The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-11-28
oUANrRELL's GUERILLAs.

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A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Enquirer, in a sketch of this famous
band of freebooters, tells the following
incident, which, it is said, has never
before been published: In the fall of
1868 Quantrell left Missouri with
company of one hundred and twenty
men, passed through Arkansas and at
tempted to go into Louisiana. They
were notified by Kirby Smith, then COM
manding the rebel army in that country,
that they could not join his army, nor
would they be allowed to remain in
Louisiana. 1t appears that he did not
want them on account of the bad name
that had preceded them, and as he be-
lieved they would do his army more
harm than good in the way of destroy
ing its discipline. The headquarters of
the Louisiana State Government were
then at Shreveport, and Henry W.
Allen was the Chief Executive. By
some means he heard of Kirby Smiths
refusal to allow the men of Quantrell's
command to become soldiers in the
regular army or remain in the State,
and sent for them himself, and told
them he would like them to join the
State scouting service and be under his
immediate control. Quantrell himself
declined the invitation, but number
of his followers, among them the James
and Younger brothers, accepted the
offer of Governor Allen. These selected
as their commander one of their num-
ber, named Joe Lee, who had come from
near Independence, Missouri. Since
that little town has grown up some
miles this side of Independence, known
as Lees Summit. given in honor of Joe
Lees father. Lee was young man,
and as desperate as any. He knew
nothing Of fear, and had been in many
a close encounter ON the Kansas border.
He was six feet high, and had wild,
dashing air, that always distinguished
him in any company, and had face
that was altogether more pleasing than
1isagreeable. The place of rendezvous
for this company Of State scouts was
Carroll Parish, now West Carroll Parish,
about twenty-five miles from the Mis-
sissippia River. directly across from
Vicksburg. 1t was one of the richest
portions Of the State, being in the center
Of the great cotton belt of the South.
Joe Lee and his followers had no trouble
in finding friends and abettors, and that,
too, among the most respectable people
Of the community. There were two
little towns in the parish-Floyd and
Delhi. AT these two hamlets, and in
their vicinity, the guerilIas made their
homes. Joe Lee, Frank and Jesse James,
and John Jarrett stopped with planter,
named Dickson, and Dickson lives there
at this time. They were all active,
well-built men, of that dashing, reckless
air that captures the hearts of women.
They kept the community in state of
perpetual excitement and enthusiasm.
ftwas one round of revelry from week
in to week out. Every night there was
a party or ball at the house of some
planter The guerillas were the lions
on all these occasions. They sported
the most gaudy dress, fourished the
finest pistols, and rode the best horses.
In fact, they were supreme in the mas
terry of Carroll Parish. Now and then
they would go away on forays, and
would return with various amounts and
kinds of plunder.
They would waylay some small de-
tachment of the Federal army, shoot
the men, rob them of their money and
their horses. They kept on hand q
large supply of Government mules
harness, wagons, and various sorts oi
military appendages. They dressed in
Federal uniform whenever they were
on one of the raids. This was a fashion
with all the Missouri guerillas. Thus
disguised they decoyed many a poor
soldier into the jaws of death. There
could be much said about the daring
exploits of Joe Lee and mis- band ol
freebooters; butone adventure deserves
especial mention. since it is not known
how near it come to affecting the des
tiny of the nation. 1t appears that
after Vicksburg had been invested and
the South threatened at other points
Governor Allen, of Louisiana, con
ceived the desperate idea of capturing
the person of General Grant. He be
lieved that General Grant was the evi
genius of the Confederacy, and that i
he could be killed or taken prisone
the siege of Vicksburg could be raiset
and the Federal army driven back. H
sent for Joe Lee and impaired to hin
his thoughts, and asked him if he coul'
devise plan. 1t was readily taken t
by Lee, who Immediately proposed t
execute the daring enterprise. At tina
time-that is in the spring of 1854
Grant and his army were encamped a
Milliken's Bend, near YouDg's Point
on the Mississippi, some eighteen mile
sb We Vicksburg. General Grant
headquarters were in the dwelling hous
that belonged to magnificent plants
tion, much of which can be seen fror
the deck of a passing steamer. Jo
Lee proposed to 60 to that house an
bring away the body Of General Gran
dead or alive. He chose five of his mos
trusty men. They were the two JAIME
brothers, two of the Younger brother
and John Jarrett. These with himse
made six. There never were six bette
men for such an expedition. They wei
young, strong, and as brave as q
bravest. They had already seen a
there is in war. They had been trie
in the most trying places; did not ca
much whether they lived or died; We
the quickest and best shots in the worl
and rode the feetest horses in the Ian
It was just before the Federal army s
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