Annals of Platte County, Missouri - Paxton
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1831, Nov 319 MA]. JOSEPH. V. MARY. b. May 7. 1857: 111d G. V. Early. VI. WlI. I.."l()l CALL.-H.-l. b. March 2, 185.) (my 40th birtliday). Nov. ;35Li1c11it court met. and Judge V0odson continued all the cases. and adjourend. The prior March and June terms were likewise adjourned. with little business done. Nor. J0Gen. Hunter sent a squad of soldiers from Fort Leavenwoi-t11 to apprehend Dr. Thos. Beaumont, Jacob Cox, Jos. Nower, Thos. Stockwell. and others. residing near New Market. on account of their Southern sympathies. \ith the soldiers came a lot of "Red-legs" and thieves. who helped themselves to horses. carriages. and every valuable they could nd. The mili- tary permitted the outlaws to steal without hindrance. The prisoners were kept on pa.role for two weeks, a.nd then discharged. J. P. Grubb succeeds lhorough1nan as circ11it attorney. DECEMBER. Dec. 1Gen. Hunter issued a11 order to J. R. Burckliartt, R. P. Clark, Clinton Cockrill. W. M. Paxton. and two others, not remembered. to deliver Silas (alordon to him. or to drive him from the country. within a limited time. o-r he would lay waste Platte County. burn every house, a11d liberate every slave. This order produced consternation. and Gordon a11d part of his C0111- pany were prevailed 011 to leave for the South. Mr. Burckliartt. .[r. Cockrill. and I went to the Fort to make our report. Ve found Gen. Hunter a large. dark. frowning man. with bull- dog features. profane and ungentlemanly. He 111ade threats to remove all slaves fro111 our county. I suggested that he had no power. under the Constitution. to do so. His reply was: Damn the Constitution MAJ. JOSEPH, \ith some two hundred soldiers, was stationed at Platte City. early in November. The county was infested with small hands of busllwliackers, and danger threatened the Federals at all times. They foraged on the people. who were. granted quartei-master receipts. which proved of little value. After a few weeks. Maj. Joseph left with his cannon and camp-equipage for Weston. The bushwhackers learned of his movements. and gathered. under Capt. Carr. in ambush on the south side of the road. east of Bee C-reek. As the Federals approached. they were red on. and two were killed. and others wounded. Maj. Joseph retired a hundred yards. and, with his cannon. opened on the huslnvhackers. who withdrew with little damage. For years the marks of the grape- shot could be seen on the trees. There is a sequel to this strata- gem. in the tragedy that soon followed. in the death. at the same place. of Triplett and (lost-.