George,
I don’t like your assumption soldiers under Col. Albert Jackson were “likely suspects” in the burning of Dallas. Nor your reference to what I’ve passed on to you as “another possible explanation for the town’s burning.” It is proven by the record soldiers under the command of Jackson burned the town. Period. That charge and all of the several others brought against the colonel in the course of the investigation I cited were supported by sworn statements by people who were on the streets that day. These charges were not based on rumor or speculation by people who were not there at the time. There is no doubt in my mind who burned the town on the date stated. It was good to see your report by David Allan that he and the 29th Infantry (was this a Missouri outfit?) passed through Dallas Nov. 15, 1862, and saw several of the buildings in the town had been destroyed by a fire. It’s evident to me he saw the results of the fire ignited by Jackson’s men nine days earlier. I am aware the 13th Illinois Infantry, based at Greenville (Wayne County), burned Barnesvillle (now Ellington) in Reynolds County and Van Buren in Carter County, but I know of nothing to suggest Dallas was a target. As for Hecker and the 24th Illinois, he had tossed in the towel (resigned) months earlier and his old regiment was miles from Dallas in November of 1862. It’s pure speculation if not an outright fabrication to suggest either of these outfits had a hand in the burning of the town.