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Re: Battle of Glasgow - Honor
In Response To: Battle of Glasgow - Honor ()

George,

I just read in the newspaper archives on the MO Secretary of State's website of Missouri State Archives a first person participant letter that seems to bear on this, at least in part. In the "Liberty Tribune" of Clay County for 18 November 1864 a letter from LT William N Perkins of the 13th Missouri Veteran Cavalry (USA) from the paroled soldiers camp at Benton Barracks in St. Louis tells about his experiences a few days before at the surrender of Glasgow.

Perkins wrote "When (Confederate COL Sidney D.) Jackman's men entered the town they stripped us of everything as usual." Perkins writes on to say which U.S. supplies were captured and which the Federals earlier destroyed to keep them from Rebel hands, and etc. Perkins continued "The rebs treated us very well after Jackman's men robbed us. We were guarded by them to near Boonville, where we met our own troops."

Since Perkins and the other Union prisoners were paroled at Glasgow, why did Jackman's men "guard" them to Boonville? I believe paroled soldiers are free to leave, but these troops were guarded by Confederate regulars. Perkins does not state this, but I feel Jackman's men guarded these prisoners to protect them from the guerrillas. Otherwise, I never read about Confederate troops having to guard paroled prisoners. Unfortunately, Perkins was not specific on that point.

Bruce Nichols

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