OR letter Serial 101 pg 1305
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH MISSOURI,

Macon, Mo., March 31, 1865.

Colonel B. W. LEWIS, Glasgow:

DEAR SIR: I have the honor herewith to hand you my indorsement on the paper from His Excellency Governor Fletcher and to reassure you that while I remain in command of this district I will at all times be pleased to afford you safe escort and the best protection the means at my disposal will permit. I also inclose my indorsement upon your claim for damages sustained by the burning of your warehouse and contents by the rebel army at Glasgow in October last. The facts as set forth in your petition are substantially true, and I trust that youmay eventually recover the damages sustained. The spring time is upon us and a few more weeks, at furthest, will demonstrate whether we are to have a renewal of former troubles or that peace and quiet so much to be desired. I am fully aware that very many of our best informed citizens and most substantial loyalists are quite apprehensive that we are to be overrun with guerrillas of the most desperate and determined character, and I believe that you, to a certain extent, share in these fears. Whether we are to have quiet or disorder rests mainly with the citizens at large. Troops alone cannot put down bushwhackers; citizens must co-operate. The national and State authorities are now in entire harmony in a vigorous effort to unite the people in a general crusade against the common enemy of mankind. I trust you will lose no opportunity to impress upon your fellow-citizens the importance of unite of effort. I fully recognize your eminent service in the past. I know how industriously you have labored to harmonize the conflicting elements and how earnestly you have exhorted your neighbors to join yourself and others in the restoration of quiet to your disturbed county. Had your advice been taken much of the woe that has fallen upon your fellow-citizens would have been arrested, but men would sow the wind. The harvest of whirlwind was certain to follow. How long will your neighbors give themselves over to strong delusions and believe lies? I will be pleased to hear from you frequently.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CLINTON B. FISK,

Brigadier-General.

And Serial 102 page 873

MACON, June 13, 1865.

Colonel B. W. LEWIS,

Glasgow:

General Spalding has not yet determined when he will visit Glasgow. He will telegraph You when he will come. I shall leave to-morrow morning for Saint Louis. General Fisk is expected there June 15. There is yet room for hope on the new constitution. The returns from northern counties are all favorable; so is the soldiers' vote. We have yet to beat about 4,000 votes, and I think it can be done. The vote of such counties as Boone and Callaway, and Roanoke Precinct, should not be counted. Talk to the secretary of state about it.

W. T. CLARKE,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-general.

So it appears the title/rank came between Nov 1864 and March 1865. Fletcher was sworn in on January 2 1865. This further leads one to believe the rank came from involvement with the Missouri Militia organized under General Orders 3 , 1865 on January 30, 1865 and served until July 1865. Paid for by the state, not eligible for pensions, had 61 Companies. Time frame fits the correspondence.

FWIW, JJR