I couldn't find Benjamin Talbot in the 1860 Missouri census, but in the 1850 census of Concord Township of southeast Washington County (near Irondale) it shows him as born in KY, poor, 40 years old, wife Laura born in IL, and several children all born MO, oldest age 17 in 1850.

Further, I couldn't find anything on Benjamin Talbot from Washington County in the MO Secy of State's website and online MO State Archives military service records, although there are records of other Benjamin Talbots and Talbotts there. I couldn't find anything on him in Peterson, McGhee's, Daleen's and Lindberg's landmark 1995 "Sterling Price's Lieutenants" about the Missouri State Guard, nor anything in Jim McGhee's [hi, Jim] landmark 2008 "Guide to Missouri Confederate Units, 1861-1865." Not even a mention in either of the "Branded As Rebels," either. This guy managed not only to hide from the Yanks throughout the war but also the Rebels and now from me, too!

I found a newspaper article mentioning him in the 12 August 1861 "Daily Missouri Democrat" of St. Louis which mentions that he operated with Captain [John D.?] White, and a Doctor Wyatt with 70 to 80 men who on 10 August 1861 [the same day as the Wilson's Creek or Oak Hills battle near Springfield] attacked the town of Potosi. Fourteen local northern home guardsmen fought back and repelled the attack. The article says one guardsman was killed and four wounded while the Rebels lost two dead, three wounded, and two captured. The newspaper said that this band came from the Black River country of Reynolds County and that while near Potosi murdered some men of northern sympathy.

The same newspaper but the issue of 21 September 1861 tells how Union Major John B. Gavitt led a battalion of "independent mounted volunteers" and four companies of his 1st Indiana Cavalry rode from Ironton to the Big Black River and routed Talbot's camp, killing at least two, wounding several, and capturing five.

Some time during 1863 Captain Benjamin Talbot recruited 100 men in and near west Iron County, took horses that were tied in front of a Baptist Church during service, robbed the mail, and took the mailman's horses. This definitely qualifies him on the guerrilla side of the house! I particularly liked him stealing the horses in front of the church. What would Reverend and Colonel Tim Reeves say about this? This I found in Mayes' "Civil War in Iron County" pamphlet, published in recent years.

In the State of Missouri's 22nd General Assembly Report on the Conduct of the Militia in 1864 on page 169 repeats the December 1863 accusation of an informant that First Lieutenant William H. McLain of Company L of the Union's 68th EMM of this region had previously been in "Ben Tolbert's guerrilla company."

The "Official Records" series 1, vol. 41, part 3, on page 560 quotes Union authorities on 2 October 1864 reporting that "Ben Talvoid" was supposedly in Potosi conscripting men into Rebel service. He seems to have had a fixation for Potosi, and by that date he must have figured that if he can't beat 'em they could join him!

I know this is just bits and pieces, but that is all I could find on Benjamin Talbot.

Bruce Nichols