Captain Stanley is the subject of two Civil War accounts I came across while searching for other information.
May 22, 1865 Helena, Arkansas
1st a letter from McAllister A. Hooker, Co. A. 87th ILL Vols Inf. stationed at Helena, Ar. to his wife had the following account. -------" Captain Anderson and with 75 men went down to Friar's Point 15miles below here and stayed 4 days and nights to try to get Capt Stanly (Stanley) or a band of Gurrillers that was in that part of the state but the citizens saved us the trouble by capturing hm and his men and shooting them. -------Out of 15, they only took two prisoners. ----We went out from Friar's Point and out 6 miles, we met some of them with guns and they told us that we need not go for they had cleaned them out. ---------Stanly was a notorious -----They caught Stanly and took him upstairs ------he jumped out the window and was shoot 3 times before he hit the ground — and he was shot three time with a double barrel shot gun after he hit the ground. --------------
2nd INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF W.G. DAVENPORT (WILLIAM GRANT) DURING THE TIME OF HIS SERVICE IN THE CIVIL WAR
(note W.G. Davenport was born in Ga. moved to Texas where he joined the 10th)
At or near Oxford, Mississippi, our main company halted for a rest and a scouting party of about 15 men under Sergeant Berry were sent to the Mississippi River. I was sent with this scouting party and we started at once on our way to the river, near Helena, Arkansas.
In getting to the point where we had decided to strike the river, we were forced to cross the swamp which was very wide, - about fifty miles, I think or possibly more – before we reached the river we learned that the Yanks had taken charge of a large plantation lying between a canal or lagoon an the river which they were guarding with solders, and were stocking and farming on a large scale. This farm or plantation was on the east bank of the Mississippi River and in the state of Mississippi, and on the west bank of the river opposite was a town of Helena, Arkansas, which was a regular army post of the Yanks and at which were about ten thousand soldiers both infantry and cavalry. -----------------------------------------------
It was then near sundown when the stock were all crossed, the ferry boat turned loose and floated down the canal, the stock were put in motion for the all-night drive out and away from the Yanks whom we were sure would be after us in a short time. We moved as fast as possible in the darkness and when we had gone a few miles and were beginning to feel that we would be able to make our escape from the Yanks, we were startled by a challenge of "Halt, who goes there?"
Our officer answered, "Friends, who are you?" Then came the order, "Dismount and advance."
Sergeant Berry then said to us, "Boys, be ready, those in charge of the stock look out for them and the remainder ride forward with me." Then in answer to the command to dismount and advance, he said, "I will not. I command a squad of Texas Scouts in the Confederate service and am ready to fight if necessary. Who are you and what do you want?"
The answer was, "I, too, am a Confederate scout, Captain Stanley, and have my company with me. I demand that you surrender the stock you have with you."To this Berry said, "If you get us or our stock it will be after we are dead. We fight but do not surrender. Clear the way or else fight. We are ready to move out. We expect Yanks after us as we have just captured all the stock on the plantation near Helena and are intending to make our way out. We do not wish to fight you, but will if you do not allow us to pass. If you are Confederate Scouts, there should be no trouble between us."
At this, Captain Stanly rode forward with some of his men at the same time, saying, "You can pass; we were on our way to make the same capture you have made and can but congratulate you upon your enterprise and daring. To accomplish what you have done with the number you have is indeed remarkable. We are willing to aid you if necessary and should the enemy follow you we can give them such a reception as they do not expect and as that work is done, there is other work here which, if we combine our forces can be done and will now go with you to our camp."
Who is this Captain Stanley ??????? Who was owner of the large farm ??????