Continuation from the book:
"The day before they had hoped to raid California, county seat of Moniteau County, but discovered the place was too well guarded and altered their plans to hit Tipton, another town on the Pacific Railroad at the west side of the county. The raiders killed two civilians; destroyed the battery for the telegraph key, and robbed the stores in town of watches, jewelry, and many other items. In his book Noted Guerrillas, John N. Edwards wrote that the guerrillas "put to the sword its garrison of forty militia, and destroyed valuable government property," but Edwards' exaggeration is laughable compared to the actual results. Todd left one of his men who was too sick or wounded to ride to the clemency of the townspeople and took as hostage for his good treatment discharged First Sergeant Hannibal B. Davis, formerly of Company K, 4th Cavalry MSM, who his men found in town."

Later that day, after shooting up the village of Pilot Grove, the text adds, "During this part of the raid Todd changed his mind about holding the hostage Davis, and had him killed."