The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-06-25
ORANGE COURT HOUSE. VA. FRIDAY MO
A DESPERATE MAN.

The st, Louis Times says that infor
nation has been received at the offic,
of the Chief of Police of desperate at
tempt to arrest the notorious bush
whacker, Samuel Hildebrand, whose
crimes during the war made him an
object OF general hatred and fear. L
appears that James Mclean, of Wash
ington county, (who was one of The
Hildebrand's vlctims), saw him stand.
ing his own door-yard, near Big River
Mills, on the 4th instant, and fired re.
volver, wounding him seriously in the
thigh. Being alone, Mclean returned
to town for reinforcements, during
which time Hildebrand made his escape
and was lost sight of until Thursday
last, when Mr.. Breckinridge, the sheriff
OF Washington county, received infor-
nation that he was at his uncle's house,
about twelve miles south of Irondale
in st. Francis county.
On Friday, with force of sixteen Of
ficers, the sheriff surrounded the house
and demanded surrender. Hide
brand gave no reply, but, reaching his
arm out OF the window, took deliberate
aim and shot Mr.. Breckenridge serious
~ IN the groin, and slightly wounded
| another of the party. Word was then
sent to Irondale, Potosi, and Desota.
| for reinforcements, and, in obedience to
the telegram, Chief of Police Lee de-
tailed Sergeant Bowen and Officers
Vooris and Macqueen to assist in the
capture. They left on the Up. NJ. train
of Friday.
In the meantime, nearly two score of
deputies went to Breckinridge's assis-
tance, and, taking refuge in the woods
and adjacent houses, kept up contin-
ual fire on the log cabin in which Hill
debrand had sought shelter, and 10
which return fire was given, with lit
tie damage on either side, About six
O'Clock in the evening Mclean, in the
midst OF hot fire, climbed up to the
roof of Hildebrand's house and succeed
ed il setting fire to the roof by means
of cotton and turpentine balls.
He then descended from the roof, and,
entering the house, commenced firing
at Hildebrand through the chinks, but
was soon struck in the breast and in
stantly killed by bullet from Hide
brands revolver. From This time up to
8 O'Clock, a period OF two hours, nothing
was done except to keep close watch
on the premises. At O'Clock, Hide
brand crawled out of the back door and
escaped to the woods unseen by the
sixteen men who surrounded the house.
During the cross-firing, Hildebrand
was wounded several times, but il is |
supposed not very seriously. The st. |
Louis police force did not reach the |
scene of action until Saturday morning,
and are, therefore, not responsible for |
the escape of Hildebrand. The coun- |
believe that Hildebrand had |
on bullet-proof vest, but it is more |
probable that the shots fired at him
were wild and unsteady. But little Is |
known Of Hilderbrand's history until |
the breaking out of the war in 1861. |
when he became associated with Guam |
tell in the guerrilla service, and dur |
ing the progress Of the war In South
east Missouri he is asserted to have been |
guilty of repeated acts of cruelty.
1t is rumored that he robbed Mclean |
of considerable sum of money, and
then ravished his sister. In 1868 he was
In command of a small cavalry force at
Richwoods, and not long thereafter alb
solutely quartered an old man, and
his wife to witness the butch
cry. On the following day one of his
lged associates was captured near st.
Aubert, and, after drumhead court
martial of fifteen minutes duration, he
vas condemned to death, and fell pie re-
ID with eight Mimic balls. A party
rom this city will start in immediate
pursuit Of Hildebrand, and it is believed
le will be captured.