Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-06-25
A Romantic History.


his desperate resistance while an attempt
was being made to capture him by the Sher-
III oil Washington county and large posse
OF men, IN which one man was killed and
the Sheriff and several others were wounded
We, OF course, took the statement OF those
who went down from here TO assist in his
capture.
With regard 10 the details of the affair as
given us, they are doubtless substantially
truei but regarding the history OF Hilder-
brand and the motives which urged him to
take the course he has, we felt sure thero
must be another side TO the story. The facts
as related by those cognizant with his his
tory, show that he was driven to despera-
llon by the injuries received from those
Claiming TO be Union men, and that he has,
In measure, taken redress into his own
hands, with determination OF avenging his
wrongs.
AT the outbreak OF the war, in 1861, Sam
Hilderbrand and his brother, Frank Hilder-
brand, it seems, were accused OF stealing
from some of the citizens of st. Francois
county. A band of men were organized,
who captured Frank Hildebrand took HIM
out and hung him. They covered the body
in ravine. Sam Hilderbraud suspected
Flrman McllYaine, mere youth, and son of
MIR. Orville Mcllvalne, now OF this city, to
have been the leader Of the band who hung
his brother. He determined to avenEe his
brothers death, and discovering young Nc
llyaine at work In tue harvest field, cradling
wheat, he shot him dead. This occurred the
same season that his brother was hung.
Hildebrand then abandoned his home, and
became desperate leader on the Conieder-
ate side. His operations extended from the
Arkansas line 10 st. Francois county, and
many persons were killed by him during the
war. After his name became famous as a
rartizan leader, Governor Fletcher offered a
reward for his capture, on the charge oil
numbering McIlvaine, and rewards were
also offered by the citizens OF st. Francois
and Washington counties. A number OF
Hllderbrand's partizans united in offering
the reward 10 save themselves from being
dlstrusled by the Union men. But he eVaded
capture. He boasted that, with twenty feet
The start in the bush, he would bid defiance
10 regiment of men IN pursuit.
About this time German company, Sup
posed to belong to Colonel Mueler's regiment,
posted at Cadet Station, followed in pursuit of
but the latter eluded them. They
went to the residence OF his mother-an old
woman = located on Big river, eight miles from
Blackwell Station, and asked for Sam Hilder-
brand, and, not finding him, they ordered the
Did woman and her daughter to leave the
premises They set fire to the house, and shot
! younger brother Of Hilderbrand, fourteen
years of age, named Henry, who was ordered
BY his mother to stay behind and save what he |
,ould from the destruction. The mon then took |
What pluuder they wanted, let down the fences |
and drove the stock away with them. Hilder- |
brand has, since the war, made one Of the citi- |
tens deliver up to him some of the cattle taken |
IN that occasion. The party then went to the
"a Grave Lead Mines and captured Washington |
dilderbrand and man named Landusky, and
aking them ont into lane about hundred
1ard7 from the shaft where they had been at
york, shot them. Washington fell at the first
lime, but Landusky was fired at nine times be-
ore he fell. This occurred on Friday, and |
Landusky was to have been married to sister
Of Hilderbrand 1.-THE same who was driven from |
he house with her mother) on the following
sunday.
These circumstances embittered the heart Of |
and he doubtless registered vow
% avenge what he regarded as the cold blooded
murder Of his relatives.
AT the close of the war he went to Texas, and
'eurned to 81. Francois county about year
lgo 10 poor circumstances. He gave out that |
le wanted to settle up his mothers estate, from
which be expected some three or four hundred
lollars. Poverty drove him to engage in hard |
work. He chopped cord wood for time OF |
Bush Tower Bend, some thirty miles below ST. |
Louis.
One day he went to De Soto. and friend |
who was with him asked Colonel Bill Fletcher |
I be would like TO see Hildefbrand. The Col |
mel replied that he would shoot him at sight. |
then tapped Fletcher on the shoul- |
Ter, and said he was the man. Fletcher, il is |
aid, forgot his brave words, and promised to |
ct Hderbraud alone, il the latter would do the |
ame by him.
The following incident is related: Since the |
var Hilderbrand was shot through the leg by |
lack Smith, and his wounds were dressed by o |
goman, who afterwards married q man who |
quandered all her means. He then left his |
wife and lived with her negro servant in Arkan-
Ias. Hilderbrand, sung with resentment at ths |
way in which the woman who attended to him
While sick was treated, went with few men,
ind, tying the man and negress together flung
hem into the river. For this act Hilderbrand |
vas tried and sentenced to be hung. Before the
ime of execution, two hundred men, clothed in
federal uniform, went to the jAiler and deman-
led that tho prisoner be given to them. The
ailer supposed the object was to lynch him, in-
aade his escape. Hilderbrand is described as
# tall, slender form, sharp features, gray eyes
nd red hair. He has a feminine voice, steps
B lightly as an Indian, and can clear a seven
all fence with the agility of deer. Like
icott's Rob Roy McGregor, he possesses bold
ess, sagacity and prudence, qualities highly
ocessary in war, which become vices when mis-
irected. His father was a farmer in rather
'ad repute, and his mother died Of grief after
be massacre of her family.