The Missouri in the Civil War Message Board

Maj. White's Raid
In Response To: Re: Found Him ()

Yes, the one at Ser. 1, vol. 13, p. 283. There's another report detailing his burnings and a hanging on pp. 281-282. I found these after I figured out who the "Major White" was who popped up in a newspaper report relating to this action. White went into southern Callaway and Boone in late September, burned out the suspected Rebel homes and rounded up the usual suspects, hanging one of them. Made a brief, rare appearance in the press as just "Major White" without the reporting providing any context as to his position and presence.

Caught a little hell from the Conservative Unionist Columbia Statesman (Boone County) who seemed to wonder what was going on too--"ANOTHER BURNING AFFAIR. On Wednesday the 24inst Maj. White with a force of cavalry from Jefferson City, burned four dwelling houses in the south-east part of this county on the river below Providence.... We do not know on what authority the above was committed. Believing that more evils will arise out of it than can be counterbalanced by good results, we oppose the policy of burning property, unless it be in cases of absolute necessity. The innocent will finally become involved and a useless waste of property ensue which should in no way be injured."

General Lewis Merrill apparently sent out an order shortly afterwards, which I am looking for, in reaction to White's activity.

Messages In This Thread

"Maj. White" October 1862
Found Him
Re: Found Him
Re: Found Him
Re: Found Him
Re: Found Him
Maj. White's Raid
Re: Maj. White's Raid
Radical/Conservative Unionism