Here is Blount’s statement, followed by my attempted identification of some of the men that he mentions ...
Statement of Oscar D Blount a prisoner in Houston, Mo. Was born in St. Louis, Mo, Sept. [1846] lives now in Clinton Co. Mo. was arrested at [ ] March 1863 taken to St. Louis where I was ordered South and was taken to City Point [Virginia] and exchanged about April 22, 1863. [Staid in but] a short time and proceeded [over] to Arkansas and in on June joined Captain Knight’s Co and Col. Wood’s Regiment, Mo. Calvary and Light Artillery. About August 8th was detailed in company with William Woods, William Robertson and John [Glendy] under the command of Lieutenant Abe Moss to proceed to the road leading from Rolla to Springfield and to capture all U. S. property we could. We left Camp Baker on Benett’s Bayou where Col. Wood’s regiment was encamped on said day and [ ] John King’s in Howell Co.Mo, close to the Arkansas line that night where we were harbored. Here we found William H. Lingo and Jack Bottom. John King keeps and secretes stolen property here for William Lingo and is said to be his partner. Also, a man by the name of McLaughlin keeps in a pasture Lingo’s horses, some 12 or 15 in number. Lee Tilley, son of old Tilley near Waynesville keeps his stolen horses about one mile from here just over the line in Arkansas.
From this place, Lieut. Moss sent Willam Woods, Wm. Robertson, John [Glendy], and John [Burris] to scout through the country aboutr Thomasville and arrest and take to Camp Baker all persons without proper papers. Left John King’s next day in company with William H. Lingo, Jack Bottom and Lieut. Abe Moss and proceeded about 14 miles to a man’s house on the West Plains road whose name I do not know where we staid over night. We then proceeded on and took dinner at the Widow Smith’s. That night we stayed at [Mr] Goodman’s where we got rations to last us through to neighborhood of Rolla. We first stopped at [Hephran Ledgerwoods] [ ] Soloman Kings on Spring Creek and were fed and harbored by said [Ledgerwood] for 5 days. While there, we kidnapped a Negro man who afterwards escaped and went to Rolla. We then went to Jack Bottom’s house where we staid. The balance of the time we staid about 14 miles from Rolla. The names of men collected at our camp were, Col. [Bradie Hull], Captain Chambers, an Irish Lieut. with but one hand, Dick Kitchen, and [Shelby Castor] who left for Pike County Mo. about 2 weeks ago to recruit. Lieut. Abe Moss, Wm. H. Lingo, James Deems, Monroe Dodds, Pink Mitchell, Wm. Wilson, who is a citizen living on the Hartsville road about 14 miles from Rolla.
The above men assisted in robbing the mail stage about 4 weeks ago when 2 soldiers were in it. One of the stage horses is now in the hands of Old Man Deems in that section of the country. We also stopped 2 sutler’s wagons near old man York’s and robbed them the date I do not recollect, the man who owned the suttler’s wagons lives in Rolla. We also went one night and took supper at Andy Hall’s near Judge Yorks. Lieut. Moss had tobacco hid there and also wanted to buy Hall’s revolver but Hall was absent. We then started back for Camp Baker, Ark. And at about 3 D Sept. stopped and got dinner at [Mr. Purcell’s] near [Lichey] Texas Co. and took supper near Houston at night. We then traveled all night and stopped and took [ ] [ ] [ ] [ at the house of a [Mr. Smith] We then went 20 miles further and supposing ourselves out of danger laid down to sleep after unsaddling our horses and letting them graze, when Capt. Richardson with a squad of men overtook us.
Col Edward Brodie Hull had been wounded at Lexington while serving with Burbridges Cavalry, fought at Pea Ridge with the 2nd Missouri Infantry and was captured at the siege of Vicksburg. He failed to be reelected when his unit was consolidated with the 6th Missouri Infantry and on June 27th 1863, he was sent by Price to Missouri as a recruiter. He was something of an aristocrat and was known to General Grant, who mentioned him disparagingly in a letter to his wife. After the war he served a term in the Missouri State legislature. A letter by Hull to his own wife was found on the body of Obe Moss.
Captain Chambers might have been Francis Marion Chambers, who was also a member of Co C, 8th Missouri Infantry. His service records show him as a lieutenant, but because of the high rate of attrition in the Missouri regiments, promotions were not uncommon.
Dick Kitchen was a notorious bushwhacker from Phelps County. I’m not sure if he was ever affiliated with any specific command.
William Lingo, one of the three men killed in the incident, was from Pulaski County, where his dad, who was a leading secessionist, owned a drugstore. He was the brother of Laura Beth Lingo, who was later arrested with Lee Tilley and Emma Weaver for spying. Again, I don’t know if he was part of an organized unit.
According to his friend, David Lennox’s memoir, Abe Moss’ real name was Obediah Morse and he was with Freeman’s company of Schnable’s Regiment. He was a Confederate scout and recruiter. Moss was also killed by Richardson’s 5th Missouri Cavalry soldiers.
I believe that William Wilson is the same man who was known as “Bushwhacker Bill” and is supposed to have been the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s character in the movie, “The Outlaw Josey Wales.”
Oscar Blount, was a 20 year old native of St.Louis. At the time of his capture, he was on parole after twice being arrested. The first time, after being captured at Ironton and serving time in Gratiot Prison, and the second time, for getting in drunken bar fight with the son of the Platte County Provost Marshall, and then standing in the middle of the street, cursing Lincoln and all abolitionists, and hurrahing for Jeff Davis. He was shot in both thighs by Richardson’s men. After recovering, he joined the Union 12th Missouri Volunteer Infantry and was discharged at the end of the war.
Also killed by Richardson’s men, was Jack [Jacob] Bottom, who I don’t know anything about.
I also haven’t been able to identify James Deems, Shelby Castor, the Irish lieutenant, or Monroe Dodds. Does anyone know who these men are?