p.682 - Operations in MO, ARK, KANS, and IND. T. (Chap.X)
Camp Benton, Mo., August 25, 1861
Capt. Ben Talbot:
Sir: I am instructed by Brig. Gen. M. Jeff Thompson to call your earnest attentin to the inclosed general
orders.* He has heard with much indignation that you are carrying on an indiscriminate course of impressment,
and that friends suffer as often as foes by your actions. He deisres me to arrue you, on his word of honor, that he
will hold you strictly accountable for your action in these matters; or, to use his own owrds, "Tell Captain
Talbot, by God, I'll hang the first man, be he private or officer, be he sworn in the service or not, who
transgresses the inclosed general orders."
JOHN M. LANGAN,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Mil. Dist., Missouri State Guard
A lot of seemingly minor references to Ben have been showing up in some interesting places. Post #4166 on this message board on July 29 2005, Lou Wehmer transcribed for us the A.N. Hunt records from the archives. Here is an excerpt from that transcription:
I have heard those Rebels & Hunt mention the name of Talbalt, Valle and Sikes but whether those persons came to his house or not I do not know.
(signature) Marsha M. Landrum
Subscribed and Sworn
to before me this 16th
day of September 1864
at Pilot Knob Mo
P. F. Lonergan
Captain and Asst Pro Mar
2nd Sub District of St Louis
I haven't placed Sikes yet, but, I think I'm close. Valle is from Washington/St. Francis County area and it is my contention that Talbalt is Ben Talbot who also is from that area. Ben had all kinds of connections down on Black River. I believe I remember reading, and I am shooting from the hip here, that one of Ben's sons or son-in-laws lived in Des Arc after the war and had to do some time in Jeff City for killing a guy in Iron County sometime around 1874. Des Arc is just across the Black River from Ben's brother-in-laws large farm at the mouth of Sinking Creek.