By the time of the fall of Vicksburg, conditions in Oregon County had become so intolerable, family members of 4th infantry soldiers were asking them to come home. Because the Federal soldiers had disarmed the civilians "jayhawkers and guerillas" were the only force in the county who were armed. With a choice of going to a parole camp(bad) or going home to protect their family some chose the latter. At least two signed a petition to Gen. Fisk to establish a federal post in Oregon County to control "jayhawkers and guerillas" and later joined Fristoe's Reg. after Major Wilson's Oct. 1863 patrol in answer to the petition. Will show documents on the 15th.