From the St. Joseph Herald, July 16.
From passengers who arrived last night from below, we learn Platte City was almost destroyed yesterday morning by the Federal troops. Not over half the houses were left standing. The Methodist Church, a fine building, the Sentinel printing office, and the three-story brick block in which it was located, together with many business and dwelling-houses are all in ashes. Thus has
vengeance, swift and dire, been visited upon a people who not only basely and cowardly surrendered themselves to THORNTON's thieves and murderers, but who also welcomed the villains with every demonstration of affection and delight. The town was a nest-hole of treason. Not over a half dozen Union families residing there. Desolation and destruction have swept over it, and if the report brought us be true, the work has been most thoroughly performed. While we fear the few Union men of the place have been caused to suffer in property, and perhaps in life, we have not the slightest sympathy with the rebels.
It was rumored in Weston when the train left, that JESSE MORIN had been burned in his own house, that CLINT COCKERELL had joined the guerrillas and been killed in a skirmish, and Mr. F.A. Cox, the venerable editor of the Sentinel, was killed. The two former were regarded as secession sympathizers, while the latter was a sound, honest, true Union man. One passenger informed us that he had heard Mr. Cox was sick at his home, and had not been disturbed. We hope the latter story is true, for we should mou[
]n the loss of so pure and good a man.
The report was also brought into Weston that the troops were going south toward Parkville, from Platte City, and that they had declared their intention of showing no quarter to any rebel who should fall into their hands.
The following is the account given of the fight at Camden Point by Lieut. CHILD, of Capt. CLAGGETT's company, who was an eye-witness and participant in the affair:
About 2 o'clock P.M., Wednesday, a command composed of the Second Colorado, Fifteenth Kansas, Ninth M.S.M., and several detachments of E.M.M., numbering 500 men, with one piece of artillery, all under command of Col. FORD, of the Second Colorado, took up the line of march from Weston in the direction of Camden Point. When about two miles from that place,
the advance guard of eighteen men were fired upon by guerrilla pickets, who then fled, closely followed by our men, who chased them through the brush into the town, firing as they went, and
succeeded in killing six guerrillas while on the run. After passing about a mile beyond the town, they met the
main force of the enemy, under command of THORNTON, numbering about 140 men, drawn up in line of battle; but, without halting, the eighteen Colorado boys gave a wild yell, dashed right toward the centre of the line, which immediately gave way, and, after firing a few shots, killing one of the attacking party, and wounding another, they fled in wild confusion, with their pursuers close in their rear, and seven of them were killed before they escaped. Having pursued some three or four miles, our men rejoined their command.
After getting possession of the town we found two buildings in flames, fired by THORNTON, in which he had stored a large number of arms and ammunition.
The explosion of the powder was heard distinctly several miles distant. He had made Camden Point his headquarters, had all his munitions of war there, and was conscripting the able-bodied citizens throughout that section. A few hours previous to the attack he made a speech, returning thanks for a flag that had been presented to him, and which was captured by our forces, in which he stated that it was folly for the Federate to think of attacking him; that he had captured Camden Point and would hold it; that he would fight in every by-road and hog-path in the country. His speech was scarcely ended before the avengers were upon him, and his band in full flight from the town.
A short time after entering town a man named MCCORMICK rode into our lines, and being recognized as a bushwhacker was immediately arrested. He did not know that THORNTON had been driven out imagined all was right, and tried to pass himself off as one of JENNISON's men. Once in possession of the town, a sad scene of destruction and pillage commenced, such as we hope never again to witness. Several of the citizens were arrested and taken to headquarters. Houses were burned and pillaged, and the heavens for miles around were lighted with flames. Late into the night the fires continued, and again in the morning were renewed. About two-thirds of the town was destroyed, but the line Seminary buildings were unharmed when we left.
At the time our forces entered the town they were told that there were a number of men hid in the hemp house, then in flames, having been fired by THORNTON, in which he has a number of guns, and it is supposed that three of them were burnt with the building, and the bodies of two of the dead guerrillas were cast into the flames and also consumed. We hear it estimated that over twenty men were killed belonging to the guerrillas, and only one man killed and one wounded on the part of the attacking forces.
The fine residence of Dr. THOMAS, living at the edge of the town, was a smouldering heap of ashes, as we passed in the morning, and it was reported that the Doctor had been taken out and shot. He was an old man, bore a good character, but it was reported that be had visited a sick guerrilla, hence his fate. Previous to the report of his death, a squad of the Fifteenth Kansas were in possession or his house, which they gutted and then fired; and only waiten to get the Doctor to leave a lounge upon which lay his sick wife, to blow his brains out, and we are of the opinion that they accomplished this bloody work before they left. Other citizens in the neighborhood, no doubt shared the same fate.
One OLVIS, formerly of the militia, who had joined the guerrillas at Platte City, was captured, having his leg broken. He recognized one of his captors and called him by name, and received in reply, "OLVIS, you are in d_____d bad company." One of the party then held him up, and another placed his carbine close to the prisoner's head, fired, and the soul of OLVIS was in the presence of his Maker.
MCCORMICK, the prisoner named above, was marched into camp and placed under guard. About 8 o'clock a report was circulated that we were attacked, when the guard immediately shot the prisoner, or, as they said, "disposed of him." Col. FORD then addressed the men, and said that, as the guerrillas gave no quarter, he would do the same; that he neither asked any nor gave any, and ordered the men to sleep upon their arms, and not to straggle from their camp.
The loss of Camden Point is the death-blow to the guerrillas. It was the rendezvous where they stored their arms. Among the captures made were, sereval dispatches written by THORNTON, detailing his capture of Camden Point, and his intention of holding it. It looking over the dead, the body of his Adjutant was found, clothed in a new uniform, apparently the first time he had ever worn it. We failed to learn his name.
That this man THORNTON is to blame for the misery brought upon Platte County, no one can doubt, after visiting that section. He came into quite a settlement, murdered and burned, and thus gave a chance for others to retaliate. The blood of the men killed at Camden Point is upon him and his abettors. The troops engaged in this quick and bloody work needed but this as an incentive to come over. They came, and desolation followed in their track. If our citizens do not want the renewal of the scenes of Camden reenacted here, let them drive the guerrillas from our midst, for if they do not, these troops will be sent here to do for them. We are able to take care of ourselves, and should do it.
The flag captured was a regular Confederate banner, and worked upon it were the words "Protection to Missouri."
On the morning of Thursday, the main portion of the command left in the direction of Platte City, and a detachment of the Fifteenth Kansas and Capt. CLAGGETT's company were detailed as guard to the wounded Colorado men into Weston, and arrived at that place about noon. Capt. C.'s company then came on to this place. It was generally supposed when we left that Platte City would be burned and pillaged.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B13F93F5A1B7493C3AB178CD85F408684F9It was a nasty business. Sounds a little like efforts to route the Taliban from civilian areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with civilian causalties part of the result. Substitute "insurgents" for "guerillas". Ammo dumps held by the enemy tend to receive harsh treatment. I am not trying to justify anything that happened, but it sounds like violent acts were committed by both sides.
