The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-06-20
ORDER NO. II.
Special Correspondence from JerersOz City, TO
X C. Time3g

the homes of many who tiOurished IL
ant-bellum days In it Missouri
greatest artist, also orator aud lit
erateur, tells the story Of misery
degradation, want and iudignity &c
which the people in the Missouri
counties that border on Kansas were
subjected by the inquisitorial order
which Bingham has made infamous
with brush and canvas In the heart
rendiug scenes the artist according
To those who suffered the effects OF
order No. II and witnessed the trag-
edies enacted under the guise of ne
cessity and expediency. has not dealt
in pictorial hyperbole. but has por-
trayed faithfully what transpired in
those days OF internecine strife.
] have recently heard a new story
of the writing OF this famous order,
which may soften somewhat the opin-
ion held by many OF General Ewing
The order in question was written in
the house OF J. $ Houck. father of
Mrs. James f. McHenry OF Jefferson
City. MIR Houck was ii pioneer OF
western Missouri and had prospered
much in the Santa Fe trade. When
the war broke out he lived in West
port. situated in the midst of the
border warfare that was waged be-
tween Kansas Red Legs and Mis-
sourians during the five years of the
civil war. The eleventh regiment, X
V. C.. was located there General
Ewing was the officer in command.
At the request of Gen. Lyon, Ma jor
l.. X. Thatcher, who died recently in
Kansas City, and Lieut. William
Mr.. Houck allowed these
three union officers to make head
quarters at his house. 1t was also a
means of protection. Mrs McEIenry
was at that time tot of d girl. but
well the actors and incl
dents OF those days in the early COS
Ewing had been impOrtuned
for weeks to issue the military man
date contained in order No. II. Real
izing its import, he had persistently
declined to pen that which meant
death to innOcents and wantOn de-
structiOn of thousands of dollars
worth of property.
One morning the officers of the sew
aral regiments which We're stationed !
IN that part OF Missouri and Kansas
called on General Ewingat the home
Of Mr.. HOuck and demanded that the |
order which required all residents of |
he four counties mentioned to move
o some military post in the district |
Within five days be issued on that |
lay. Mrs. McHenry remembers well |
he stormy conference that occurred |
n the large parlor of her fathers
house. The union officers insisted |
hat the order be written, and threat
med violence both to General Ewing
md the confederate sympathizers
II the district unless it be made.
After they had departed General
wing called Mr.. Houck in and told
him of what he had been ordered to
10. He realized the full import OF
he order and remarked TO Mr.. Houck
hat it was too terrible an edict for
nm to write when in sober posses
ION OF himself. He accordingly ask
d for a decanter of whisky. Seated
t a table he drank freely from the
ontents. Before beginning to write
e imbibe'l to intOXication. In this
onditiOn. with his brain afame and
is sensibiIities deadened. General
errorized the country TO which it
pplied and subjected the inhabi-
ants toinsults and indignities which
is best to forget. Hearts were
roken, families scattered, fathers
-ere murdered before the ewes Of
ives and children. and flame and
orch were applied ruthlesslv TO
air land. For this General Bing-
am. in a letter to General Ewing.
eclared he would Use all his ability
18th pen and brush to make both
rider No I and it, author Infamous
4 the eyes Of all lust men. How we'll
8 accomplished his task is history.
The cut glass decanter out OF which
ieneral Ewing got the inspiration
nd nerve to write and issue order
o. II Is still in the family OF Mr..
nj Mrs J f McHenrv.
f VI. WATSON.