Laclede Mo, Mar 2 1863

Gen Bartholon

Dear Sir

Col Shelton, who for a long time was stationed here & knows well how I have acted, tells me that he spoke to you in relation to a report I have heard from Brunswick, that the Provost Marshal there intended taking a negro man that I hold for my infant son by my former wife, as contraband. Since then I have heard from a reliable source that the Provost Marshal Hansock says he has orders to taken him as such. I suppose it, the order, from Gen Curtis or the Provost Marshal General & I have no doubt but that it is upon a false representation of facts. I have no doubt but that it has all arisen out of the fact that I took the affidavits of my mother-in-law -------------- in relation to Col. Moberley's conduct, I sent them to A.J. Harris, to be laid before the Governor. For this act Col. Moberley told Hutcheson he would make his man Jerry suffer, that I would be arrested and sent to prison & that the negro "Jerry" confiscated. If my --- of Moberley's outrageous conduct is to imprison me & confiscate my property, so be it. ----illegible--- The grounds upon which "Jerry" is claimed as contraband are the --: In June 1861 fearing he would run away I started with him to my brother's in Cooper Co by St. Brunswick. Found a boat starting for Boonville, being anxious to return to my family I place him aboard with a pass to go to Boonville Mo, my brother in Cooper. The boat was met at Glasgow by Price over taken to Lexington. The day after I put him on board I received a line from H.L. James from St. Brunswick stating the facts that he & his Capt. --- Price would like to have the boy if this would not suit me I would find the boy at Lexington. I immediately started to Lexington & arrived there the next day where Price & Gaines insisted on having the boy. I positively refused saying I had determined to abide by the decision of Mrs. Harris and could not aid in the rebellion. I took the boy ---- ---- hired him to --- Mill near Miami where he --- on his farm until Oct (61) when I hired ---- ---- to bring him home and here he has been ever since. I have all the faith and I can prove you know they cannot possibly make the boy contraband ---illegible

Letter to Gen. Bartholon, March 2, 1863; Union Provost Marshals file of papers relating to individual citizens (Missouri State Archives microfilm roll F1191, National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 345, roll 119 Harp-Harris).

Office Provost Marshal Linn County
Brookfield Mo April 8th 1863

Maj George Merrill
Dist Pro Marshal
Palmyra Mo
Dear Sir

I send you this day all the evidence I have taken in the "Jerry" case. I have been --- some additional evidence from Capt. Hancock of Chariton Co, but he has not sent me anything as yes, and I presume he has nothing of importance to communicate.

I fear that I have already marred your patience with this case but now in conclusion I think perhaps it would not be improper for me to make a full statement of the positions taken by the Dr. himself and his witnesses on the all absorbing question (Union & Secession).

The Dr. claims to have been a rebel from the beginnings that he voted the secession ticket the times the delegates were elected by the people & the state conventions but that when he found out that the convention as elected (Union by a large majority that then he made up his mind to abide by the decision of that convention, if they said Missouri must not secede, he would abide by it, but yet at heart he did not deny but what he now is just as much of a southern sympathizer as he ever was, although he says he is in favor of the old Union and constitution as it was. I send you with the ---- a statement which he brought me from a Mrs. Elizabeth Shipley of Laclede. I do not know the lady but have been told that she is a very estimable lady. I also send a statement from Capt. R.W. Holland of the E.M.M. This statement was written by Dr. Harris himself. You can judge of its value. You will find it exceedingly flattering and make the Dr. one of the best that this world has ever know of. The first witness I had on the stand was John D. Cooper. He lives in Laclede, is a secessionist and has always been since the breaking out of the rebellion.. He claims however to be a Union man. That is a constitutional one. Dr. H. says this man Cooper came near going to join the Rebel army but he (the Dr) influenced him not to. The next man Wm. Heickland was Capt. of the Hemp Boar he is considered a very desperate man. He used his Hemp Boat as long as he could to aid the Rebellion, but then the Federals got possession of that portion of the state his boat was taken by them and destroyed and he immediately left for Price's Army to get revenge as he words it he walked --- and --- five days with his gun on his shoulder to find Price. Was at the battle of Lexington. He has however taken the oath given, given a bond and says he is a loyal man, but does not wish to be under--- that he is a Lincoln abolitionist. Gaines was a Lieut in Capt. Tom --- o. and was in the Rebel service for some time but has surrendered, returned home has taken the oath and kept quiet. Does not claim to be excessively loyal but does not aid either party that is about his way of expressing himself he seems to be a well educated gentlemanly fellow. The other witnesses do not amount to much. Harris son is a boy about 16 years old. Waugh and Lodge are both constitutional Union men. The negro "Jerry" is a sensible negro and I think tells the truth he is now at work in Laclede in a Livery stable. They pay for his labor to come to the United States providing his is confiscated. If not then Dr. Harris gets the guy. If I have been a source of annoyance to you in this and other cases I trust you will excuse it.

I am very respectfully your Obt Servt
E. Crandall
Capt. & Asst Pro Marshal
Linn Co. Mo.

Letter to Maj. George Merrill from Capt. And Asst. Provost Marshall E. Crandall, April 18, 1863; Union Provost Marshals file of papers relating to individual citizens (Missouri State Archives microfilm roll F1191, National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 345, roll 119 Harp-Harris).

Office Provost Marshal Linn County
Brookfield, Mo., March 19, 1863

"Jerry" (Negro) being duly sworn says Dr. Harris is my master. N.W. Harris & Mr. Cooper came down on the farm and put hand cuffs on me and took me to Mr. Waughs. I think it was in the month of June 1861. I was ploughing on Dr. Harris Farms about two miles and a half from Laclede. Kept the Hand Cuffs on me all night and until we got most to Wm. Jones which is about fifteen miles from Laclede.

Dr. Harris told me when I started from the farm that they were going to take me to Texas to get me out the way of the Abolitionist. We arrived at Brunswick on Sunday morning. Dr. Harris told me I must go down on the Boat with the soldiers to Boonville, and if I got there at night to stay until morning and go out to Cooper County to the Doctors Brother next day, but if Gaines wanted me to stay that I could long enough to pay for my passage down to Boonsville. I was put in charge of Capt Stump Price and Lieut Gains. I acted as servant for Capt. Price & for Gains Blacking Boots Cooking rubbing up their Swords and other work. I was with Capt. Price & Lieut Gains about four or five days.

Question- Before Dr. Harris started off with you in June 1861, did you not tell his son Henry that you expected a certain pair of shoes that he the Dr. had give you would take you to Canada and gave that as a reason that you did not wear them to plough in.

Answer- Dr. Harris never gave me the shoes. I bought the shoes myself. I was busy on the floor in the entry of the house down at the farm and Henry Harris was with me. He asked me why I did not wear the new shoes and I told him in a laughing way that I might need them to take me to Canada. Never having an idea however of going to Canada. I did not understand that I was to be used as a servant for the rebel officers. Dr. Harris never said I was to act as servant except at the time before referred to when I was to work enough to pay my passage.

I worked on a farm for Wm Hill of Saline Co four months and eight days. Mr. Hodge came after me and took me (to) Brunswick and sent me to Laclede on the Stage. Wm Hill is a Rebel has one son in the Rebel Army and went himself to the fight at Lexington when Price took Col Mulligans command Prisoners. I told Lieut Gains when I was at Brunswick that he had better write to Dr. Harris at Laclede to come after me. Lieut Gaines & Stump Price took me to Lexington. While at Lexington I was recognized as Prices Servant in passing the Guard., and was so considered. I wanted to go with Price but the Dr. would not consent to it.

Jerry his x mark Negro
Witnesses E.J. Crandall Asst Provst Marshall
J.C. Davis

Letter from Jerry (colored), March 19, 1863; Union Provost Marshals file of papers relating to individual citizens (Missouri State Archives microfilm roll F1191, National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 345, roll 119 Harp-Harris).