I just made a page for Colonel Benjamin Franklin Parker. He has been largely overlooked and glossed over by history. I found a considerable amount of "new" information on him.
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When he came back north after being exchanged, he went first to Old Mines, near Potosi, Mo., then to St. Louis. He was helped by some very influential citizens there (Provost Marshal Records).
While he was in St. Louis, he wrote a long letter to General Price, but it was intercepted at Cairo.
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Conjecture:
Judging from what I've found, I believe that he was sent back to Missouri to organize all guerrilla units into one single fighting force, but he was killed before he could accomplish his mission. On the raids made by him and Quantrill together in early 1863, he was probably in command.
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I still haven't found his origin.
As for the hotel clerk in K.C., I doubt that was him. He was too educated to make the spelling error attributed to that man. The Union soldier who gave the statement just said "Parker", no first name. The only Parker in the 1859/60 K.C. City Directory was a Christopher Parker.
The "brother" who was mistaken for Ben in Leavenworth and arrested, may have been a brother, or just one of his men who was having some fun with them. His famous letter to Gen. Blunt had been mailed in Leavenworth.
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I suspect that Col. B. F. Parker was from a wealthy, and possibly military, Southern family.
If anyone knows his origin PLEASE let me know.

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The letter to Gen. Price:
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Report of Fleet Commander Pennock, U.S. Navy, transmitting letter captured on the steamer White Cloud
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Office Mississippi Squadron
Cairo, Ill. February 17, 1863
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith, a copy of the letter to the rebel General Price, captured with others in a rebel mail, found on the steamer White Cloud. It was accidentally omitted in my communication of 16th instant.
Very Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. M. Pennock
Fleet Captain and Commandant of Station
Acting Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, U.S. Navy
Commanding Mississippi Squadron
(enclosure)
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St. Louis, February 9, 1863
Dear General, Through the courier Mr. ______, I transmit you a few lines, giving as near possible the expressions of the majority of the people of this city, and also of west, north, and northwest Missouri.
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Having, in company with my quartermaster, visited (and in many cases revisited) all of the principal points garrisoned and temporarily occupied by E. militia, think I am well prepared to give you a clear summary of the sentiments, conditions, and reliability of all Southern men, and hitherto conservatives, enrolled.
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Immediately after opening an encampment on Osage River, 36 miles above Warsaw, I was visited by a delegation respectively representing 21 military posts, resolving, in the event of a call being made upon them for active service, and their consolidation with the troops ordered against Vicksburg, to concentrate at any point designated by me and fight as long as there was a man left.
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Not feeling authorized to act legitimately in the premises, I could not give definite answers to their propositions, but deciding upon the action already made by me in the case of recruiting partisan rangers, directed them to a appoint three commissioners representing their wishes, and I should then assume the responsibility of receiving them into my encampment, and resist the enforcement of the order as long as a man would fight and ammunition hold out. It is, sir, the night and morning prayer of both men and women for your return to this state; and believe me, sir, 75,000 men and boys will rally around your standard the hour you reach the west bank of the Missouri River. So soon, sir, as you plant the ensign of liberty upon this once holy and concentrated soil (now polluted by the tread of ruffians and stained with the blood of her best citizens, the victims of a damnable and blood-thirsty soldiery) the uprising of her citizens will be so great as to chill the hearts of the traitors in arms against the rights of her people and her constituted authorities. No man will get their aid but you.
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No man can inspire them with that degree of enthusiasm to break the shackles and throw off the oppressive yoke but you. They have confidence in no man save Missouri's veteran chieftain the old greylock champion of Constitutional liberty and State right. Such, sir, is the daily and hourly expression of old and young. St. Louis alone will give you an army of 8,000 men. Her resources are almost infinite, notwithstanding the horde of thieves and outlaws that have
infested her broad and inviting streets. Her citizens are day by day engendering the most bitter and intense hatred against the North, and the diabolical, base, and fiendish army. Vassalage vile has chained her citizens, but, armed with the triple armor of right, hey have no fears of the result. The day for retribution is not far distant when vengeance will be wreaked upon the heads of those who have proscribed the men and basely insulted the ladies.
Epithets, sir, the most black and damning, will be scarce do credit to their acts. I shall write again when practicable, and shall do all in my power until your advent into the country. To see you in this department, and with entire control of the army, has been the oft-repeated prayer of your humble servant and colaborer in the military

field.
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Believe me, sir, I am, very respectfully,
B. F. Parker,
Colonel of Partisan Ranger Troops
Major-General S. Price, C.S. Army
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P.S. - An instance of their brutality and inhumanity was plainly exhibited in the cases of ex-mayor John M. Wymer and Brigadier-General McDonald. The friends of the deceased soldiers got permission to bring their bodies to the city for interment. Two days after the remains were brought to the city the friends of each deceased were waited on with an order from the provost-marshal directing them to inter the bodies instantly, without the least ceremonies. Some male and female relatives remonstrated and urged with feelings of deep mortification the announcement of burial, time and place by publication. On the evening of the second day, while lying in state, Smithers, the undertaker, was ordered with wagons and men to the houses of deceased, and they were thus dragged forth ruthlessly and unceremoniously buried.
May God Almighty pour curses upon their heads for violating and outraging the rights of the dead.
B. F. Parker
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Ref.: Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War, Volume 24
Naval Forces On Western Waters - pages 418-420
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