St. Louis, October 28th 1861

General S. R. Curtis
Commanding Forces
St. Louis

General

I was this morning subject to much indignity from the military reoccupying Fort No. 3 (Gravois Road) forming parts of Col. Almstedts regiment of Artillery. I submit to you respectfully the details not with an end of obtaining personal redress, but having faith in your justice, I feel convinced you will take steps in the future to prevent the occurrence of similar needless outrages.

Lieutenant A. Jacobson, Adjutant commanding Camp of detachment of Eugene's Regiment Mo V: - has his quarters in my house on the corner of Sidney & Liberty Streets, and has there for his own use and instruction 3 U.S. muskets with which he is practicing the manual of arms at night. The soldiers in Fort No. 3 about 50 paces south of my house took this for an occasion to justify the following proceedings. - Last night between 2 and 3 o'clock a considerable armed force surrounded my place, broke down my fence and gate to make a forcible entrance and occupied my house. They ordered my wife and servant out of bed, and frightened my wife and little children almost to distraction. Some of the men and particularly the sergeant were intoxicated and tottered about with cocked revolvers to our great terror. The Captain commanding the Fort behaved in the rudest way and went about entering a Bedroom where 3 of my children were sleeping. I begged of him to make as little noise as possible, as I feared the startled children might die of fright, seeing what was going on. His only answer however was a terrible krak at the door and to his shame be it said he actually ordered his men to prime their pieces before entering the room where slept 3 little children aged respectively 5, 3 and 2 years. Our terror lest by accident their pieces might go off and do deadly injury was immeasurable. What they were searching for, I do not know - but they carried away the 3 U.S. muskets, a couple of pistols belonging to me and a few books. amongst which were an old railroad guide and a copy of the report of the U.S. commerce and organization.

I had been sick for several days confined to my house, but in spite of my remonstrances and to the great alarm of my wife and children I was dragged away from my family and confined in a damp cold cellar in the fort until morning. Col. Almstedt came up to the Fort returned me my property, and released me with a kind of apology saying that it was all owing to the fault of Col. McNeill, P.M. that I had been dealt with in the outrageous manner.

In bringing any misadventure before you, I beg to assure you, that it is no spiteful feeling that dictates this letter, and I have taken considerable pains to prevent the city papers from reporting and commenting upon this unhappy affair. But I verily believe the good cause will suffer if incompetent administrators of Martial Law are thus permitted to outrage peaceable citizens.

I have the honor to be your very obedient servant
Adolph Hugo

Fort no. 3 Commanded by Capt. Bab of Col. Almsteds Regt.

Letter of Adolph Hugo to General S. R. Curtis, October 28, 1861; Union Provost Marshals file of papers relating to individual citizens (Missouri State Archives microfilm roll F1147, National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 345, roll 136 Hug-Hum).