Chapter I: Front Matter

PROOF OF AUTHENTICITY.

This is to certify that I, the undersigned, am personally acquainted with Samuel S. Hildebrand (better known as “Sam Hildebrand, the Missouri Bushwhacker,” etc.,) and have known him from boyhood; that during the war, and on several occasions since its termination, he promised to give me a full and complete history of his whole war record; that on the night of January 28th, 1870, he came to my house at Big River Mills, in St. Francois county, Missouri, in company with Charles Burks, and gave his consent that I and Charles Burks, in conjunction, might have his confession whenever we were prepared to meet him at a certain place for that purpose; that in the latter part of March, 1870, in the presence of Sam Hildebrand alone, I did write out his confession as he gave it to me, then and there, until the same was completed; and that afterwards James W. Evans and myself, from the material I thus obtained, compiled and completed the said confession, which is now presented to the public as his Autobiography.

A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D.

* * * * *

STATE OF MISSOURI, }
COUNTY OF STE. GENEVIEVE. }

On this, 14th day of June, 1870, before me, Henry Herter, a Notary Public within and for said county, personally appeared W. H. Couzens, J. N. Burks and G. W. Murphy of the above county and State, and on being duly sworn they stated that they were well acquainted with Charles Burks of the aforesaid county, and A. Wendell Keith, M. D., of St. Francois county, Missouri, and to their certain knowledge the facts set forth in the foregoing certificate are true and correct, and that Samuel S. Hildebrand also acknowledged to them afterwards that he had made to them his complete confession.

WM. H. COUZENS, MAJOR C. S. A.,
J. N. BURKS,
G. W. MURPHY.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 14th day of June, 1870.

HENRY HERTER,
_Notary Public_.

* * * * *

The Statement made by A. Wendell Keith, M. D., is entitled to credit from the fact of his well-known veracity and standing in society.

HON. ELLIS G. EVANS,
Senator, Rolla District.

HON. E. C. SEBASTIAN,
Representative, St. Francois county.

HON. MILTON P. CAYCE,
Farmington, Missouri.

FRANKLIN MURPHY,
Sheriff St. Francois county.

WILLIAM R. TAYLOR,
Clerk St. Francois county.

HON. JOSEPH BOGY,
Representative Ste. Genevieve county.

CHARLES ROZIER,
Clerk Ste. Genevieve county.

* * * * *

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JEFFERSON CITY, MO.,}
June 22, 1870. }

I hereby certify that the persons whose official signatures appear above have been commissioned for the offices indicated; and my personal acquaintance with Dr. Keith, Honorables Evans, Sebastian, Cayce, Bogy and Sheriff Murphy is such that I say without hesitation their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

J. W. McCLURG,
_Governor of Missouri_.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

OF

SAMUEL S. HILDEBRAND,

THE RENOWNED

MISSOURI “BUSHWHACKER”

AND UNCONQUERABLE

ROB ROY OF AMERICA;

BEING

HIS COMPLETE CONFESSION

RECENTLY MADE TO THE WRITERS, AND CAREFULLY COMPILED

BY JAMES W. EVANS AND A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D.,

OF ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, MO.;

TOGETHER

WITH ALL THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH HIS
EARLY HISTORY.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO.:
STATE TIMES BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE,
MADISON STREET.

1870.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

SAM HILDEBRAND DRIVEN FROM HOME _Frontispiece._

FRANK HILDEBRAND HUNG BY THE MOB 45

SAM HILDEBRAND KILLING MCILVAINE 61

THE MURDER OF WASH. HILDEBRAND AND LANDUSKY 69

STAMPEDE OF FEDERAL SOLDIERS 139

SAM HILDEBRAND BETRAYED BY COOTS 179

SAM HILDEBRAND‘S LAST BATTLE 297

COL. BOWEN CAPTURES HILDEBRAND‘S CAVE 303

Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1870, by JAMES W. EVANS and A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D., in the Clerk‘s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Missouri.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction.—Yankee fiction.—Reasons for making a full
confession. 25

CHAPTER II.

Early history of the Hildebrand family.—Their settlement in
St. Francois county, Mo.—Sam Hildebrand born.—Troublesome
neighbors.—Union sentiments. 29

CHAPTER III.

Determination to take no part in the war.—Mr. Ringer killed
by Rebels.—The cunning device of Allen Roan.—Vigilance
Committee organized.—The baseness of Mobocracy.—Attacked by the
mob.—Escape to Flat Woods. 35

CHAPTER IV.

McIlvaine‘s Vigilance mob.—Treachery of Castleman.—Frank
Hildebrand hung by the mob.—Organization of the mob into a
Militia company. 42

CHAPTER V.

His house at Flat Woods attacked by eighty soldiers.—Miraculous
escape.—Capt. Bolin.—Flight to Green county, Arkansas. 48

CHAPTER VI.

Interview with Gen. Jeff Thompson.—Receives a Major‘s
Commission.—Interview with Capt. Bolin.—Joins the Bushwhacking
Department. 54

CHAPTER VII.

First trip to Missouri.—Killed George Cornecious for reporting
him.—Killed Firman McIlvaine, captain of the mob.—Attempt to
kill McGahan and House.—Return to Arkansas. 58

CHAPTER VIII.

Vigilance mob drives his mother from home.—Three companies of
troops sent to Big river.—Capt. Flanche murders Washington
Hildebrand and Landusky.—Capt. Esroger murders John Roan.—Capt.
Adolph burns the Hildebrand homestead and murders Henry
Hildebrand. 66

CHAPTER IX.

Trip with Burlap and Cato.—Killed a spy near Bloomfield.—Visits
his mother on Dry Creek.—Interview with his uncle.—Sees the
burning of the homestead at a distance. 75

CHAPTER X.

Trip with two men.—Killed Stokes for informing on him.—Secreted
in a cave on Big river.—Vows of vengeance.—Watched for
McGahan.—Tom Haile pleads for Franklin Murphy.—Tongue-lashed
and whipped out by a woman. 84

CHAPTER XI.

Trip to Missouri with three men.—Fight near
Fredericktown.—Killed four soldiers.—Went to their camp and
stole four horses.—Flight toward the South.—Robbed “Old
Crusty”. 91

CHAPTER XII.

Trip with three men.—Captured a spy and shot him.—Shot Mr.
Scaggs.—Charged a Federal camp at night and killed nine
men.—Came near shooting James Craig.—Robbed Bean‘s store and
returned to Arkansas. 96

CHAPTER XIII.

The Militia mob robs the Hildebrand estate.—Trip to Missouri
with ten men.—Attacks a government train with an escort of
twenty men.—Killed two and put the others to flight. 102

CHAPTER XIV.

Federal cruelty.—A defense of Bushwhacking.—Trip with Capt.
Bolin and nine men.—Fight at West Prairie.—Started with two
men to St. Francois county.—Killed a Federal soldier.—Killed
Addison Cunningham.—Capt. Walker kills Capt. Barnes, and
Hildebrand kills Capt. Walker. 106

CHAPTER XV.

Started alone to Missouri.—Rode off a bluff and killed
his horse.—Fell in with twenty-five Rebels under Lieut.
Childs.—Went with them.—Attacked 150 Federals at Bollinger‘s
Mill.— Henry Resinger killed.—William Cato.—Went back to
Fredericktown.—Killed one man.—Robbed Abright‘s store. 114

CHAPTER XVI.

Started to Bloomfield with three men.—Fight at St. Francis
river.—Goes from there alone.—Meets his wife and family, who
had been ordered off from Bloomfield.—Capture and release of
Mrs. Hildebrand.—Fight in Stoddard county.—Arrival in Arkansas.
121

CHAPTER XVII.

Put in a crop.—Took another trip to Missouri with six
men.—Surrounded in a tobacco barn.—Killed two men in making
his escape.—Killed Wammack for informing on him.—Captured some
Federals and released them on certain conditions.—Went to Big
River Mills.—Robbed Highley‘s and Bean‘s stores. 128

CHAPTER XVIII.

Selected seven men and went to Negro Wool Swamp.—Attacked
fifteen Federals—A running fight.—Killed three men.—Killed
Mr. Crane.—Betrayed by a Dutchman, and surrounded in a house
by Federals.—Escaped, killed eight Federals, recaptured the
horses, and hung the Dutchman. 136

CHAPTER XIX.

Went with eight men.—Attacked a Federal camp near Bollinger‘s
Mill.—Got defeated.—Men returned to Arkansas.—Went alone to St.
Francois county.—Watched for R. M. Cole.—Killed Capt. Hicks. 147

CHAPTER XX.

Trip to Hamburg with fifteen men.—Hung a Dutchman and shot
another.—Attacked some Federals in Hamburg but got gloriously
whipped.—Retreated to Coon Island.—Killed Oller at Flat
Woods.—Robbed Bean‘s store at Irondale. 153

CHAPTER XXI.

Started with six men on a trip to Springfield,
Missouri.—Deceived by a Federal spy in the Irish
Wilderness—Captured through mistake by Rebels.—Routed on
Panther creek.—Returned home on foot. 159

CHAPTER XXII.

Started with four men.—Surrounded in a thicket
near Fredericktown.—Escaped with the loss of three
horses.—Stole horses from the Federals at night.—Killed two
soldiers.—Suffered from hunger.—Killed Fowler.—Took a horse
from G. W. Murphy.—Went to Mingo Swamp.—Killed Coots for
betraying him.—Killed a Federal and lost two men. 168

CHAPTER XXIII.

Went to Mingo Swamp with ten men.—Went to Castor
creek.—Attacked two companies of Federals under Capt. Cawhorn
and Capt. Rhoder.—Bushwhacked them seven nights.—Went with
Capt. Reed‘s men.—Attacked Capt. Leeper‘s company.—Killed
fourteen, captured forty horses, forty-four guns, sixty
pistols, and everything else they had. 182

CHAPTER XXIV.

Took a trip with fifteen men.—Captured a squad of
Federals.—Reception of “Uncle Bill.”—Hung all the
prisoners.—Captured five more and hung one. 187

CHAPTER XXV.

Put in a crop.—Started to Missouri with nine men.—Killed a
soldier near Dallas.—Went to St. Francois county and watched
for Walls and Baker.—Watched near Big River Mills for
McGahan.—Narrow escape of William Sharp.—Robbed Burges, Hughes
and Kelley of their horses.—Robbed Abright‘s store.—Captured
some Federals on White Water. 195

CHAPTER XXVI.

Started to St. Francois county, Missouri, with eight
men.—Hung Vogus and Zimmer.—Hung George Hart.—Robbed Lepp‘s
store.—Concealed in Pike Run hills.—Started back.—Hung Mr.
Mett‘s negro, “Old Isaac.”—Hung another negro.—Took two
deserters back and hung them. 205

CHAPTER XXVII.

Started with nine men to St. Francois county.—Stopped in Pike
Run hills.—Robbed the store of Christopher Lepp.—Hung Mr.
Kinder‘s negro.—Attacked by Federals.—Killed two men and lost
one.—Shot two soldiers on a furlough.—Enters a mysterious camp.
212

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Capt. John and a company of Federals destroy the Bushwhackers‘
Headquarters in Green county, Arkansas.—He is bushwhacked,
routed and killed.—Raid into Washington county with fourteen
men.—Attacked by twenty Federals.—Killed the man who piloted
Capt. John. 219

CHAPTER XXIX.

Took a raid into Missouri with four men.—Killed a
Federal.—Killed two of Capt. Milks‘ men.—Started to De
Soto.—Routed by the Federals.—Adventure with a German.—Killed
three Federals on Black river. 228

CHAPTER XXX.

Commanded the advance guard on Price‘s raid.—The Federals burn
Doniphan.—Routed the Federals completely.—Captured several
at Patterson.—Killed Abright at Farmington.—Left Price‘s
army.—Killed four Federals.—Major Montgomery storms Big River
Mills.—Narrow escape from capture. 237

CHAPTER XXXI.

Selected three men and went to Missouri to avenge the death of
Rev. William Polk.—Got ammunition in Fredericktown.—Killed the
German who informed on Polk.—Return to Arkansas. 244

CHAPTER XXXII.

Started with eight men on a trip to Arkansas river.—Hung a
“Scallawag” on White river.—Went into Conway county.—Treachery
of a negro on Point Remove.—“Foot-burning” atrocities.—Started
back and hung a renegade. 250

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Gloomy prospects for the South.—Takes a trip to Missouri with
four men.—Saved from capture by a woman.—Visits his mother
on Big river.—Robs the store of J. V. Tyler at Big River
Mills—Escapes to Arkansas. 257

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Started to Missouri with three men.—Surrounded at night near
Fredericktown.—Narrow escape by a cunning device.—Retired to
Simms‘ Mountain.—Swapped horses with Robert Hill, and captured
some more.—Killed Free Jim and kidnapped a negro boy. 264

CHAPTER XXXV.

Trip to Missouri with four men.—Attempt to rob Taylor‘s
store.—Fight with Lieut. Brown and his soldiers.—Killed
Miller and Johnson at Flat Woods.—Return home from his last
raid.—The war is pronounced to be at an end.—Reflections on the
termination of the war.—Mrs. Hildebrand‘s advice.—The parole at
Jacksonport. 275

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Imprisoned in Jacksonport jail.—Mrs. Hildebrand returns
to Missouri.—Escape from prison.—Final settlement in Ste.
Genevieve county.—St. Louis detectives make their first
trip.—The Governor‘s reward.—Wounded by Peterson.—Removed
to his uncle‘s.—Fight at John Williams‘.—Kills James
McLaine.—Hides in a cave. 286

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Military operations for his capture.—Col. Bowen captures the
Cave.—Progress of the campaign.—Advent of Governor McClurg.—The
Militia called out.—Don Quixote affair at the Brick Church.—The
campaign ended.—Mrs. Hildebrand escapes to Illinois.—“Sam”
leaves Missouri.—His final proclamation. 300