Well, I'll be giggered! The poor 12th Cavalry MSM did not burn down Barnesville like the paltry evidence I found seemed to indicate! I knew the 13th Illinois Cavalry was in the area from reading their reports in the "Official Records" and their company itineraries in Broadfoot's published-in-the-1990s "Supplement to the 'O.R.,' but I did not even know any part of the 13th Ill Cav was in Barnesville. I had not used Behlendorf's postwar history of the regiment, so I missed out! Major Behlendorf wrote after the war what his comrades knew not to write at the time--namely that they enjoyed burning towns in a region they supposed was all Rebel. From what the major wrote, it appeared that the burning of Van Buren and Barnesville was done in the presence of and perhaps the encouragement of the company-grade officers of the 13th Ill Cav. I find it ironic that at least Company A of the 13th Ill Cav was stationed in what was left of Barnesville for a while the next spring in April 1863, according to the company itinerary in Broadfoot (Volume 8, 13th Ill Cav, p. 132.). I can see how the residents of Barnesville could be confused about who burned their town. One bunch of Yankee cavalry pretty much looks like the next one! Besides, if troopers are burning somebody's town, they don't usually hang around and take credit for their work!

Cletis, if you hadn't asked about this, I may not have realized my mistake. Thank you. I will put this in my list of errors to correct when and if the time comes that my publisher allows me revise my 1862 book.

Bruce Nichols