Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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Z861, SEPT. 314 DISFRANCHISED. noted proceedings. About 70 men and boys, armed with shot- guns. muskets. rifles. and pistols, were in line to be supplied with ammunition. A horseman galloped up and announced: The Federals are crossing the bridge This was untrue, but the stampede that followed was sublime. It was the most precipitate retreat known to history. In one minute the street was clear; and men. Women. and children deserted their homes and hastened to the country. This occurred at 4 p. m. An hour later the Fed- erals red on the town. No damage was done, but the report of cannon hastened the stampede. The people snatched their valu- able property and bore it away. Corn-shocks were the beds of many that night. About 5 p. m. I went home. and, after supper, went forth, and found every house vacant. A squad of Federa.1 soldiers, in command of Capt. Wilson, took me prisoner. Only three men were found in townMorrison. Zimmerman, and me. For our temerity we had to supply supper for the men. Capt. Wilson kindly went home with me, and I was glad to accept his protection for the night. Sept. 17C~ol. Smith and his men. after looting the town, de- parted east in the morning. The refugees returned. and loud were the la.m-entations. and erce and profane were the denuncia- tions, when each family found valuable articles missing. Th-ere were no others upon whom to wreak their vengeance, so we who had remained. and had preserved much property. were traduced. DISFRANCHISEMENT. From this date, all who had taken up arms against the United States were disfranchised. THE GAMBLE OATH. X0 one could vote without subscribing the following a.i- davit: I do solemnly swear that I have not, since the 17th day of September, 1861. willfully taken up arms or levied war against the United States, nor against the provisional government of the State of Missouri. Subsequently the oath took an iron-clad form. (See Oaths.) The battles of Blue Hills and of llorristowii. l()I{AGING ON THE PEOPLE. . 7;f. .3(IFro111 time to time Federal troops were sent to V(-stoii and Pla.tte City. The latter town was terribly disloyal, and siitfm-c-(l heavily. The soldiers foraged on the people. R. M. (}m(l0I1 had 400 bushels of wheat. which was marketed for him. I was then the manager of the Platte City Water Mills. and was levied on by both parties. Silas Gordon took what he wa.nted. I nd the following receipt among my worthless papers: Nov. 20. 1.(i1. rer-eivel of Y. M. Paxton 5.570 pounds of our at 3 cents, 67.00; 10 bushels meal at 40 cents. $4.00. (Signed) A. C. Miller, Quarterinaster 4th Div.. Mo. Vols. On the 23d of November I