o'clock, and as I
had eaten no breakfast or dinner, cooked
my own supper and ate it while they kept
firing at me. J. was often amused to see
my Old aunt Williams lodging the balls as
they came in through the cracks. They
fired the house, and as had finished my
supper abandoned my burning fortifca-
ton. As went out, counted thirty five
[ saw George Doggett, Asa Jackson, 10.
McGahan and Hills boy. When the house
got too hot for comfort left it and walked
within six feet of some of the guard. They
seemed blind, or at least they did not offer
to shoot me.
81 wish to say to the radicals in and
about Pennington to beware how they mis-
treat my wife and children, as [ hear they
have had them under arrest by order of
the drunken Bowen, and [ will say to Bob
Hill and 10. McGahan to walk smoothly
and not let my family suffer. They helpe d
to kill my brothers, but they have not yet
killed me.
Jim McLane was tool in the hands of
that Infamous creature and coward, Gus
st. Gem, of st. Genevievo, who will some
day, no matter where he may hide him
self, have to answer fol many crimes he
planned and was too cowardly to execute
but got others to do it for him. McLane
murdered Judge Burk, of st. Genevieye,
and preacher Polk, over SO years Of age.
81 wish to say to Governor McClurg
that I could have easily killed him while
he was in Pennington if I had wanted to
do so, but looked on him as a gentleman,
and that he is misled by listening to lies
from bad men, who are radicals.
''All | have written is every word true.
I do not want to be killed yet awhile;
neither do wish to kill any one if they
will let me alone. My enemies have charg-
ed me with being thief during the war.
was not. All that fairly captured
gave away to the widows and orphans who
had been robbed and were suffering.
81 will refer to any honest man. In the
latter part of August the radical govern
ment of Missouri had four hundred or five
hundred armed men hunting me- down,
and declared martial law. What a tempest
one poor, hunted man can raise It is be-
cause of guilty conscienoes. They know
the wrongs they did, and know that ven
geance should fall upon the guilty.
81 have had two bushels of radical bull
lets shot at me, but only two over drew
blood. The old Indian, when he fired
fourteen shots at General Washington, and
missed every shot, said that the Great
Spirit turned the balls aside. God has
turned away the bullets aimed at my life,
and put my trust in Him, and believe
the balance of my days will be spent more
happily. 49,,
II am in as fine spirits and good health
as ever was. My wound is entirely healed,
and am good for many years of life if my
foes allow me to live in peace, and If they
do not, on them be the consequences.
"Let spies a0d informers keep at safe
distance from me. [ do not think I can
be easily trailed, but still it is the safest
for any person that has desire to hunt uE
Hilderbrand to let that alone. Remember
the greenhorn that started ont to hunt
grizzly bears in California.
'' In order that those who know me anC
my family may know that the writer of this
is Sam Hilderbrand, and not fictitious
person, will here give the names of my
wife and children !: my wife, Margaret
children, Henry, Rebecca, Mary Elizabeth
Nancy Catherine, Margaret Ann, George
Washington. Yours,
'sSAM HILDERBRAND.
| The st. Louis Democrat, republican
paper, commenting on this letter, say
that Hilderbrand is an illiterate back
voodsman, unable to read or write, ani
the letter in circulation must have beer
written by somebody else. The same pa
per adds:
AT the breaking out of the rebellion
Hilderbrand went to Arkansas and joined
the band of JEFF. Thompson. He made
business of stealing and running off horse
and jeff was strongly inclined to hang hin
if he could have caught him. Finding
that the rude soldiery OF the Swamp Fox
were disposed to punish him for his mis-
Deeds Hildebrand left the army and cam
up into Southeast Missouri as bushwhac
ker. He shot his partner in the bush
whacking business. Hilderbrand also kill
ed Rowan, and Rowan's son in retaliation
killed Hilderba13's brother. Hilderbran
| killa1 an old man named Rinpa- and shO