Samuel R. Curtis to Odon Guitar, March 1, 1863

Brig. Gen. ODON GUITAR, Saint Joseph, Mo.: GENERAL: I hope you have already arrived at Saint Joseph, and earnestly desire you will act with great prudence and discretion. The editor of the Herald is too severe, and his tirade of abuse heaped upon you personally must be suspended. I shall so advise the provost-marshal. It embarrasses me, and you also, and certainly does no good. I hope you will, now that the Holt County matter is disposed of, try to conciliate our friends, and avoid any and all measures that are calculated to further divide our Union strength. There is no sense in it. We may, by heated debates and denunciation, make rebels very daring and dangerous. They are sneaking about, always seeking opportunity to take advantage of our weakness. I am told the rebels threaten the press, and, no doubt, they hope to excite your sympathy by espousing your cause. I trust you will perceive the object, and yourself prevent such an outrage. I have directed that moderation must be practiced by everybody opposed to you, and I trust you will enjoin the same thing on your friends who may not see my letter. It is said there is a Democratic meeting coming off soon. It is the duty of all military authorities on such occasions to keep the peace. That is all they should try to do. If (as I am informed did occur a little north of the line a few days ago) speakers, or actors, under cover of any party or religious name, make treasonable speeches or commit treasonable acts, if your force is ample, they should be arrested; but if otherwise, as I think more likely, you will see that proper account be taken of the perpetrators, so they may be properly treated at the proper time. All liquor establishments must 136 M. O., ARK., KANS., IND. T., AND DEPT. N. W. (Omar. XXXIV. be closed if the least danger of riot exists, and no acts calculated to incite strife must be evinced by the military. There must be no needless ground for charges of military oppression, but military power must not be despised and degraded. When we have no force, we may suspend military action, but traitors must be advised that punishment will soon follow offenses. I hope you will confer with General Loan, who, as you know, has got leave of mine to go to Saint Joseph to look after his private affairs, and also inquire into the matters that divide our friends. He has the advantage of not having been mixed up in the Holt County matter, which is the gravamen of all the arguments I have seen in regard to the special strife now existing. I am, general, very truly, your friend and obedient servant, SAML. R. CURTIS, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Missouri, Saint Louis, Mo., March 1, 1863. SmarH O. SCOFIELD, Esq., Saint Joseph, Mo. : My DEAxz Sir: [ hope you will allow the Democratic meeting to go on unmolested. Let them show their hand. It will not do for us to prevent a Democratic meeting per se. If treason is preached, take a note of the perpetrators, and we can attend to them at the proper time. I do not wish to give rebel leaders the advantage of a cry of military persecution of any political or religious sect, and prefer to run some risk rather than allow such an effort to divide our Union men. Although many of the leaders may be secessionists, there will be many followers whom they would like to alienate by some demonstration which would excite passion. Discreet and prudent measures are especially necessary now, when we have little or no reliable force to depend upon in your county. The constant public assaults upon General Guitar embarrass me, and do no good. I have read all the paper and your letters have said about your difficulties, and, of course, sympathize with you most sincerely ; but I see no need of proscribing our pro-slavery Union men, who, we know, are not actual rebels, but some of them fighting friends. Much as we may deplore slavery, it is an existing fact in Missouri, sustained by the laws, and we must tolerate it and respect loyal slave-holders. I see you came near having trouble on the subject of negroes who were arrested by the sheriff. The right of provost-marshals to give free papers, I confess, is somewhat poorly supported at Washington, and I therefore hope that only the most unquestionable cases will be noticed. The sheriff’s conduct merits and receives my thanks. Both the civil and the military authorities must try to avoid conflicts. We want no further war in Missouri; and if they do tear down your press, or do other mischief, I will try to visit the villains with all the punishment in my power. Keep the peace as far as you can, and tell the provost-marshal this is his only duty on the day of election, or the day of a political meeting. Have the grog-shops closed, and make no efforts to silence speakers, or otherwise attempt to provoke strife at the time and place named. If we had a proper force there, I would advise immediate arrest for treasonable words or acts; but the policy of withdrawing force from Northern Missouri has been pressed upon me till I feel too weak to do jastice to those who you say threaten mischief. I shall expect General Cuar XXXIV.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. Loan in your place before that time you mention, and he will confer with General Guitar and all of you without feeling himself involved in the troubles that have incensed many of our Union men in Saint Joseph. I am, my dear sir, your friend and servant SAML. R. CURTIS, Major-General. Saint Louis, Mo., March 2, 1863. General-in-Chief : Have ordered Nebraska regiment to report at Sioux City. They are located—two companies at Fort Kearny, balance in eight other places in the Territory. If all go, General Craig telegraphs, the northwest will be left without any protection, and will probably stampede. May I direct two or three companies to remain west of the river?

SAML. R. CURTIS,