Head Quarters Boonville Battalion
Boonville, Mo. March 16th 1862

Brig. Gen. J. M. Schofield
Commanding Mo. S. M.
Saint Louis, Mo

General

In reply to your letter of 11th inst. proferring charges against Capt Kaiser of my Command, I have to state, that I examined Capt Kaiser, immediately on his return here, and that he states as follows:

“That two of his men really entered the premises of Saunders Townsend, and there demanded Brandy. That his Orderly Sergeant; - when he came to the house ordered the 2 men to desist from their demands, - whereupon he was abused by Saunders, his sons, as well as Lt. Miller who came at the same time. It was then the men threatened to shoot, if the party did not stop their insulting language , and that Capt Kaiser came to the house. He not only pacified the men, brought them from the premises, but had immediately 2 of the ringleaders arrested and placed in confinement, at the same time returning to Townsend one bottle of Brandy, which was stolen from him. Notwithstnding this, Capt Kaiser was abusively treated by Townsend & his sons, who amongst other things told him, you damned Dutch black Republicans, we don’t car for either of you, where upon Kaiser threatened to have them arrested, but not shot.

The end of the affair was that Townsend’s acknowledged their wrongs & offered to give liquor to Kaisers men, which the latter positively refused.

The Stallion & horse were taken from Townsend’s because Kaisers and one of his men’s horses had given out, but were upon arrival here, delivered to the Provost Marshall, who ordered them to be returned.

I have to add to this Statement that Townsend is known to be one of the most violent Secessionists, that he himself acknowledged to have fed & sent provisions to the rebel army, and that about 3 weeks ago he furnished horses to a couple of boys from this town who ran away to rejoin Price.

This Townsend deserves to be deprived of the 2 horses, nevertheless I ordered them to be restihuted (sic). I have further to say, that, if the information in this affair reached you through one Marmeduke, it is not althgether to be relied on. M. – pretends to be a Union man, but his sympathies are known to be on the other side. Capt Kaiser has brought many a prisoner to this place and I have never heard any of them complain about the mode of treatment received from his hands, some of his men I know to be rash, but I am sure Kaiser is trying his best to enforce discipline, and punishes those who break it.

Your letter of March 13th orders me to turn the robber “Alfred Head” over to the Civil Authorities, this will be done. It was originally my intention to adopt this course, as there is sufficient evidence against Head, to have him convicted, but I was ordered by Col. Farrar, Provost Marshall General, to keep him for trial by a Military Commission.

You may depend, General, that I will do all in my power to prevent unlawful and disgraceful acts from any part of my command, and that I shall severly punish those who deserve it.

I am, General, Very respy Yours
Jos. A. Eppstein
Lt Col. Comdg Boonville Mo

Statement of Lt. Col. Jos. A. Eppstein to Brig. Gen. J. M. Schofield, March 16, 1862; Union Provost Marshals file of papers relating to individual citizens (Missouri State Archives microfilm roll F1406, National Archives Microfilm Publication No. 345, roll 269 Too-Tre).