Description
The State Militia Capture Three Runaway Negroes - Bloody Threat [From the Platte County Conservator, Sept. 12, 1862] - - The Parkville company of militia performed a good job on Wednesday last in the capture of a nigger soldier, who was unquestionably sent over here for the purpose of inducing his fellow slaves to run off to Kansas. He had with him when taken, two other slaves, one belonging to a Mr. John Miller, and the other to Joseph Massy.
This negro belongs to Colonel Fielding Barnes (Burnes), of Hampton and made his escape from there into Kansas, with a company of negroes, about 3 weeks ago. He alleges positively that he came back over here to get his wife, who lives with her master near the edge of Clay. He had been at Colonel Burnes's house, and, it is supposed, used his influence in that neighborhood to induce the other slaves to go back with him - two of whom started, and were captured along with him.
He was armed with a large-revolver, and was dressed in a blue uniform with straps and other adjuncts belonging to the apparel of the Corps d’ Afrique of Kansas.
We saw the negroes in the guard-house here on Thursday evening, and conversed with the “recruiting” officer. He says that he came over here for the purpose of getting his wife, and denies that he tried to persuade other negroes to follow him. At the time they made their escape from the county 3 weeks ago, he says, they were accompanied by white men from Kansas, who, upon getting them across the river, swore them into the service. He says he didn’t want to fight, but was compelled to go into the service.
We do not know what will be done with this contraband “recruiter.” It does seem to us that as mild measures will not prevail upon the authorities of Kansas to put a stop to the stealing of our negroes, we should, by a terrible example, show them what their emissaries must expect, if taken here in such nefarious purposes.
These negroes, in the hands of unscrupulous men, might commence a horrible massacre among our women and children. They must be forbidden from coming on the soil of Missouri. We have been pelting with grass long enough—it is now time to throw stones.
These negro warriors are a source of disgust to our county militia, and we warn all parties concerned that they will take no more of them alive in this portion of the State. If the authorities of Kansas are determined upon having nigger soldiers, we trust they will keep them on their own side of the river. Their welcome to this side, hereafter, will be a fearful one.
Later. - The two negroes who were in company with the negro recruiter from Kansas, were taken home by their masters on Thursday evening. They appeared penitent.
(Researcher's note: There was no Fielding Barnes listed in the Platte County Censuses but Fielding Burnes was a Platte County enslaver. Joseph Massy was listed as a 7 year old male in Letitia D. Winston's household on the 1850 Platte County Census. He would have been ~19 years old in 1862.)Date(s) of Creation
9/18/1862
