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PROOF OF AUTHENTICITY.


This is to certify that I, the undersigned, am personally acquainted
with Samuel S. Hildebrand (better known as “Sam Hildebrand, the
Missouri Bushwhacker,” etc.,) and have known him from boyhood; that
during the war, and on several occasions since its termination, he
promised to give me a full and complete history of his whole war
record; that on the night of January 28th, 1870, he came to my house
at Big River Mills, in St. Francois county, Missouri, in company with
Charles Burks, and gave his consent that I and Charles Burks, in
conjunction, might have his confession whenever we were prepared to
meet him at a certain place for that purpose; that in the latter part
of March, 1870, in the presence of Sam Hildebrand alone, I did write
out his confession as he gave it to me, then and there, until the same
was completed; and that afterwards James W. Evans and myself, from the
material I thus obtained, compiled and completed the said confession,
which is now presented to the public as his Autobiography.

  A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D.

       *       *       *       *       *

  STATE OF MISSOURI,        }
  COUNTY OF STE. GENEVIEVE. }

On this, 14th day of June, 1870, before me, Henry Herter, a Notary
Public within and for said county, personally appeared W. H. Couzens,
J. N. Burks and G. W. Murphy of the above county and State, and on
being duly sworn they stated that they were well acquainted with
Charles Burks of the aforesaid county, and A. Wendell Keith, M. D., of
St. Francois county, Missouri, and to their certain knowledge the facts
set forth in the foregoing certificate are true and correct, and that
Samuel S. Hildebrand also acknowledged to them afterwards that he had
made to them his complete confession.

  WM. H. COUZENS, MAJOR C. S. A.,
  J. N. BURKS,
  G. W. MURPHY.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 14th day of June, 1870.

  HENRY HERTER,
  _Notary Public_.

       *       *       *       *       *

The Statement made by A. Wendell Keith, M. D., is entitled to credit
from the fact of his well-known veracity and standing in society.

  HON. ELLIS G. EVANS,
  Senator, Rolla District.

  HON. E. C. SEBASTIAN,
  Representative, St. Francois county.

  HON. MILTON P. CAYCE,
  Farmington, Missouri.

  FRANKLIN MURPHY,
  Sheriff St. Francois county.

  WILLIAM R. TAYLOR,
  Clerk St. Francois county.

  HON. JOSEPH BOGY,
  Representative Ste. Genevieve county.

  CHARLES ROZIER,
  Clerk Ste. Genevieve county.

       *       *       *       *       *

  EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JEFFERSON CITY, MO.,}
  June 22, 1870.                                 }

I hereby certify that the persons whose official signatures appear
above have been commissioned for the offices indicated; and my personal
acquaintance with Dr. Keith, Honorables Evans, Sebastian, Cayce,
Bogy and Sheriff Murphy is such that I say without hesitation their
statements are entitled to full faith and credit.

  J. W. McCLURG,
  _Governor of Missouri_.

[Illustration: HILDEBRAND DRIVEN FROM HOME.]




  AUTOBIOGRAPHY

  OF

  SAMUEL S. HILDEBRAND,

  THE RENOWNED

  MISSOURI “BUSHWHACKER”

  AND UNCONQUERABLE

  ROB ROY OF AMERICA;

  BEING

  HIS COMPLETE CONFESSION

  RECENTLY MADE TO THE WRITERS, AND CAREFULLY COMPILED

  BY JAMES W. EVANS AND A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D.,

  OF ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY, MO.;

  TOGETHER

  WITH ALL THE FACTS CONNECTED WITH HIS
  EARLY HISTORY.


  JEFFERSON CITY, MO.:
  STATE TIMES BOOK AND JOB PRINTING HOUSE,
  MADISON STREET.

  1870.




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


  SAM HILDEBRAND DRIVEN FROM HOME       _Frontispiece._

  FRANK HILDEBRAND HUNG BY THE MOB                   45

  SAM HILDEBRAND KILLING MCILVAINE                   61

  THE MURDER OF WASH. HILDEBRAND AND LANDUSKY        69

  STAMPEDE OF FEDERAL SOLDIERS                      139

  SAM HILDEBRAND BETRAYED BY COOTS                  179

  SAM HILDEBRAND‘S LAST BATTLE                      297

  COL. BOWEN CAPTURES HILDEBRAND‘S CAVE             303




Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1870, by JAMES W.
EVANS and A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D., in the Clerk‘s Office
of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of
Missouri.




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER I.

    Introduction.—Yankee fiction.—Reasons for making a full
    confession. 25


    CHAPTER II.

    Early history of the Hildebrand family.—Their settlement in
    St. Francois county, Mo.—Sam Hildebrand born.—Troublesome
    neighbors.—Union sentiments. 29


    CHAPTER III.

    Determination to take no part in the war.—Mr. Ringer killed
    by Rebels.—The cunning device of Allen Roan.—Vigilance
    Committee organized.—The baseness of Mobocracy.—Attacked by the
    mob.—Escape to Flat Woods. 35


    CHAPTER IV.

    McIlvaine‘s Vigilance mob.—Treachery of Castleman.—Frank
    Hildebrand hung by the mob.—Organization of the mob into a
    Militia company. 42


    CHAPTER V.

    His house at Flat Woods attacked by eighty soldiers.—Miraculous
    escape.—Capt. Bolin.—Flight to Green county, Arkansas. 48


    CHAPTER VI.

    Interview with Gen. Jeff Thompson.—Receives a Major‘s
    Commission.—Interview with Capt. Bolin.—Joins the Bushwhacking
    Department. 54


    CHAPTER VII.

    First trip to Missouri.—Killed George Cornecious for reporting
    him.—Killed Firman McIlvaine, captain of the mob.—Attempt to
    kill McGahan and House.—Return to Arkansas. 58


    CHAPTER VIII.

    Vigilance mob drives his mother from home.—Three companies of
    troops sent to Big river.—Capt. Flanche murders Washington
    Hildebrand and Landusky.—Capt. Esroger murders John Roan.—Capt.
    Adolph burns the Hildebrand homestead and murders Henry
    Hildebrand. 66


    CHAPTER IX.

    Trip with Burlap and Cato.—Killed a spy near Bloomfield.—Visits
    his mother on Dry Creek.—Interview with his uncle.—Sees the
    burning of the homestead at a distance. 75


    CHAPTER X.

    Trip with two men.—Killed Stokes for informing on him.—Secreted
    in a cave on Big river.—Vows of vengeance.—Watched for
    McGahan.—Tom Haile pleads for Franklin Murphy.—Tongue-lashed
    and whipped out by a woman. 84


    CHAPTER XI.

    Trip to Missouri with three men.—Fight near
    Fredericktown.—Killed four soldiers.—Went to their camp and
    stole four horses.—Flight toward the South.—Robbed “Old
    Crusty”. 91


    CHAPTER XII.

    Trip with three men.—Captured a spy and shot him.—Shot Mr.
    Scaggs.—Charged a Federal camp at night and killed nine
    men.—Came near shooting James Craig.—Robbed Bean‘s store and
    returned to Arkansas. 96


    CHAPTER XIII.

    The Militia mob robs the Hildebrand estate.—Trip to Missouri
    with ten men.—Attacks a government train with an escort of
    twenty men.—Killed two and put the others to flight. 102


    CHAPTER XIV.

    Federal cruelty.—A defense of Bushwhacking.—Trip with Capt.
    Bolin and nine men.—Fight at West Prairie.—Started with two
    men to St. Francois county.—Killed a Federal soldier.—Killed
    Addison Cunningham.—Capt. Walker kills Capt. Barnes, and
    Hildebrand kills Capt. Walker. 106


    CHAPTER XV.

    Started alone to Missouri.—Rode off a bluff and killed
    his horse.—Fell in with twenty-five Rebels under Lieut.
    Childs.—Went with them.—Attacked 150 Federals at Bollinger‘s
    Mill.— Henry Resinger killed.—William Cato.—Went back to
    Fredericktown.—Killed one man.—Robbed Abright‘s store. 114


    CHAPTER XVI.

    Started to Bloomfield with three men.—Fight at St. Francis
    river.—Goes from there alone.—Meets his wife and family, who
    had been ordered off from Bloomfield.—Capture and release of
    Mrs. Hildebrand.—Fight in Stoddard county.—Arrival in Arkansas.
    121


    CHAPTER XVII.

    Put in a crop.—Took another trip to Missouri with six
    men.—Surrounded in a tobacco barn.—Killed two men in making
    his escape.—Killed Wammack for informing on him.—Captured some
    Federals and released them on certain conditions.—Went to Big
    River Mills.—Robbed Highley‘s and Bean‘s stores. 128


    CHAPTER XVIII.

    Selected seven men and went to <DW64> Wool Swamp.—Attacked
    fifteen Federals—A running fight.—Killed three men.—Killed
    Mr. Crane.—Betrayed by a Dutchman, and surrounded in a house
    by Federals.—Escaped, killed eight Federals, recaptured the
    horses, and hung the Dutchman. 136

    CHAPTER XIX.

    Went with eight men.—Attacked a Federal camp near Bollinger‘s
    Mill.—Got defeated.—Men returned to Arkansas.—Went alone to St.
    Francois county.—Watched for R. M. Cole.—Killed Capt. Hicks. 147


    CHAPTER XX.

    Trip to Hamburg with fifteen men.—Hung a Dutchman and shot
    another.—Attacked some Federals in Hamburg but got gloriously
    whipped.—Retreated to <DW53> Island.—Killed Oller at Flat
    Woods.—Robbed Bean‘s store at Irondale. 153


    CHAPTER XXI.

    Started with six men on a trip to Springfield,
    Missouri.—Deceived by a Federal spy in the Irish
    Wilderness—Captured through mistake by Rebels.—Routed on
    Panther creek.—Returned home on foot. 159


    CHAPTER XXII.

    Started with four men.—Surrounded in a thicket
    near Fredericktown.—Escaped with the loss of three
    horses.—Stole horses from the Federals at night.—Killed two
    soldiers.—Suffered from hunger.—Killed Fowler.—Took a horse
    from G. W. Murphy.—Went to Mingo Swamp.—Killed Coots for
    betraying him.—Killed a Federal and lost two men. 168


    CHAPTER XXIII.

    Went to Mingo Swamp with ten men.—Went to Castor
    creek.—Attacked two companies of Federals under Capt. Cawhorn
    and Capt. Rhoder.—Bushwhacked them seven nights.—Went with
    Capt. Reed‘s men.—Attacked Capt. Leeper‘s company.—Killed
    fourteen, captured forty horses, forty-four guns, sixty
    pistols, and everything else they had. 182


    CHAPTER XXIV.

    Took a trip with fifteen men.—Captured a squad of
    Federals.—Reception of “Uncle Bill.”—Hung all the
    prisoners.—Captured five more and hung one. 187


    CHAPTER XXV.

    Put in a crop.—Started to Missouri with nine men.—Killed a
    soldier near Dallas.—Went to St. Francois county and watched
    for Walls and Baker.—Watched near Big River Mills for
    McGahan.—Narrow escape of William Sharp.—Robbed Burges, Hughes
    and Kelley of their horses.—Robbed Abright‘s store.—Captured
    some Federals on White Water. 195


    CHAPTER XXVI.

    Started to St. Francois county, Missouri, with eight
    men.—Hung Vogus and Zimmer.—Hung George Hart.—Robbed Lepp‘s
    store.—Concealed in Pike Run hills.—Started back.—Hung Mr.
    Mett‘s <DW64>, “Old Isaac.”—Hung another <DW64>.—Took two
    deserters back and hung them. 205


    CHAPTER XXVII.

    Started with nine men to St. Francois county.—Stopped in Pike
    Run hills.—Robbed the store of Christopher Lepp.—Hung Mr.
    Kinder‘s <DW64>.—Attacked by Federals.—Killed two men and lost
    one.—Shot two soldiers on a furlough.—Enters a mysterious camp.
    212


    CHAPTER XXVIII.

    Capt. John and a company of Federals destroy the Bushwhackers‘
    Headquarters in Green county, Arkansas.—He is bushwhacked,
    routed and killed.—Raid into Washington county with fourteen
    men.—Attacked by twenty Federals.—Killed the man who piloted
    Capt. John. 219


    CHAPTER XXIX.

    Took a raid into Missouri with four men.—Killed a
    Federal.—Killed two of Capt. Milks‘ men.—Started to De
    Soto.—Routed by the Federals.—Adventure with a German.—Killed
    three Federals on Black river. 228


    CHAPTER XXX.

    Commanded the advance guard on Price‘s raid.—The Federals burn
    Doniphan.—Routed the Federals completely.—Captured several
    at Patterson.—Killed Abright at Farmington.—Left Price‘s
    army.—Killed four Federals.—Major Montgomery storms Big River
    Mills.—Narrow escape from capture. 237


    CHAPTER XXXI.

    Selected three men and went to Missouri to avenge the death of
    Rev. William Polk.—Got ammunition in Fredericktown.—Killed the
    German who informed on Polk.—Return to Arkansas. 244


    CHAPTER XXXII.

    Started with eight men on a trip to Arkansas river.—Hung a
    “Scallawag” on White river.—Went into Conway county.—Treachery
    of a <DW64> on Point Remove.—“Foot-burning” atrocities.—Started
    back and hung a renegade. 250


    CHAPTER XXXIII.

    Gloomy prospects for the South.—Takes a trip to Missouri with
    four men.—Saved from capture by a woman.—Visits his mother
    on Big river.—Robs the store of J. V. Tyler at Big River
    Mills—Escapes to Arkansas. 257


    CHAPTER XXXIV.

    Started to Missouri with three men.—Surrounded at night near
    Fredericktown.—Narrow escape by a cunning device.—Retired to
    Simms‘ Mountain.—Swapped horses with Robert Hill, and captured
    some more.—Killed Free Jim and kidnapped a <DW64> boy. 264


    CHAPTER XXXV.

    Trip to Missouri with four men.—Attempt to rob Taylor‘s
    store.—Fight with Lieut. Brown and his soldiers.—Killed
    Miller and Johnson at Flat Woods.—Return home from his last
    raid.—The war is pronounced to be at an end.—Reflections on the
    termination of the war.—Mrs. Hildebrand‘s advice.—The parole at
    Jacksonport. 275


    CHAPTER XXXVI.

    Imprisoned in Jacksonport jail.—Mrs. Hildebrand returns
    to Missouri.—Escape from prison.—Final settlement in Ste.
    Genevieve county.—St. Louis detectives make their first
    trip.—The Governor‘s reward.—Wounded by Peterson.—Removed
    to his uncle‘s.—Fight at John Williams‘.—Kills James
    McLaine.—Hides in a cave. 286


    CHAPTER XXXVII.

    Military operations for his capture.—Col. Bowen captures the
    Cave.—Progress of the campaign.—Advent of Governor McClurg.—The
    Militia called out.—Don Quixote affair at the Brick Church.—The
    campaign ended.—Mrs. Hildebrand escapes to Illinois.—“Sam”
    leaves Missouri.—His final proclamation. 300




PREFACE.


The public having been grossly imposed upon by several spurious
productions purporting to be the “Life of Sam Hildebrand,” we have no
apology to offer for presenting the reader with his authentic narrative.

His confession was faithfully written down from his own lips, as the
foregoing certificates abundantly prove.

From this copious manuscript we have prepared his autobiography for
the press, with a scrupulous care to give it literally, so far as
the arbitrary rules of language would permit. Sam Hildebrand and the
authors of this work were raised up from boyhood together, in the same
neighborhood, and we are confident that no material facts have been
suppressed by Hildebrand in his confession.

The whole narrative is given to the reader without any effort upon our
part either to justify or condemn his acts. Our design was to give the
genuine autobiography of Sam Hildebrand; this we have done.

The book, as a record of bloody deeds, dare-devil exploits and
thrilling adventures, will have no rival in the catalogue of wonders;
for it at once unfolds, with minute accuracy, the exploits of
Hildebrand, of which one-half had never yet been told. Without this
record the world would forever remain in ignorance of the _night
history_ of his astounding audacity.

We here tender our thanks to those of our friends who have kindly
assisted us in this work, prominent among whom is Miss Hilda F. Sharp,
of Jefferson City, Mo., who furnished us with those beautiful pencil
sketches from which our engravings were made.

  JAMES W. EVANS,
  A. WENDELL KEITH, M. D.

BIG RIVER MILLS, MO., June, 1870.




INTRODUCTION.

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE HILDEBRAND FAMILY.


Before proceeding with the Autobiography of Samuel S. Hildebrand,
we would call the attention of the reader to the fact, that since
notoriety has been thrust upon the subject of these memoirs, public
attention has been pointed to the fact, that in German history, the
Hildebrands occupy a very prominent position.

The authors of this work, by a diligent research into ancient German
literature, have been able to trace the origin and history of the
Hildebrand family, with tolerable accuracy, to the beginning of the
ninth century. The name Hildebrand or Hildebrandt is as old as the
German language. Hilde, in ancient German, signified a “Hero,” and
brand, a “blaze or flame.” It is thought by some writers that the name
doubtless signified a “flaming hero.”

Whether this is the case or not, it matters but little, as the fact
remains clearly defined that the first man of that name known to
history was a hero in every sense of the word. The “Heldenbuch” or Book
of Heroes, in its original form, dates back to the eighth century. It
is a beautiful collection of poems relative to Dietrich or Theodoric.
It was written down from memory by the Hessian monks on the outer pages
of an old Latin manuscript, and was first published by Eccard in prose,
but it was afterwards discovered that the songs were originally in
rhyme.

The poem treats of the expulsion of Dietrich of Vaum out of his
dominions by Ermenrick, his escape to Attila and his return after
an adventurous exile of thirty years. Hildebrand (the old Dietrich)
encounters his son, whom he left at home in his flight, in a terrible
encounter without knowing who he was. We will present the reader with
Das Hildebrands lied (The song of Hildebrand), not on account of any
literary merit it may possess, but because of its great antiquity and
its popularity among the German people at one time, and by whom it was
dramatized.


The Song of Hildebrand.

    “I must be up and riding,” spoke Master Hildebrand,
    “’Tis long since I have greeted the distant Berner land;
    For many a pleasant summer in foreign lands we‘ve been,
    But thirty years have vanished since I my wife have seen.”

    “Wilt thou be up and riding?” outspoke Duke Amelung;
    “Beware! since _one_ should meet thee—a rider brave and young.
    Right by the Berner market—the brave Sir Alebrand;
    If twelve men‘s strength were in thee, he‘d throw thee to the sand!”

    “And doth he scorn the country in such a haughty mood?
    I‘ll cleave in twain his buckler—‘twill do him little good;
    I‘ll cleave in twain his armor with a resistless blow,
    Which for a long year after shall cause his mother woe.”

    Outspoke of Bern, Sir Dietrich, “now let that counsel be,
    And slay him not, old hero, but take advice from me:
    Speak gently to the Ritter, a kind word soonest mends;
    And let your path be peaceful, so shall ye both be friends!”

    And as he reached the garden, right by the mart of Berne;
    There came against him riding, a warrior fierce and stern.
    A brave young knight in armor, against Sir Hildebrand;
    “What seekest thou, old Ritter, in this, thy father‘s land?”

    “Thou bearest splendid armor, like one of royal kind;
    So bright thy glit‘ering corselet, mine eyes are stricken blind;
    Thou, who at home should‘st rest thee, and shun a warrior‘s stroke,
    And slumber by the fireside,” the old man laughed and spoke.

    “Should _I_ at firesides rest me, and nurse me well at home,
    Full many a fight awaits me, to many a field I‘ll come.
    In many a rattling foray, shall I be known and feared;
    Believe my word, thou youngster, ’twas thus I blanched my beard.”

    “That beard will I tear from thee, though great may be thy pain.
    Until the blood-drops trickling, have sprinkled all the plain;
    Thy fair green shield and armor, must thou resign to me,
    Than seek the town, contented my prisoner to be.

    “My armor and my fair green shield have warded many a blow;
    I trust that God in Heaven still will guard me from my foe.”
    No more they spoke together, but grasped their weapons keen,
    And what the two most longed for, soon came to pass, I ween!

    With glittering sword, the younger struck such a sudden blow,
    That with its force the warrior, Sir Hildebrand, bent low;
    The youth in haste recoiling, sprang twelve good steps behind,
    “Such leaps,” exclaimed the gray-beard, “were learned of womankind.”

    “Had I learned ought of woman, it were to me a shame,
    Within my father‘s castle are many knights of fame;
    Full many knights and riders about my father throng,
    And what as yet, I know not, I trust to learn ere long.”

    Sir Hildebrand was cunning, the old gray bearded man,
    For when the youth uplifted, beneath his sword he ran;
    Around the Ritter‘s girdle his arms he tightly bound,
    And on the ground he cast him—there lies he on the ground!

    “Who rubs against the kittles, may spotless keep who can—
    How fares it now, young hero, against the _old gray man_?
    Now quickly speak and shrive thee, for I thy priest will be;
    Say, art thou a young Wolfing? perhaps I‘ll let thee free.”

    “Like wolves are all the Wolfing, they ran wild in the wood,
    But I‘m a Grecian warrior, a rider brave and good;
    Frau Ute is my mother, she dwelleth near this spot,
    And _Hildebrand_, my father, albeit he knows us not!”

    “Is Ute then thy mother, that monarch‘s daughter free?
    Seekest thou thy father, Hildebrand? then know that _I_ am he!”
    Uplifted he his golden helm, and kissed him on the mouth;
    Now God be praised that both are safe! the old man and the youth.

    “Oh, father dear, those bloody wounds!” ’twas thus the young knight said:
    “Now would I three times rather bear those blows upon my head.”
    “Be still, be still, my own dear son! the wounds will soon be past;
    And God in Heaven above be praised, that we have met at last!”

    This lasted from the noonday well to the vesper tide,
    Then back into the city Sir Alebrand did ride.
    What bears he on his helmet? a little cross of gold;
    Who is he that rides beside him? his own dear father old.

    And with him to his castle, old Hildebrand he bore,
    And with his own hands served him—the mother grieved full sore—
    “Ah, son, my ever dearest son, the cause I fain would know,
    Why a strange prisoner, like this, should e‘er be honored so?”

    “Now, silence, dearest mother, and list to what I say!
    He almost slew me on the heath in open light to-day;
    He ne‘er shall wear, good mother, a prisoner‘s attire,
    ‘Tis Hildebrand, the valient, thy husband and my sire!

    Oh, mother, dearest mother, do him all honor now;”
    Then flew she to her husband, and served him well, I trow;
    What holds the brave old father? a glittering ring of gold;
    He drops it in the wine cup—it is her husband old!

We congratulate our readers on having survived the reading of the above
poem, written a thousand years ago, about old Dietrich, the “father
Abraham” of all the Hildebrands; but he must not forget that he is
subject to a relapse, for here are two verses not taken from the “Book
of Heroes,” but from an old popular song in use to this day among the
peasantry in South Germany:


Hildebrand and his son Hudebrand.

    Hildebrand and his son Hudebrand—Alebrand,
    Rode off together with sword in hand—sword in hand—
          To make fierce war on Venice;
    Hildebrand and his son Hudebrand—Alebrand,
    Never could find the Venetian land—‘netian land.
          With flaming swords to menace!

    Hildebrand and his son Hudebrand—Alebrand,
    Got drunk as pigs with a jolly band—jolly band,
          All the while swearing and bawling;
    Hildebrand and his son Hudebrand—Alebrand,
    Drank till they could neither walk nor stand—walk nor stand,
          Home on all fours they went a crawling.

The reader will perceive that the peasantry are disposed to “poke fun”
at the great ancestor of the Hildebrand family; this, however, we will