HEADQUARTERS, WESTERN DIVISION,
St. Louis, Aug. 30, 1861.
Circumstances; in my judgment, are of sufficient urgency to render
it necessary that the Commanding General of this Department
should assume administrative powers of the State. Its disorganized
condition, helplessness of civil authority, and the total insecurity
of life and devastation of property by bands of murderers and
marauders, who infest nearly every county in the State, and avail
themselves of public misfortunes and the vicinity of a hostile force
to gratify private and neighborhood vengeance, and who find an enemy
wherever they find plunder, finally demand the severest measures to
repress the daily increasing crimes and outrages which are driving
off the inhabitants and ruining the State. In this condition, the
public safety and the success of our arms require unity of purpose,
without let or hindrance, to the prompt administration of affairs. In
order, therefore, to suppress disorder, maintain the public peace,
and give security to the persons and property of loyal citizens, I do
hereby extend and declare martial law throughout the State of
Missouri.
The lines of the army occupation in this State are, for the present,
declared to extend from Leavenworth by way of posts to Jefferson
City, Rolla and Ironton, to Cape Girardeau, on the Mississippi river.
All persons who shall be taken with arms in their hands, within these
lines, shall be tried by court martial, and, if found guilty, shall
be shot.
Real and personal property, owned by persons who shall take up arms
against the United States, or who shall be directly proven to have
taken an active part with the enemy in the field, is declared
confiscated to public use, and their slaves, if any they have, are
hereby declared free men. All persons who shall be proven to, have
destroyed, after the publication of this order, railroad tracks,
bridges or telegraph lines, shall suffer the extreme penalty of the
law. All persons engaged in treasonable correspondence, in giving or
procuring aid to the enemy, in fomenting turmoils and disturbing
public tranquility by creating or circulating false reports or
incendiary documents, are warned that they are exposing themselves.
All persons who have been led away from allegiance are requested to
return to their homes forthwith. Any such absence, without sufficient
cause, will be held to be presumptive evidence against them.
The object of this declaration is to place in the hands of the
military authorities power to give instantaneous effect to the
existing laws, and to supply such deficiencies as the conditions of
the war demand; but it is not intended to suspend the ordinary
tribunals of the country where law will be administered by civil
officers in the usual manner, and with their customary authority,
while the same can be peaceably administered.
The Commanding General will labor vigilantly for the public welfare,
and, by his efforts for their safety, hopes to obtain not only
acquiescence, but the active support of the people of the country.
(Signed,)
J. C. FREMONT,
Major General Commanding.